Do you have bites and suspicious marks in your sheets? You probably have bed bugs in your mattress. It’s vital to act quickly to avoid an infestation ! Treatment, recommended products, mistakes not to make, prevention – here’s an effective and economical protocol for getting rid of these pests in your bedding.
Bed bugs on mattresses: key information
- Bed bugs hide in the nooks and crannies of the mattress: they prefer seams, folds and hard-to-reach areas to remain discreet during the day.
- Traces left on the bedding are valuable clues: bloodstains, small black marks (excrement), whitish eggs or dead skin are all visible signs to look out for.
- A mattress can host all stages of development: eggs, larvae and adult bedbugs.
- Mechanical cleaning is the first essential step: using a high-temperature steam cleaner is an effective way of eliminating bedbugs and their eggs.
- Bedbug covers are a prevention and treatment tool: they contain existing bedbugs and prevent new ones from developing.
How do I know if my mattress has bed bugs ?
These insects are particularly prevalent in mattresses and all kinds of bedding, which are bedbugs’ favourite habitats. Here’s where to look precisely to reveal their presence and solve the problem.
Why do bedbugs live in mattresses?
When there’s a bedbug infestation, the first rooms to inspect are the bedrooms. Indeed, bedbugs are small insects that feed on our blood (their only source of food) during the night. Bedroom bedding and mattresses provide an ideal environment for these parasites, which prefer to hide in dark places close to their prey. Bedbugs love mattresses for their many seams, and nooks and crannies. What’s more, this is the place where they are closest to their host to feed. So this is where they initially nest, before spreading out around the room as the infestation increases.
Careful mattress inspection
Here’s how to inspect your mattress so you don’t miss out on a bedbug infestation. Start by lifting the mattress, and examining the seams, edges and folds. You can use a magnifying glass and a flashlight for a more precise examination.
Signs of bedbugs in sheets
Sheets may show traces of blood, but also black stains which are a sign of their droppings. Check all bed linen: mattress protector, fitted sheets, pillowcases, bolster as well as duvet covers. N. B. It will be easier to detect the presence of bedbugs in your bedding if you have light-coloured sheets.
Bedbug on the bed base and legs
The bed base can also be an excellent hiding place for bed bugs, especially slatted bases. Check every gap between the slats and remember to inspect the footboards too. You may find adult bed bugs, but also eggs, larvae or moults. Bed bugs can even hide in the tips of bed base slats…
Dog detection is an effective way of confirming the presence of bed bugs in a home, especially initially when the infestation is low and there are few bed bugs present.
Visual detection of bed bugs
Bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, but their small size (4 to 7 mm) and habit of hiding make them difficult to spot. They have an oval, flattened, reddish-brown body, which becomes darker after a blood meal. Carefully inspect the nooks and crannies of the mattress, the seams, the gaps in the box spring and the surrounding cracks. You may also spot whitish eggs (less than a millimetre long) or dead skin left behind by these pests.
How to treat your mattress for bed bugs ?
Several solutions exist to effectively get rid of bedbugs in your bedding and prevent infestation. To give yourself the best chance of success, we recommend a combination of treatments.
Steam cleaning: mechanical bed bug treatment for mattresses
Start by getting rid of bed bugs inside your mattress using a steam cleaner. The heat emitted by the steam cleaner (between 90 and 100°C) will quickly kill the parasites. It’s an effective solution that treats thermally thanks to the high heat and without chemicals. A little tip from Sereni-d: steam from an iron is also very effective!
Start by placing your mattress in the centre of the room, so that all sides can be treated. Pay particular attention to seams and folds. Once the steam cleaner has been thoroughly cleaned, proceed with a natural insecticide treatment.
Mattress disinfection: choose a natural insecticide!
To go one step further and make sure you kill all bedbugs at all their stages of development (eggs, larvae, adult bugs), apply a natural insecticide. At Sereni-d, we’ve developed the SOS bedbug curative treatment, a shock-effect spray that eliminates 100% of bedbugs. It is perfectly suited to treating mattresses and bedding, thanks to its natural composition of plant-based pyrethrum flower extract and essential oils with insecticidal properties. Ideal for safe, long-lasting night-time protection!
Chemical insecticides for mattresses: Caution danger!
Using a chemical insecticide or biocide to treat mattresses or bed linen can be hazardous to your health, especially as bedbugs are becoming increasingly resistant to certain chemical molecules. We therefore recommend banning toxic products and favouring natural treatment, complemented by good mechanical practices.
➡️ For more information: The complete protocol against bed bugs.
