A bed bug infestation is one of the hardest things to mitigate, as just one critter is enough to wreak havoc on your mattress all over again. These creatures are small, fast, and often undetectable, making them all the more difficult to get rid of.
Many people assume that you cannot get bedbugs from a new mattress, and if they just splurge a little, then they will be safe. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and it is something I had to learn the hard way.
In this article, we will explore the question: can you get bed bugs from a new mattress? We will also provide tips and tricks to prevent this from happening. Read on to find out more.
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are tiny little insects well known for living in the lining of the mattress. These small critters get their sustenance by feasting on their sleeping host. What makes them a real nuisance is their very small size and their resilience to extreme conditions, making them all the more difficult to get rid of.
Bed bugs can reproduce very quickly and can go months without any food. One popular misconception is that the diet of these insects only consists of their host’s blood. However, bed bugs also feed on our dead skin and the moisture produced by our sweat when we sleep. This may sound scary, but it is all part of the nature of bedbugs to be resourceful.
How Do Bedbugs Survive in A Mattress?
Bedbugs are extremely good at hiding and can be very difficult to detect. Constant reproduction is another reason why they can spread so easily, with a single pregnant bed bug being able to produce over 500 eggs in its lifetime. A bed bug can survive months on a single feed, which means that even when displaced for months bed bugs are likely to make it through alive.
Bed bugs are quite small in size and only come out at night, which is when people are mostly sleeping. This can make their extermination all the more complicated. In most cases, DIY remedies will do you no good and you will have to reach out to a licensed pest control professional to exterminate them from your mattress.
How To Detect Bedbugs in Your New Mattress
By the time a person notices the presence of bedbugs they are heads deep into a full-blown infestation. The following are some tips to detect the presence of bedbugs in your new mattress.
- Red Bumps: One of the first things that you might notice when you have a bed bug infestation is the presence of small red bumps on the surface of your skin. These marks only appear after you have had a good night’s sleep. Although bedbug bites are relatively harmless, some people might develop a serious allergic reaction that might need immediate medical intervention.
- Fecal Material: The second thing that gives away an infestation would be the presence of fecal material on your bed or sheets. This looks like little black dots and is a telltale sign of bedbugs in your mattress.
- Rust-Colored Stains: If you see maroon or rust-colored stains on your bed, then you may have a bed bug infestation at your hands. These marks are due to a bed bug being squished by you in your sleep, resulting in blood oozing out onto your mattress.
- Granular Shells: Granular shells on your bed are indicative of bedbugs, as they may be bed bug eggs or nymph sheddings.
Things to Keep in Mind when Purchasing a New Mattress:
Whether or not a new mattress could have bed bugs depends on several factors. Also, even if your new mattress is free from bedbugs, there is no telling that a lack of upkeep and carelessness on my part may result in the problem presenting itself all over again.
Source of Mattress
When you get a bed from a trusted resource that ensures quality standards of production and delivery, there is hardly any chance of infestation. However many companies recondition old mattresses pack them and sell them as brand-new mattresses. This could result in a huge problem as there is no guarantee of what grimace the mattress harbors.
Previous Infestation
A previous infestation however could raise a huge problem if not cleared out properly. Bed bugs can get into every nook and cranny of the room. Curtains, bed frames, carpets, pillows, cupboards, closets, and areas where the hosts lounge are just some examples. An infestation in itself is unpredictable and can only be countered with a thorough fumigation followed by a strict routine.
Don’t Ignore The Bedding
Sometimes, the problem is not the mattress, but the bedding, so it is imperative that you make sure you source your bedding from a trusted seller. Even something as discrete as a set of pillows ordered online can be a detrimental decision, as the vendor may be simply refurbishing, packing, and selling old items. Make sure you only frequent well-reviewed sites or trusted in-person stores for your bedding purchases to avoid such issues.
Test It Out
Look for signs of infestation at the corners of the new mattress. I recommend setting the new mattress aside for a few days and looking for signs such as bed bug fecal material or sheddings. It is also necessary that you keep the new bed away from other furniture, in case you are dealing with an infested mattress.
Take Note of Pricing
A good quality mattress can’t cost dirt cheap. If you really are getting a great bargain on your mattress, chances are that there might be something fishy and you should keep an eye out for underlying problems. Nobody will buy an infested mattress on its own, so sometimes sellers will attract people with low prices in an attempt to get rid of their stock.
If you ever find yourself debating what you should do regarding the bed bugs, feel free to join for free on WhatsApp and ask any questions you might have.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you tell if a mattress has bed bugs?
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency “Rusty or reddish stains on bed sheets or mattresses caused by bed bugs being crushed. Dark spots (about this size: ), which are bed bug excrement and may bleed on the fabric like a marker would. Eggs and eggshells, which are tiny (about 1mm) and pale yellow skins that nymphs shed as they grow larger.”
How do you get bed bugs out of a mattress?
Follow the 6 steps below to get rid of your bed bugs:
- Launder your linens and avoid leaving your sheets in a basket or anywhere else around the house.
- Vacuum your bedroom and your bed, using the hose.
- Take your bed frame apart and make sure you clean everything.
- Use mattress safe Insecticide; they usually have a mattress image on them.
- Steam your mattress with a minimum of 120 degrees temperature
- If you are not getting a new mattress, encase your mattress and springbox with a special cover.
What instantly kills bed bugs?
Exposure to a high temperature of 120 degrees fahrenheit kills bed bugs immediately. Vacuuming and carrying them outside is just as effective.
