Bed bugs are small insects that often live on furniture or bedding. The insects bite and result in rashes forming that feel itchy. Express.co.uk spoke exclusively to Ben Slater at Online-Bedrooms.co.uk about the best way to remove bed bugs from a mattress and how to clean your mattress.
Signs you have bed bugs:
- Itchy areas on your body that weren’t there before you went to bed
- Blood stains on sheets or pillowcases
- Dark spots on mattress or pillowcase – this could be bed bug excrement
- Eggshells or shredded skin
- A musty odour around the bed
- Living or dead bed bugs
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2. Clean the bedroom
Ben suggested “reducing clutter around your bed”, as well as “vacuuming the room at least once a week”.
When hoovering, avoid the brush attachment as bugs can hide away in bristles, instead, use the hose.
3. Clean the mattress
It’s a good idea to give the mattress a deep clean too. Online-Bedrooms.co.uk “recommend cleaning your mattress every three months,” but if you’ve got bed bugs, do it immediately.
You can clean a mattress by “vacuuming as well as using some warm water”.
After hoovering, Ben said: “Gently brush a mixture of soap and warm water on the mattress and let it sit for four hours before brushing off. Don’t outright pour all of the water directly onto the mattress, as it can make the problem worse.”
If you’ve got a steamer, this is an effective tool for removing bed bugs, but it needs to reach a temperature of 120 degrees or higher.
Once the mattress is fully dry, use baking soda. Ben explained: “Sprinkling some baking soda over a freshly clean mattress can soak up any excess moisture within it. Just make sure to vacuum up any remaining particles before putting the bedding back on.”
Before placing your sheets back on the mattress, add an extra layer with a mattress protector.