Expert Guide on How to Get Rid of Bedbugs Yourself

Bed bugs are one of the most stressful pests to deal with – and getting rid of them takes patience and repeated effort.

With the right approach, you can often stop them spreading and bring an infestation under control at home, even if complete elimination sometimes needs professional help.

In this guide, we'll start with what to do today, then walk you through a practical DIY plan using heat, careful cleaning, targeted treatment and monitoring.

Understanding Bedbug Behaviour

What Are Bedbugs?

Bedbugs are insects that feed on blood, especially human blood, feeding every 5 days on average using a proboscis through which they pierce the skin of their host and inject an anaesthetic. They live as close to us as possible so that they're never far from their food, despite being able to survive for prolonged periods without eating.

As unpleasant as bedbugs are, it's worth knowing a bit about them if you want to get rid of them.

Identifying Bedbugs

An adult bedbug is around 4–5mm long, with an oval shape. They're broad and flat unless they've recently fed, and are a reddish-brown colour. They look like apple seeds with legs.

Although visible to the naked eye, bedbugs are good at hiding. They get their name from living in beds, where humans spend the night. Bedbugs are nocturnal, coming out at night when people are asleep to feed. They have a needle-like mouth to pierce human skin, and in our experience you generally won't feel a bedbug bite.

Why Bedbugs Infest Homes

Bedbugs aren't a sign of an unclean home. They live happily in clean homes and even five-star hotels.

Bedbugs can't survive outside, and they don't live on humans, but they can hitch a ride on us. If you've been somewhere with bedbugs, including a hotel, you may end up with one on your clothing that you bring home.

Once almost extinct, bedbugs made a dramatic comeback at the start of the 21st century, partly because people travel more these days.

Another way bedbugs get into a home is by travelling on furniture. Second-hand furniture is a big risk, as bedbugs can hide in its cracks and crevices. Finally, we find that bedbugs can easily travel between units in multifamily housing – if you live in a flat, you might get bedbugs from your neighbours.

Breeding Habits of Bedbugs

This is where things get a little grim. Bedbugs are tough to get rid of because they can be hard to detect and reproduce quickly. An adult female can lay up to around 500 eggs in her lifetime, and it takes a few weeks at room temperature for an egg to develop into a breeding adult.

The maths is the scary part: a bedbug population can double in size roughly every couple of weeks under favourable conditions, which is why an unchecked infestation gets out of hand so fast.

An individual bedbug isn't hard to kill. What's hard is finding and killing every single one of them – and that's exactly what solving a bedbug problem takes.

Health and Safety Risks

There aren't many good things to say about bedbugs, but one is that they don't spread disease.

That doesn't mean they're harmless. The bites can be extremely itchy and cause raised lumps as a result of an allergic reaction, and can lead to insomnia, anxiety and skin problems.

Many people find the psychological stress one of the worst aspects of bedbugs. It's hard to sleep when bugs start biting once the lights are out – which is why it's important to act as soon as you identify a problem.

Identifying Signs of a Bedbug Infestation

Regular, effective monitoring is essential to identifying and treating a bed bug infestation.

The first clues are usually bed bug sightings or bites. You'll find people claiming you can identify bedbug bites by size, shape or pattern, but in our experience that's not reliable – everyone reacts differently. Some people get huge, itchy red welts, while others don't react at all.

Bedbug bites look like the bites of other insects, such as mosquitoes. But if you get lots of bites without being outdoors, or you get bitten in winter, you might have bedbugs. Along with sightings and bites, look out for these other signs:

• Droppings. Because bedbugs feed only on blood, their droppings leave stains – small black dots, like from a permanent marker – on bedsheets, mattress seams, bed frames and other hiding places.
• Blood spots. You may crush a feeding bedbug by moving in your sleep, leaving a small blood spot on the sheets.
• Shed skins. Bedbugs shed their skins as they grow. The shed skin looks like the adult insect, but is orange and hollow.
• Eggs. Bedbug eggs are white and visible on dark surfaces, but they're only around 1mm long, so you'll need good eyesight.

Common Locations for Bedbugs

The hardest part of getting rid of bedbugs yourself is finding them, especially in their early nymphal stages when they're very hard to spot. Think in three dimensions – these bugs climb walls, and will travel up to 30m (100 feet) from their hiding place to feed. Some common places we typically find bedbugs:

• Mattress seams – their favourite place to hide.
• Gaps in the bed frame, especially a wooden frame.
• Behind the headboard, especially in hotels with wall-mounted headboards.
• Seams on upholstered furniture like armchairs and sofas.
• Wooden furniture such as tables and chairs, especially joints or screw holes.
• Behind skirting boards and the faceplates of plug sockets and light switches.

Preventing Bedbug Infestations

Bedbugs have to get inside your home to become a problem. Here's what we recommend to make that less likely:

• In hotels, keep your bags in the bathroom rather than on the bed, and inspect the bed for signs of bedbugs. If you find any, ask for another room.
• Avoid second-hand furniture, or at least treat it for bedbugs before bringing it home (see the methods below).
• Wash all your clothes after a trip, or after returning from somewhere that may have had a bedbug problem.
• If you live in a flat, seal gaps around pipes and electrical wires that let bedbugs travel between units.

You can also help bedbug-proof your home by keeping it clean and uncluttered. The less clutter you have, the sooner you'll spot any infestation, and the easier it is to get rid of.

DIY Bedbug Solutions

If you've found bed bugs, a careful, step-by-step approach makes a big difference. The aim is to remove bugs and eggs, reduce hiding places, and monitor so you know whether it's improving.

