Employ A Heat Treatment
If your goal is to get rid of your bed bugs on the ceiling fast, your best option is a heat treatment.
This is when you tap into the resources and expertise of a licensed pest control team with highly-trained technicians.
During heat treatment, the professionals will subject the affected room and ceiling to heat ranging between 135°F and 145°F .
This is to get the bed bugs out of hiding, and when these insects and their eggs are exposed to at least 122°F , they will immediately perish.
Although the results are instant, a single heat treatment can last up to 8 hours.
You need to transfer out most of the furniture and appliances in the room, as too much heat can damage them.
This has its cons though, especially if you have a small population of bed bugs on these fixtures, as they will be spared from the heat treatment.
Tips On How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs From A Mattress
While responding to the challenge of how to get rid of bed bugs in a mattress, if you choose to remove the mattress bugs on your own, be mindful that the cleanup process can take considerable time. Removal wont happen overnight. You may need to repeat a process over and over again to see visible results.
Even after implementing all the required steps you still see signs of bug infestation. In this case, we recommend you take professional assistance to get rid of these annoying little beings.
Step 1. Clean your Bedding
First things first. You have to deep clean your bedding and wash everything that has been coming into contact with your mattress. This includes pillows, pillow covers, bed sheets, throws, blankets, duvet covers, mattress encasements, mattress pads, and anything that you think may be infested with bugs. Carefully wash the linens in the washing machine or you can also get them washed by professional laundry services.
Do not use a laundry basket to transport the linen from the room to the washing machine. Insects can quickly crawl into the basket and may hide inside your other clothes and garments.
Wash the linens with hot water and powerful detergent. let everything air dry and put them under direct sunlight. Learn more
Step 2. Vacuum the Room, Mattress, and Bed Frame
After cleaning the bed linen, now is the time to thoroughly vacuum your room and bed. Vacuum clean the entire room and clean the mattress surface and sides with great detail and precision.
How To Dispose Of An Old Mattress
A mattress can be a very difficult thing to move even when you have someone helping you, just because it is so big and so very heavy. So many people buy their new mattress online these days that there is a parallel growth for the need for mattress disposal.
This can be a problem and makes it harder to get rid of the old mattress when buying a new one online because theres no one there to take the old one away when the new one is delivered.
So how can you make throwing away an old mattress as easy as it used to be? Without illegally dumping it, I mean. Its probably not as bad as you think.
For the rest of this post, Ill be sharing 7 different methods for getting an old mattress out of your house in ways that are environmentally responsible.
Method 1: Give Away Your Mattress
The best part about this disposal method is being able to use it as an opportunity to visit and catch up with loved ones you havent seen in a while.
Friends and family members are more likely to accept your used mattress because they know you well and trust you. Try texting or emailing loved ones with pictures and a description of the mattress youd like to get rid of and ask if they would like to have it. If none of them need a new mattress, they may know of someone who does.
Method 2: Try Selling Your Mattress
Method 3: Break Down Your Mattress
Looking for cheap mattress disposal? BOOK A PICKUP
Method 4: Get Green Mattress Removal
Method 5: Repurpose Your Old Mattress
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Resell Or Give It Away
If you’d like to make a few bucks from your mattress, you can also consider selling it. We only recommend selling beds that are in excellent condition without any central sagging. Your mattress should also be clean and come from a smoke-free home.
Sites like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Craigslist make it easy to sell or give away items to local buyers. Simply take a few pictures of your mattress, upload them to these platforms, and state your listing price. Then, buyers within your area can reach out to you to arrange a time and place to pick up the mattress.
If you’re simply trying to get rid of your mattress, listing it for free on one of the above platforms could save you some time and effort. If your bed is still in good condition, people may be willing to pick it up from your house and haul it away for you, saving you the work of taking it to a donation center.
You can also reach out to friends and family members to see if anyone is interested in taking the mattress off your hands. Your friends may be more likely to trust that the mattress is clean and in good condition than total strangers would.
Get More Info:How to Sell Used Mattress
How To Clean A Mattress
If your mattress gets the pass and youve decided to give it away, be sure to follow these steps to clean and deodorize it:
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Extending The Life Of Your Mattress
There are a few ways you can extend the life of your old mattress but its not recommended. Old mattresses tend to have sleepers tossing and turning during the night, due to sagging and more. They also have the ability to negatively affect a persons overall health. Dust mites are unfortunately a common mattress issue that can cause many health problems, especially in allergy and asthma sufferers.