100% natural solution
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Anti-bedbug covers
To protect yourself from bedbug bites at night, and to eradicate the last hardy bedbugs, especially their eggs, protect your bedding with a special anti-bedbug cover. This type of cover, like the anti-mite cover, is full-fitting and completely envelopes the mattress on the one hand, and generally made of a multi-layer non-woven fabric to form a total barrier to bedbugs trapped inside on the other hand. Some covers guarantee a micron-level seal for total protection. These covers are also available for pillows. These are effective ways of combating bedbug infestation and preventing bites while you sleep.
Good mechanical practices for eliminating bed bugs
In addition to bed bug treatments, it is essential to clean the infested room thoroughly.
- Regularly vacuum every corner of the room and dispose of the contents of the dustbin in an airtight bag.
- If possible, steam-clean surfaces that can be treated (floors, skirting boards, furniture, etc.).
- Set up bed bug traps : plates, adhesive traps, CO2 traps, etc.
- Put bed linen, clothes, curtains and carpets in the washing machine at 60°C or in the freezer at -18°C for 2 days.
- Sprinkle edible diatomaceous earth powder around the footboard or bed base. This product can prevent fleas in bed from climbing onto the mattress. Vacuum every day and repeat the operation.
- Leave a small space between your bed and the walls.
➡️ See also: Grandma’s tips on bed bugs.
Bedbugs: should the mattress be disposed of ?
Throwing away a mattress infested with bed bugs is a common mistake. This is the best way to contaminate other rooms in your home, the communal areas of the building, your neighbours or anyone else who might pick up your mattress.
The first step is to follow the natural treatment protocol described in this article. In the event of a serious infestation, you can dispose of your mattress, but you need to take certain precautions :
- Wrap the mattress in a cover
- Label the mattress ‘Bed bugs on mattress’.
- Notify your local council
FAQ
Do bedbugs get into the mattress?
Yes, bed bugs can get into a mattress, especially in the seams, gaps and areas close to the seams or buttons. This is where they hide during the day and get closer to their food source – you – while you sleep. These nooks and crannies provide perfect shelters for eggs, larvae and adult bedbugs. That’s why a thorough inspection of your mattress is essential.
Latex, foam, etc.: are any mattress materials effective against bed bugs?
No mattress material, whether latex, foam or springs, is totally resistant to bed bugs. For optimum protection, we recommend using an airtight bed bugs cover, which will prevent these pests from entering or leaving the mattress.
How do you check a mattress for bed bugs?
To check that a mattress is free of bed bugs, carry out a thorough inspection by following these steps:
– Examine the seams and nooks of the mattress
– Check the bedding and sheets
– Use a torch
– Look out for any suspicious bites
If in doubt, call in a professional for accurate detection.
Are bedbug covers effective?
Yes, bed bug covers are an effective way of protecting your mattress and bedding. However, you need to use this device in conjunction with a complete treatment against these pests. These covers, made from hard-wearing materials and fitted with airtight zips, prevent bed bugs from gaining access to the mattress or escaping. They also block any eggs already present, isolating them and preventing them from hatching or spreading. For maximum effectiveness, choose a certified anti-bedbug cover and make sure you install it correctly, leaving no gaps.
Is it serious to sleep with bed bugs ?
Sleeping with bed bugs is not dangerous for your health in most cases. The bites may cause intense itching, redness and skin irritation. In some people, these bites can trigger allergic reactions ranging from hives to more severe swelling. Finally, the presence of bed bugs can cause psychological stress, anxiety and even insomnia, due to the discomfort and the thought of being bitten while sleeping.
What is the smell that bed bugs hate ?
Bed bugs are known to avoid certain odours, which can act as natural repellents. Essential oils such as lavender essential oil or tea tree essential oil are particularly effective.
White vinegar is also a natural solution, thanks to its strong odour, which disturbs bedbugs. But beware: these scents are no substitute for effective curative treatment in the event of a confirmed infestation.
How can you keep bed bugs away while you sleep ?
To limit bed bug bites during the night, there are several simple preventive measures you can take:
– Use an anti-bedbug cover
– Move the bed away from walls and furniture
– Place traps under the foot of the bed
– Spray repellent essential oils
– Wash and care for your bedding
These tips will help to limit the nuisance during the night, but in the event of a confirmed infestation, a full curative treatment is still essential to eradicate bed bugs over the long term.
Preventive Sereni-d solution
Sleep easy with Sereni-d Shield Textile: this preventive plant-based spray offers safe, long-lasting protection against bedbugs. Its concentrated formula of plant-based pyrethrum flower extract combined with its essential oil complex repels bedbugs if you suspect a nearby pest.
