How You Can Get Rid of Bed Bugs Permanently

By Rachel Brown

| Updated on May 9, 2025

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You can eliminate bed bugs permanently, but it takes more than a quick spray or one-time cleaning. These pests hide deep in furniture, mattresses, and wall crevices, making them hard to reach and easy to miss.

Successful removal requires a detailed process that includes identifying the signs, deep cleaning every affected area, sealing off hiding spots, and using the right treatments. With consistent effort and proper prevention, you can stop the infestation and keep it from coming back.

What to Check	What to Look For / Do
Bug Appearance	- Adults: ¼–⅜ inches, reddish-brown, flat, oval-shaped - Nymphs: Smaller, paler - Eggs: Tiny (≈1 mm), white, oval
Signs of Infestation	- Physical Presence: Live bugs, reddish stains, shed skins - Bites: Small (2–4 mm), typically clustered - Odor: Musty, like wet towels
Inspection Areas	- Mattresses, box springs, seams, mattress piping - Bed frames, recliners, furniture crevices - Electrical outlets, wall cracks, and baseboards
Scope in Single-Family Homes	Inspect all rooms thoroughly to identify all infested areas
Scope in Apartments/Shared Units	Inform management immediately; bed bugs can spread through walls, vents, and outlets. Coordination may be legally required

Declutter and Isolate Affected Items

Some people make the mistake of moving infected blankets and sheets into another room, which will only spread the infestation. While it is vital to declutter the area to clear the space of places the bugs can hide, you must do it carefully to avoid this.

Remove blankets, sheets, toys, and other bedding or soft textile items out of the room, but place soft items in a sealed plastic bag. Sort these into washable and non-washable piles. Keep infested furniture in the room to avoid spreading the bugs to another location.

Deep Clean Everything in the Room

You must take a systematic approach to cleaning everything in the infested room, though you will use different methods for the various items.

Item	Cleaning Method	Key Tips
Washable Linens	Wash in hot water (≥140°F) for at least 90 minutes and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.	Use the hottest safe settings; sort items into washable and non-washable.
Mattress and Bed	Vacuum mattress, box spring, and bed. Then use a steam cleaner (≥130°F). Seal mattress and box spring in a certified zippered protector for at least a year.	If infestation persists, consider professional help or disposal.
Hard Furniture	Wipe all surfaces with hot, soapy water. Steam clean any cushions. Check cracks and crevices for hidden bugs.	Don’t overlook joints, drawer edges, and under furniture.
Carpet	Vacuum thoroughly. Then shampoo and steam clean with a high-powered carpet cleaner.	Seal and discard vacuum bags immediately after cleaning to prevent reinfestation.

Seal Off Gaps or Openings in Walls

Bed bugs can easily move between walls through tiny cracks, so it is critical to seal as many openings as possible. You can use caulk to seal cracks in the walls and baseboards. Remove any peeling wallpaper where you suspect cracking walls beneath and repair the walls with drywall mud. Look for any gaps around pipes and seal them as needed. Loose switch plates may also provide entry points for bed bugs, so tighten them to prevent gaps.

Using Pesticides – Bed Bug Control Products

Getting rid of bed bugs permanently requires more than just one product. According to The Pest Dude, the most effective approach is a combination of contact sprays, residual insecticides, desiccant dusts, and preventive tools. Foggers are not recommended, as they don’t reach the crevices where bed bugs hide. Instead, targeted application and consistent follow-up are key to eliminating infestations for good.

Product Name	Type	Purpose / How to Use
CimeXa Dust	Desiccant dust (like diatomaceous earth)	Long-lasting, kills bed bugs by damaging their exoskeleton. Apply into cracks, seams, and crevices.
Bulb Duster	Application tool	Used to apply CimeXa dust accurately into hard-to-reach areas.
Nature-Cide All Purpose	Botanical contact spray	Kills bed bugs on contact. Ideal for visible bugs. Safe, green option.
Temprid Ready-to-Spray	Residual + contact insecticide	Kills on contact and leaves a residual to kill future bugs. Apply around beds, frames, baseboards.
Demand CS	Residual insecticide	High-quality residual spray. Use where bugs hide or travel (e.g. bed legs, floor edges).
Bed Bug Mattress Covers	Encasement barrier	Locks bed bugs inside mattress or box spring. Prevents new bugs from getting in or out.
Bed Bug Interceptors	Traps	Placed under bed legs to trap and monitor bugs trying to climb into bed.
Hot Dryer	Heat treatment (household)	Use high heat to kill bugs and eggs in linens, bedding, and clothes.
Vacuum Cleaner	Physical removal	Remove live bugs before applying treatment. Always seal and dispose of vacuum contents after use.

When to Hire a Professional

Hiring a professional exterminator is often the best and easiest method for getting rid of bed bugs, so if you have the budget, it might be worth it. Professionals have access to specialized equipment and chemicals that are more powerful than DIY tools.

When you are looking for help, consider companies that have specific experience with bed bug eradication. Most will offer a multi-method approach, follow-up inspections, and guidance to avoid future infestations.

Ongoing Bed Bug Monitoring and Prevention Checklist

Task	What to Do
Inspect Regularly	Check mattress seams, wall cracks, and furniture weekly for several months.
Use Interceptors	Place bed bug traps under bed legs to detect lingering bugs.
Clean Consistently	Vacuum often and wash bedding on high heat to kill any residual eggs.
Travel Precautions	Inspect hotel beds and floors; keep luggage elevated and off the floor.
Post-Travel Check	Clean and inspect luggage before bringing it inside.
Second-hand Items	Thoroughly inspect and heat-clean any used textiles or furniture before use.