Sleeping on an old mattress can even be stressful, proven by a bed-based study which concluded that sleeping on a new mattress increases sleep quality and reduces back discomfort.
Do Baby Roaches Look Like Bed Bugs
Many people have seen the infomercials and commercials for the bed bug product and are wondering, Do baby roaches look like bed bugs? The short answer is, No, they dont look like bed bugs. The long answer is that these little buggers are a different insect altogether, more closely related to the roach, and are commonly referred to as bed bugs because they tend to feed on human blood.
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Should I Replace An Infested Mattress With A New Mattress
No, you dont necessarily have to replace a mattress if its infested with bed bugs. If the infestation hasnt gotten out of control, you can remove or kill the bed bugs in your mattress by vacuuming it. Then, put a bed bug proof encasement over it to keep it protected.
Buying a new mattress may not be the best solution if your room still has bed bugs. Bed bugs will come out of their hiding places at night to feed on your blood and infest your new mattress all over again. If all attempts at removing bed bugs fail, then youll need to buy a new mattress. But before buying, ensure your house is completely bed bug-free.
To prevent bed bugs from crawling out of your infested mattress, wrap it with heavy-duty plastic and seal with duct tape before disposing of it.
S To Prevent A Bed Bug Infestation
Bed bugs need warmth and blood to survive and can be found on any furniture or upholstery. No matter where they are found, they find their way to your mattress. They have easy access to food there and a warm environment. Follow a few steps to prevent bed bug infestation.
- De-clutter your bedroom, reducing hiding spots for bed bugs
- Seal cracks on the baseboards, walls, and electrical outlets where bed bugs may sneak in or hide
- Continue to use a bed bug proof encasement on your mattress
- Regularly vacuum your mattress, bed bases, bed frames, headboards, footboards, carpets, curtains, and other upholstered furniture, removing bed bugs if any
- Check for bed bugs in your hotel room to avoid bringing them back home with you
- Wash clothes in hot water immediately after returning from a trip
- Avoid keeping luggage on your bed bed bugs may travel by sticking to your bags
- Inspect second-hand furniture for bed bugs, before buying
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So How Do You Know If Your Mattress Is In Good Enough Shape To Be Donated
Every charity, organization, and shelter has its own standards for what is acceptable for a donated mattress. However, there are a few standard guidelines:
Odors: Though people can sometimes be noseblind to odors in their own home, a particularly strong odor on a mattress should be noticeable to you. When in doubt, call in a third party, preferably one who you do not live with, to do a sniff test. If you find that the mattress has a slight odor, you can try sprinkling a layer of baking soda on the surface and letting it sit for a few hours. Afterward, vacuum off the baking soda, and then, if possible, let the mattress air outside. If the odor remains, you should reconsider donating the mattress.
In general, figuring out if your mattress is up to donation standards is a matter of common sense.
Make sure the mattress is structurally sound, clean, and free of any infestations or odors. The mattress is not going to help anyone if it cannot be used. Think about whether or not you would want to receive your mattress as a donation. If not, then consider other options.
If you feel that your bed is in good shape for donation, then thats great! You can move on to selecting the right place to donate.
Options For Mattress & Box Spring Recycling
Donate to a Charity. Use MassDEPs Beyond the Bin Recycling Directory to find organizations near you that accept mattresses.
Find Out if Your City or Town Has a Program. The map below indicates which communities are enrolled in the MassDEP Mattress Recycling Incentive grant program, which subsidizes mattress recycling. An alphabetical listing of communities is also available.
See SMRP Municipal Grants and Additional Resources below to learn more.
Please Note: If your town or city is not part of the MRI program, please contact your local health or public works department to learn about your communitys mattress disposal requirements and/or available recycling options.
Use a Recycler on State Contract. Municipalities and certain public entities may use the FAC90 Statewide Carpet & Mattress Recycling Services Contract to select a vendor to either accept mattresses on a per-unit basis or provide collection container rental and hauling.The following mattress recyclers are currently on state contract:
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How To Dispose Of A Mattress For Free
There are various solutions accessible to those who want to get rid of their mattress for free, but its vital to weigh the benefits and downsides before making a decision.
Lets look at different methods of disposing of a mattress for zero cost, whilst detailing the potential difficulties you may encounter when going down this route.
