Found Bed Bugs? Here's Exactly What to Do Next

First: Don’t Panic

Finding bed bugs is alarming, but it’s not a reflection of cleanliness. Bed bugs are hitchhikers that arrive via luggage, used furniture, clothing, and even neighboring apartments. They infest luxury hotels and modest homes alike. What matters now is how quickly and effectively you respond.

Step 1: Confirm the Identification

Before you spend money on treatment, make sure you’re actually dealing with bed bugs. Misidentification is common — carpet beetles, bat bugs, and fleas are frequently mistaken for bed bugs.

What Bed Bugs Look Like

Adult bed bugs: Flat, oval, reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed (4-5mm)
Nymphs: Smaller, translucent to yellowish, harder to spot
Eggs: Tiny white ovals, about 1mm, often found in clusters

Other Signs of Bed Bugs

Dark spots on mattress seams, sheets, or pillowcases (bed bug excrement)
Rusty or reddish stains on bedding from crushed bugs
Shed skins — bed bugs molt five times before reaching adulthood
A sweet, musty odor in heavily infested rooms
Itchy welts on your skin, often in lines or clusters

If you can capture a specimen, a pest control professional can confirm the identification.

Step 2: Contain the Infestation

Act immediately to prevent bed bugs from spreading to other rooms:

Don’t move furniture or bedding to other rooms — this spreads the bugs
Don’t sleep in a different room — bed bugs will follow your body heat and CO2, potentially infesting additional areas
Encase your mattress and box spring in bed bug-proof encasements. This traps bugs inside and prevents new ones from hiding in the seams
Reduce clutter around the bed to eliminate hiding spots

Step 3: Launder Everything

Bed bugs die at temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit:

Wash all bedding, clothing, and fabric items from the affected room on the hottest setting
Dry everything on high heat for at least 30 minutes — the dryer heat is what kills them
Items that can’t be washed (shoes, stuffed animals, bags) can go in the dryer on high for 30 minutes
Store clean items in sealed plastic bags until treatment is complete

Step 4: Vacuum Thoroughly

Vacuum the mattress, bed frame, baseboards, carpet, and any furniture in the affected room. Pay special attention to seams, crevices, and joints where bed bugs hide.

After vacuuming, immediately seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash can. If you use a bagless vacuum, empty the canister into a sealed bag and clean the canister with hot, soapy water.

Step 5: Call a Professional

This is the step that matters most. Bed bugs are extremely difficult to eliminate with DIY methods alone. They hide in tiny crevices, can survive months without feeding, and reproduce rapidly. Professional treatment is almost always necessary for complete elimination.

Professional Treatment Options

Heat Treatment: $1,000 - $3,000 per room. The entire room is heated to 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit, killing bed bugs at all life stages in a single treatment. Most effective method with the highest success rate.

Chemical Treatment: $300 - $1,500. Professional-grade insecticides are applied to all hiding spots. Usually requires 2 to 3 treatments spaced 2 weeks apart to catch newly hatched bugs.

Combination Approach: Many professionals use both heat and chemical treatments for the most thorough results.

For more information on costs and what to expect from professional pest treatment, see our guide on pest control costs.

What Not to Do

Don’t use bug bombs or foggers — they spread bed bugs to new hiding spots without killing them
Don’t throw away your mattress (unless it’s damaged) — encasements and treatment are more effective and less expensive
Don’t apply pesticides yourself — over-the-counter products are largely ineffective against bed bugs and can pose health risks if misused
Don’t ignore the problem — bed bug populations grow exponentially. A few bugs today become hundreds within weeks

Getting Professional Help

Bed bug infestations are one of the strongest cases for professional pest control services. Licensed exterminators have access to commercial-grade treatments, thermal equipment, and the expertise to find every hiding spot. Most reputable companies offer follow-up inspections and retreatment guarantees.

Get a free quote from licensed pest control professionals in your area. The sooner you act, the simpler and less expensive the treatment will be.