Dealing with bed bugs yourself

What the NHS says

The NHS says to contact the council or a pest controller, because DIY is unlikely to succeed. That is a useful starting point. You can do preparation, and it makes any professional treatment work better, but it should not replace treatment. If you find a bug, a shed skin or specks on the bed, act early, because a small infestation is easier to clear than a large one.

What you can do

These steps help, and a professional will ask you to do them anyway:

• strip the bed and wash fabrics at 60°C at least, then tumble-dry hot
• vacuum the mattress, bed frame, skirting and floor, then empty the vacuum into a sealed bag outside
• declutter floors and the space under the bed
• freeze items that cannot be washed for two to three weeks, as the NHS suggests
• fit a mattress encasement, which helps

Do not spread bugs by carrying bedding around the house.

Why shop-bought sprays fall short

Pyrethroid resistance limits what shop-bought sprays can do, so they are a weak tool on their own. A spray also reaches only what you can see, and bugs hide in seams, frames and furniture. Professional treatment uses residual products or heat that a householder cannot match.

Do not bin furniture in the street

Putting a bed or sofa out on the street spreads bed bugs to other people, and it will not fix your problem. If an item must go, wrap it in plastic, and tell your council or landlord how to dispose of it. Do not bring second-hand furniture into the home without checking it first.

Stop them spreading

After a trip, wash clothes at 60°C and keep luggage off the bed. Inspect second-hand furniture and mattresses before they come into the home. If you stay in a hotel, check the mattress seams and headboard before you unpack. These habits will not clear bugs already in your home, but they stop you adding more.

If you rent

Tell your landlord in writing and keep a copy. Do not treat the property in secret or throw furniture out before they know. Under the housing health and safety rating system, exposure to pests is a hazard whoever is to blame, and councils can act on it. Report early, because bed bugs spread between flats.

When to call a professional

Call a professional as soon as you find live bugs, because DIY is rarely enough. Heat treatment clears a room in one visit, and chemical treatment takes two or three. Read what bed bug treatment involves and what it costs. Confirm what you have with the identification guide.

Many councils treat bed bugs for a fee, with discounts for people on council tax support. If you rent, tell your landlord in writing.