Choosing A New Mattress
When youre deciding what mattress is the right one for you, consider your lifestyle. First, consider what type of mattress you want? Do you prefer foam? Latex? Spring? Next, think about what size mattress is right for you. Do you sleep alone, or do you share your bed with a partner or furry friend? There are a lot of mattress choices out there, so check out our Mattress Buying Guide to help you get started.
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How Often To Get Rid Of Dust Mites In A Mattress
If your mattress is not encased in a dust mite-proof case and you suffer from allergic reactions, you should vacuum your mattress at least monthly to reduce the number of dust mites. If the mattress has a dust-proof cover that is cleaned frequently, then a twice-yearly cleaning should be all that is needed.
- Vacuum with a hose and an upholstery brush attachment
The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo
How To Recycle A Mattress
Most mattresses can be broken down and recycled. Same goes for old boxsprings. If your mattress and boxspring have seen better days, then consider these recycling options:
More From Good Housekeeping
- There’s a good chance that there’s a recycling center in your area that accepts whole mattresses. Depending on where you live, they may offer to pick up your mattress and recycle it for you at a small price. Connecticut, Rhode Island, and California, for example, let residents recycle their mattresses for free or for a small fee through Extended Producer Responsibility programs. Find out how your state stacks up by visiting .
- Break it down yourself: Since it’s not recommended to leave large items like whole mattresses on the side of the road for recycling pickup, you can dismantle it and drive it to your nearest transfer or recycling station. Most transfer centers will accept its wood frame, steel springs, polyurethane foam, and outer foam.
- Repurpose springs and foam: Give your mattress a second life by putting your DIY skills to use and turning springs into functional wall art and foam into a new dog bed, among other things.
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What Are Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic, arachnids that feed on the dead human skin cells we are constantly shedding. Unlike lice or bed bugs, they are not parasites that bite, sting, or burrow into our skin. However, people can have reactions by inhaling the proteins in dust that come from dust mite feces, urine, or decaying bodies.
Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments like our beds. However, frequent cleaning, including washing bed sheets every week, making some smart bedding choices, and thorough cleaning can help get rid of dust mites in a mattress.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Mattress
Once you know you have an infestation, its time to get to work deep cleaning your mattress . Heres what you need to do
Step 1: Know if your mattress can be saved or notIts entirely possible to get rid of bed bugs, but if you have any holes or tears in your mattress, then its going to be much harder to get rid of the infestation. Thats because bed bugs can burrow into those holes and tears, making it tricky to reach them. Here wed recommend buying a new mattress instead.
Step 2: Scrub all mattress seams and crevicesUsing a stiff brush, scrub all mattress seams, edges and crevices to dislodge any lurking bed bug eggs. Remember, these are small, pale yellow eggs and they could be anywhere on your mattress.
Step 3: Vacuum everythingOnce you have dislodged any eggs and have brushed all of your mattress with a stiff brush, its time to vacuum. Youll need to vacuum the top, sides and bottom of your mattress, and then every inch of carpet in your bedroom. This includes rugs. Wed also remove and wash all curtains, blinds and other bedding.
Step 4: Steam clean your mattress or use a bed bug sprayMost people opt for either a bed bug spray or a steam cleaner here. Sprays are highly effective but loaded with chemicals that could damage your mattress, so read the mattress manufacturers care and cleaning guidelines too. The alternative is to use a steamer on the top, bottom and sides of the mattress.
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How Often Should You Change Your Mattress
If you cant remember how many years youve had your mattress, the chances are its time for a new one. Even if it still feels comfortable, its likely to be less supportive and hygienic than when it was new.
Nearly a quarter of Which? members expect a new mattress to last more than a decade, according to a survey of 1,098 members in March 2021. That’s pretty optimistic, though. About a third said they’d expect it to last 8 to 10 years, which is about right.
The Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress as often as every seven years, because after that time it will have been subjected to more than 20,000 hours of use. Thats the equivalent of 2,555 nights, which is a lot when you consider that adults lose an average of half a pint of fluid each night, and shed a pound of dead skin cells each year.
If reading that makes you shudder, head over to our guide on How to clean a mattress
Our durability tests reveal that the best mattresses can last up to a decade without softening, sagging or becoming less supportive. As long as you buy a good mattress and clean it regularly, you might be able to eke an extra few years out of it.
Buying a new bed frame won’t necessarily extend the life of your new mattress, but be aware that using a mattress with an inappropriate bed frame might invalidate its warranty. Take a look at our tips on how to buy the best bed to find out more.
