Discovering bed bugs in your bedroom can be a horrible experience — but you can take practical steps straight away to get things under control.
The key is to act quickly: first stop them from spreading, then combine heat, thorough cleaning, targeted treatment, and monitoring to reduce the infestation over time.
In this article, we’ll walk you through 10 simple, DIY-friendly tips to stop bed bugs in your home, protect your bedroom, and reduce the chance of them coming back. If the problem keeps returning or you’re seeing bugs in multiple rooms, it may be time to get professional help — but these steps are still the right place to start.
Quick Answer: Stop Bed Bugs Spreading Today
- Don’t move bedding, clothes, pillows or soft items into other rooms until they’ve been heat-treated (wash/dryer).
- Bag first, carry second: seal anything suspect in strong bin bags before transporting it to the washer.
- Pull the bed away from the wall and keep bedding from touching the floor (reduces easy “bridges”).
- Vacuum seams and edges (mattress, bed frame, skirting) and empty the vacuum into a sealed bag immediately.
- Start monitoring tonight: place bed bug traps/interceptors under bed legs so you can see activity levels and avoid guesswork.
1. Identify the Problem
Ensure you're definitely dealing with bed bugs. Bites are often incorrectly attributed to mosquitoes or allergies. Look for irritating, red bites or tell-tale, physical signs. These include small, reddish-brown spots (around 1mm wide) on bedding, blood smears or tiny white eggshells. You may also see the bugs themselves around the bed frame or mattress.
2. Clean and Declutter
Declutter first so you can reach seams, joints and edges and eliminate potential hiding spots for bed bugs. Then vacuum systematically around the bed and nearby furniture. If in doubt, immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed rubbish bag.
3. Wash Bedding and Clothing
Wash bedding, nightwear and curtains at 60°C where fabrics allow, then tumble-dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. For items you can’t hot-wash, use a hot dryer cycle or seal and freeze for several days.
Tip: Keep ‘clean’ items in fresh sealed bags until your monitoring shows activity has stopped — otherwise they can be re-infested.
4. Encase Mattresses and Pillows
Use protective sealable covers to encase your mattresses and pillows. These can trap bed bugs inside the mattress and make inspection/monitoring easier. They’re most effective alongside heat, cleaning, and monitoring. You may have to keep the covers on for a year to ensure all bugs and their eggs die.
5. Seal Cracks and Openings
Seal cracks in walls and around skirting boards, especially in bedrooms. Tighten electrical faceplates and seal any openings where pipes or wires come into your home. This can prevent bed bugs from living and moving through wall voids.
Extra Tips:
- Focus on skirting gaps, bedhead fixing points, pipe penetrations, and loose socket faceplates.
- If you rent, avoid permanent alterations without permission — but temporary gap fillers and draft strips can still reduce movement.
Safety note: don’t remove faceplates unless you’re competent and the power is isolated. If unsure, focus on non-invasive proofing (draft strips/gap fillers) or get help.
6. Use Heat Treatment
Bed bugs and eggs are vulnerable to high heat, but the challenge is getting heat to penetrate seams and hiding places. For most DIYers, the best heat options are hot wash plus hot tumble dry, plus slow, thorough steaming of seams, joints and cracks. Whole-room heat is usually a professional method for larger infestations.
7. Consider Insecticide Treatments
Pesticides can help when used correctly, but they’re not a shortcut — and they don’t reliably solve eggs on their own. Use a product labelled for bed bugs, such as bed bug sprays and follow the label exactly. Treat harbourage areas (cracks/crevices, bed frame joints, skirting edges) rather than ‘open’ surfaces. Avoid spraying bedding and skin-contact areas unless the label explicitly says it’s safe for that use.
After treatment, keep the room ventilated, allow surfaces to dry fully, and keep children/pets away until safe. If activity persists, plan a repeat treatment schedule based on the product label — bed bug eggs can hatch later, so one pass is rarely the end of it.
8. Monitor and Trap
Set up bed bug monitors and traps under the legs of your bed to catch bed bugs and monitor infestations. These are useful to help you determine the effectiveness of your treatments.
9. Maintain Vigilance
Regular inspections and maintenance are crucial to keeping bed bugs away. Check your bedding and furniture regularly for signs of bed bugs. Be particularly careful after travelling, hosting guests, or purchasing second-hand furniture.
10. Seek Professional Help
If you are unsure or unable to control the situation yourself, consult a professional pest control service. They have access to more potent insecticides and methods, like whole-room heat treatments.
Bed Bug FAQs
How do I know if I’ve actually got bed bugs?
Look for live bugs in seams/joints, dark spotting on bedding, shed skins, and clusters of bites. If you’re unsure, start monitoring with traps to confirm activity.
Can I stop bed bugs myself?
You can often reduce numbers and stop them spreading with heat, vacuuming, proofing and monitoring — but established infestations can be very difficult to eliminate completely. If you’re not getting on top of it, get help from your local council or a pest controller.
What kills bed bugs fastest at home?
Heat is the quickest DIY win: hot wash + high-heat tumble dry. Pair that with sealing clutter and targeted treatment of cracks and bed frame joints.
How long should I keep traps down?
Keep monitors in place for several weeks after you think activity has stopped, and re-check after travel or bringing second-hand items indoors.
Final Thoughts
Take action right away and follow these tips to eliminate the presence of bed bugs in your home. Remember, proactive measures and regular checking are key to keeping your home bed bug-free. Don't be afraid to call in the professionals.
We go to great lengths to ensure that all our DIY bed bug products are effective, fast & easy-to-use. You may also find our expert guide useful if you want to learn more about getting rid of bed bugs in your home or workplace.
