Do I Have to Throw Out My Bed Bug Infested Mattress?
No. You should not throw away your mattress after it has been infested by bed bugs. This is discouraged because getting rid of your infested items can contribute to the spread of bed bugs.
Some of the best ways to get rid of bed bugs in your mattress include:
- Take the linens off and wash them in hot water.
- Keep your mattress and box spring in place. Moving them could spread bed bugs throughout your house.
- Hire a professional bed bug exterminator to conduct a heat treatment.
Why You Shouldn’t Toss Your Infested Mattress
If you have a bed bug infestation, it might seem tempting to throw away your mattress. Get rid of the mattress, get rid of the bed bugs, right? Wrong. Throwing away your mattress or box spring will not be the answer to your problem.
Bed bugs usually aren’t only hiding in your bed. They often spread to different areas around your home. If you try to replace your mattress during an infestation, your new mattress will most likely become infested, too. You have to treat your whole home for bed bugs to stop the spread.
Why Do Some People Throw Away Their Mattress When They Get Bed Bugs?
It’s an emotional response, and it’s something that seems like it should work. They’re called bed bugs, so you assume that’s where they’re located, without realizing they’re hiding and breeding in other places throughout the home, including probably the walls.
When many people find bed bugs in their bed, they have a disgusted reaction. They view their bed as tainted and want to get rid of it. The problem is twofold:
- If you get rid of the mattress before you solve the problem, the bed bugs are still in your house, and you may spread bed bugs to someone else’s house.
- If you get rid of the mattress after you solve the problem, you just got rid of a perfectly good mattress. Having bed bugs previously doesn’t make it “dirty.” Bed bugs don’t spread bacteria, pathogens, or diseases, so once they’re gone, there are no lingering effects.
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Do You Need to Throw Away Your Bedding or Furniture?
You shouldn’t have to throw away any of your possessions during a bed bug infestation. Everything can be salvaged with proper treatment in place. Instead of tossing your clothes and bedding, you should try washing them in a hot water wash. High heat washing and drying consistently kills bed bugs and their eggs.
All of your furniture should be helped by professional bed bug treatment. If you were already planning to get rid of some of your furniture, an infestation could be the perfect excuse, but make sure to wait until your home has been treated and the bed bugs are gone.
Instructions for Properly Disposing of Your Mattress
Maybe your mattress was already old, and it was time to get a new one anyway – the bed bug infestation motivated you a little bit more. In that case, just be sure you replace your mattress with a new one after the infestation has been solved. If it’s still there, your new mattress will get infested, too.
There are a few ways to get rid of your mattress responsibly and legally.
- DIY: Find your local dump or waste transfer station online, then take the mattress there yourself. Call first to confirm their fee.
- Curbside: Call the number on your trash bill to schedule and pay for a “bulky item pickup” with your regular garbage service.
- Full-Service: Hire a junk removal company. It’s the easiest and most expensive option, as they come to your house and do all the work.
Will Bed Bugs Infest All of your Furniture?
If you have bed bugs in your home, they are probably in places that you haven’t thought of. It makes sense that bed bugs like to infest upholstered furniture, but what about wooden objects? Unfortunately, bed bugs are often found in cracks and crevices in our wood tables, chairs, and more. As with mattresses, you should not throw them out in the middle of an infestation.