Bed Bug Killer Sprays

It depends on the product - check the label, which states which surfaces it can be applied to. Where mattress use is permitted, allow the treated area to dry fully before making the bed up, and follow any guidance on laundering bedding afterwards.

Pesticide-free sprays contain no insecticidal active substance and act on the insects they are applied to directly. Insecticide sprays include a residual element, so they continue to act on bed bugs crossing treated surfaces afterwards. For an established infestation the residual element usually matters, because the ones you can see are a fraction of the ones present.

Follow the reapplication guidance on the product label. In general, re-treat after disruption such as vacuuming, deep cleaning or changing bedding, and top up if you see fresh activity. Bed bug control normally needs repeat treatment over several weeks to catch newly hatched bugs, so consistency matters more than volume.

Yes, and you should. Bed bugs harbour in bed frame joints and screw holes, headboard fixings, skirting board gaps, and cracks in nearby furniture - not only in the bed itself. Treat the harbourages as well as the sleeping surface, within what the label permits.

Expected, on a first treatment. Eggs are protected from most sprays and hatch afterwards, which is why a repeat application in line with the label is part of the process rather than a sign of failure. Beyond that, the commonest reason is that the harbourage was missed - check frame joints, screw holes and skirting gaps rather than only the mattress. Use interceptor traps under the bed legs to see whether numbers are actually falling.

If activity continues after a full treatment cycle, if it has spread beyond one room, or if you are in a flat or shared building where the source may be next door. Bed bugs are among the hardest pests to clear as a DIY job.