Should I stop sleeping in my bed if I have bed bugs?

Author: Garrick Konopelski  |  Last update: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Although it sounds like a grim choice, it is best to continue sleeping in the infested area using the population reduction methods described above, until the bed bugs are eliminated.

Should I throw my bed away if I have bed bugs?

No, you don't have to throw away furniture or beds if they are infested with bed bugs. However, it is advisable to treat the infestation as soon as possible. This will help to prevent the bed bugs from spreading throughout your home. There are a number of ways you can treat a bed bug infestation in your home.

Should I move out if I have bed bugs?

But in general, people moving out because of bed bugs is a bad idea. It might cause the bed bugs to be spread around and It will not help you get rid of the infestation at all, unless it is part of a specific strategy that calls for a temporary evacuation.

What should you not do if you have bed bugs?

Don't sleep on another bed or the sofa. Bed bugs may follow making it much more difficult to get rid of them. Don't try to kill bed bugs by using agricultural or garden pesticides or other unregistered products. Using pesticide products to kill bed bugs that are labeled for outdoor use can make humans very sick.

What to do with your bed when you have bed bugs?

Vacuum all areas of your bed. This includes all surfaces of the mattress and box springs, the bed frame (including the underside), the headboard, and the back of the headboard. Kill any bed bugs hiding in the sheets, blankets, bed spread, and pillows by washing them and treating with heat in a hot dryer for 30 minutes.

How to Make Bed Bugs Come Out of Hiding? : Insider Strategies!

Can I sleep in my bed if I have bed bugs?

Do not change where you sleep: Some people believe they can avoid bed bugs by sleeping in a different area of their home. Once people identify that their bed is infested, they will often begin to sleep in a different bedroom or on the sofa. Bed bugs have evolved to quickly locate potential hosts to feed on.

Is it possible to 100% get rid of bed bugs?

Thus, you need a professional exterminator. They have the tools and methods to fully kill bed bugs at all life stages. They also keep them from coming back. Bed bugs have also become resistant to many of the pesticides they encounter in their travels.

What scent keeps bed bugs away?

Bed bugs are sensitive to strong smells and certain scents can help keep them away. Essential oils like lavender, tea tree and peppermint are popular choices. These oils not only smell good but also act as natural repellents.

Is it safe to stay in a house with bed bugs?

Bed bugs are like vampires, they feed on the blood of humans and other mammals like dogs, cats, rodents and etc. Since bed bugs can go a significant amount of time without eating it is strongly recommend that if you decide to vacate your home that you do so for an extended period of time.

How to prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?

How can I prevent bed bug bites?
  1. Encase mattresses and box springs in protective plastic covers.
  2. Vacuum frequently, especially in areas near where you sleep.
  3. Cut down on clutter in your home, which will eliminate some hiding places for bed bugs.

Should I freak out about bed bugs?

While bedbugs are a nuisance and can be upsetting, they aren't known to transmit disease (their biology is a little different from bloodsucking insects that do transmit disease).

Will my bed bugs ever go away?

Bed bugs do go away after treatment. You should work with bed bug extermination professionals who know how to get rid of them fast and for good.

Can I stay somewhere else if I have bed bugs?

As soon as you see a bed bug or notice a bite, the first thing you may want to do is sleep somewhere else until the infestation is controlled. However, that is not the right call. It feels counterintuitive, but you should continue sleeping in the same bed.

Should I wear clothes to bed if I have bed bugs?

They have to come into direct contact with your skin to bite you. However, that doesn't mean that wearing clothes to bed will protect you from bed bug bites! That's because bed bugs can and do crawl under your clothing to get to your skin (they're small enough to do so).

Can you starve out bed bugs?

On average starved bed bugs (at any life stage) held at room temperature will die within 70 days. Most likely these bed bugs are dying of de- hydration, rather than starving to death.

How do I isolate my bed from bed bugs?

Move the bed away from the wall, so that bed bugs can't get onto the bed by climbing up the wall. Put cups, bowls or store bought interceptor devices under all of the legs of your bed. Dust the insides of the bowls or interceptors with talcum powder.

What is the first thing to do when you have bed bugs?

Wash sheets, pillow cases, blankets and bed skirts and put them in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes. Consider using mattress and box spring covers –the kind used for dust mite control–and put duct tape over the zippers. Seal cracks and crevices and any openings where pipes or wires come into the home.

How to tell if bedbugs are in your clothes?

They are nocturnal insects that feed on human blood, often leaving small blood stains on the fabric. Another sign of bed bugs is the presence of tiny, dark fecal spots. These are often found along seams or in folds of clothing. A musty odor, similar to that of a wet towel, can also indicate the presence of bed bugs.

What kills bed bugs permanently?

Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins. Both compounds are lethal to bed bugs and can flush bed bugs out of their hiding places and kill them.

What do bedbugs hate most?

Check these out!
  • Rubbing Alcohol. Bed bugs are hard to deal with, but you can repel them by using rubbing alcohol. ...
  • Tea Tree Oil. If you don't want to use rubbing alcohol for your bed bug problems, you can try tea tree oil as another solution. ...
  • Lavender Oil. ...
  • Blood Orange Oil. ...
  • Diatomaceous Earth. ...
  • Powdered Pepper. ...
  • Lemon. ...
  • Cinnamon.

What can I spray on my bed to prevent bed bugs?

Permethrin is an effective tool for helping control bed bugs. By implementing this approach, permethrin discourages bed bugs from infesting the bed and reducing the likelihood of an infestation. The scent of peppermint and chrysanthemums also repels bed bugs.

What is bed bug weakness?

If bed bugs have one weakness, it's that they're intolerant of extremely high or low temperatures. Washing clothes and bedding at the highest possible setting followed by drying for at least 30 minutes at high heat should do the trick. You can also freeze clothing or other objects you suspect of being infested.

What is the number one killer of bed bugs?

Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: These are among the most common insecticides used against bed bugs. Pyrethrins, derived from chrysanthemum flowers, kill bed bugs on contact, while synthetic pyrethroids provide longer-lasting effects.

Should I get rid of everything if I have bed bugs?

Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.

What can I put on my body to prevent bed bug bites?

Essential oils. While essential oils like tea tree, lavender, and peppermint are popularly recommended for DIY bed bug treatments due to their strong scents and supposed insect-repellent properties, there is not much scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in eradicating bed bug infestations.

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