One morning you wake up and you have bites all over. You panic wondering what could have caused these bites that have appeared overnight. It is then you see the dreaded bed bug out of the corner of your eye. Your mind automatically goes to everything you need to clean and how quickly you can look up how to eradicate an infestation.
One question that may pop into your mind is do I need to discard my mattress after bed bugs?
Was it a Bed Bug
Your first thoughts jump to bed bugs when you see any kind of bug in your bed which is natural! However, prior to panicking what does a bed bug look like? A bed bug has an oval shape and is flat. Their colors change depending where in the feeding cycle they are, and so they can be dark reddish-brown or even tan. If you were looking to get an idea of size, you can think of the size of Lincoln’s head on a penny as they are similar. If this is the bug you’ve seen, then treatment is ideal!
What About my Mattress
If you’ve confirmed the worst now, you’re thinking about treating and getting rid of things including your mattress. This is a natural reaction as you think about the term “bed bug” and then think about your bed.
However, if you are quick to catch the infestation, and employ the help of a pest control professional this may not be necessary! Also, while the thought of just tossing your mattress out is appealing, it will not solve your problem.
Why Not Just Throw It Out
Believe it or not, throwing your mattress away will not fully solve your bed bug issue! If you buy a new mattress and the infestation, it will also get bed bugs! Bed bugs can also take residence in other places such as in hollow furniture legs, behind wall plates, in picture frames and more! This means that even with getting rid of the mattress you can still be host to these pests!
Can I Treat Bed Bugs on My Own
While some do have success in treating their bed bug issues on their own, it is not often suggested. Pest professionals have an arsenal of tools they use to help ensure bed bugs are gone for good!
They have a litany of techniques that can help ensure these pests are gone for good such as special heaters and insecticides. These treatments ensure your bed bug issue is gone for good, and that you and your mattress are safe!
What Do I Do Now
Now that you know you don’t instantly need to jump to do I need to throw my mattress out. You can take a deep breath and look to see if it is truly a bed bug. If it is, then you know you have treatment options and pest professionals who can help!