1. Start with safe, proven non-chemical steps

Avoid risky "home remedies" like rubbing alcohol – it's flammable and can be dangerous. Focus on:

• Hot washing and hot tumble drying
• Vacuuming
• Steam (heat) treatment
• Mattress encasements
• Monitoring traps and interceptors
• Products specifically labelled for bed bugs, used carefully and only where they hide

2. Vacuuming and steaming (high impact if done thoroughly)

This is one of the best DIY combinations, because high heat can kill bed bugs and eggs in their harbourages.

How to do it:

• Vacuum first (mattress seams, bed frame joints, skirting edges, cracks and crevices).
• Immediately seal and dispose of the vacuum bag (or empty the canister) outside.
• Then steam slowly over seams, joints, tufts, buttons and cracks. Move the steamer head slowly enough that heat can penetrate the fabric and crevices.
• Expect this to take time – thoroughness matters far more than speed.

3. Washing, drying and freezing clothes

Bed bugs hide in fabrics, so treat clothing, bedding and soft items early – and keep them protected afterwards to prevent re-infestation. Choose one of these options:

• Wash at 60°C (or the hottest safe setting for the fabric), then tumble dry hot for at least 30 minutes, or
• Dry clean items unsuitable for hot washing or tumble drying, or
• Seal items in a bag, check the freezer temperature and place them in a deep freezer for at least 3 days.

After treating fabrics: store clean items in sealed bags or plastic boxes until the infestation is under control.

4. Desiccant dusts (used carefully in cracks and crevices)

Desiccant dusts can help in the places bed bugs hide, but they must be applied carefully. Use a powder labelled for bed bugs, such as those in our bed bug killer powders range, and follow the label. A food-grade diatomaceous earth is one gentle, low-toxicity option for a very light dusting into dry cracks and crevices.

• Apply a very light dusting only into harbourages (skirting gaps, bed frame joints, cracks and crevices).
• Avoid airborne dust: ventilate, apply sparingly, consider a mask, and keep children and pets away during application.
• Don't dust open surfaces where it can be disturbed.

5. Bed bug interceptor traps (good for monitoring)

Interceptor-style bed bug traps sit under bed and furniture legs and help you see activity levels.

• Pull the bed slightly away from the wall.
• Ensure bedding doesn't touch the floor.
• Traps won't solve an infestation on their own, but they're excellent for monitoring and confirming whether numbers are dropping.

Avoid these common mistakes

• Don't rely on foggers or bug bombs as your main method – they often don't reach the cracks where bed bugs hide.
• Don't try to "heat treat" a room with heaters, thermostats or fireplaces – it's unsafe and won't deliver controlled temperatures.
• Don't move rooms to escape the bites – you can spread the problem.

Chemical Solutions: When to Use Chemical Bedbug Killers

Chemical products can help when used correctly, but they're not a shortcut and must be used with care. They also often need to be part of a wider treatment plan, as eggs and hidden bugs can survive an initial treatment.

For many bed bug problems, products designed for longer-lasting control, such as residual bed bug sprays, are often more effective than fast knockdown sprays alone, because they keep working in treated harbourages after application. Many effective bed bug products also include an insect growth regulator (IGR) to help disrupt the life cycle.

If you prefer a gentler first step, a pesticide-free spray labelled for bed bugs can be useful for spot treatment and light activity, but it's usually best used alongside thorough vacuuming and/or steam treatment, decluttering and ongoing monitoring.

Only use products specifically labelled for bed bugs, and always follow the label instructions exactly. Focus treatment on harbourages such as cracks and crevices, bed frame joints, skirting edges, and mattress seams (only where the label allows), rather than spraying large open areas unnecessarily.

Wear gloves, ventilate the room well, and keep children and pets away until treated areas are dry and it's safe to re-enter according to the product label. Avoid overapplying, overusing or mixing products, as this can increase exposure risk and reduce effectiveness. Re-check and repeat treatment only as directed on the label, as newly hatched bugs may appear after the first treatment.

When to Use Professional Bedbug Control Services

Have you followed all our advice on how to stop bedbugs but don't seem to be getting anywhere?

Many bedbug problems, especially low-level infestations, can be solved on your own. But sometimes it's necessary to call a professional pest control company. They have access to chemicals and equipment you don't, and experience really helps when dealing with bedbugs. Some can heat your entire home hot enough to kill all bedbugs – an expensive but very effective treatment, and many offer guarantees for peace of mind. You can find a qualified controller through the BPCA directory.

Bed Bug FAQs

How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs yourself?

Usually weeks, not days. You're trying to catch new hatchlings through repeat cleaning and treatment cycles, not just kill what you can see.

Do bed bugs live in clothes?

They can hide in clothing and fabrics, especially items near the bed. Heat (hot wash plus hot tumble dry) is the quickest DIY win.

Should I throw away my mattress or furniture?

Not always. Encasements and targeted treatment can work, but if you must discard items, do it responsibly so others don't take them home.

When should I call a professional or my local council?

If you're seeing bed bugs in multiple rooms, you're not making progress after repeated cycles, or someone is vulnerable (for example, severe reactions), get help. The NHS specifically recommends contacting your local council or pest control.

Final Thoughts

Bedbugs deserve their reputation as one of the toughest pests to get rid of. But tough isn't the same as impossible. Washing all your clothes, then storing them in sealed bags while you steam your furniture and apply a bed bug powder (such as a food-grade diatomaceous earth) into cracks and along skirting, is a lot of work. And to defeat the bedbug lifecycle, you'll probably have to repeat it two or three times over a month or so.

It's worth it if it means you won't have bedbugs anymore. By keeping your home uncluttered and being careful about what you bring home, you can make sure you never have to deal with this problem again.

At PestBuddy, we're here to empower you with effective, fast and easy-to-use DIY bedbug control products and kits. Explore our range to take control of your pest problem with confidence.