How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Without an Exterminator

If you woke up one day with a cluster of bites on your arm, you may be wondering how to get rid of bed bugs without an exterminator. When you notice the telltale signs of a bed bug infestation, it’s never too early to start the extermination process. Effective, professional extermination can be costly, ranging from $500 to $5,000. If hiring an exterminator near you is out of the question, consider these DIY options to treat, clean, and prevent bed bugs.

Can You Get Rid of Bed Bugs Without an Exterminator?

A DIY extermination is more affordable than hiring professional bed bug services. However, getting rid of bed bugs independently without an exterminator will require hard work and patience. It won’t be as easy as completing just one of the tasks below, as you’ll need to do everything necessary to clean, treat, and seal your home.

Before getting started, make a game plan for how you will tackle each task. Whether you’re working with a tight budget and can’t afford an exterminator or simply prefer a DIY lifestyle, you can make different choices to stay within your ideal cost range. By planning ahead, you’re more likely to succeed.

1. Identify Areas of Bed Bug Infestation 

To determine whether you have bed bugs and where they might be, you’ll need to look for signs of an infestation. They usually stick close by upholstered furniture like beds, couches, and chairs because this is a prime feeding area for bed bugs with ample space to hide. In particular, inspect the seams in the furniture, as the bed bugs can burrow and hide inside. Carefully check the carpet edges, under your rugs, and behind wall hangings.

Look for:

• Tiny, rust-colored stains on surfaces, especially fabric

• Tiny eggs 

• Tiny fecal deposits

• Dead bugs

• Sweet smell, like raspberries, almonds, or coriander

• Small cluster of bites on skin

If bites occur after sleeping in a particular area of your home, you should begin your search there. You should do some late-night detective work to identify bed bugs, as they generally emerge at night, usually in sleeping areas. To verify that you have bed bugs, place one in a sealed plastic bag and show it to an exterminator.

2. Contain the Infestation

To contain a bed bug infestation, you’ll need to follow several steps. Adhere to these guidelines to manage the number of bed bugs in your home.

• Vacuum the area thoroughly, using the wand attachment to vacuum your bed, frame, mattress, and box spring, moldings, windowsills, furniture around the bed, and any other surrounding objects. 

• Empty the vacuum directly into the garbage and clean the vacuum cylinder.

• Avoid moving bedding and other fabric or porous items from one room to another, as this can help the bugs to travel. 

• Bag items that might be affected to treat them without spreading bed bugs or their eggs to other areas of your home.

3. How to Kill Bed Bugs

Even though it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the significant number of bed bugs in your home, you might feel better once you realize they're not invincible. In fact, bed bugs cannot survive in extreme heat or cold. You can use this to your advantage to kill the pests without an exterminator.

1. Wash Your Sheets and Clothes on High Heat

Extreme heat is an effective way to kill bed bugs in all life stages. Generally speaking, it takes about 20 minutes at 118 degrees Fahrenheit to kill them.

• Hand dryer: One method is to use a hand dryer set on high heat. You’ll have to hold the dryer for about 30 minutes, so this option is best for smaller items.

• Direct sunlight: You can place bagged items in direct sunlight if you live in a warm climate. If it’s at least 95 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the heat will build up in the bag and kill any bed bugs. 

• Portable heating device: You can buy a portable heating device designed specifically for bed bugs. The bags heat up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and allow you to place items inside on racks. These devices cost around $310.

• Commercial heat chambers: There are also higher-grade, commercial heat chambers available. These can be rented for about $350 a day. If it’s in your budget, renting equipment can be a big boost to helping you eliminate the bed bugs without an exterminator.

2. Use Cold

You can place items in a plastic bag and then put them in the freezer for four days at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. You will likely need to adjust the temperature because most freezers are not set that cold by default.

3. Use Steam

You can use a dry or wet steamer to kill bed bugs in all life stages. Attachments will help you get into the small cracks and crevices. If you don’t own a steamer, you can rent one for around $30 for one day.

4. Using Pesticides

You’ve cleaned, laundered, and used heat, steam, or extreme cold to rid your house of bed bugs. At this point, you might bring a new level of attack to the table: pesticide products.

Bug Bombs

Bug bombs or foggers are not recommended for bed bug treatment. The bugs are so small that they hide in places out of the reach of foggers. In some cases, using a bug bomb may worsen the situation as the attack may force the bugs to move from one area to another.

When using bombs, follow all instructions carefully. It should not be used in kitchens or around food. All your family members (including the furry ones) must vacate the area. After releasing the fogger, you need to wait around two hours. Afterward, make sure to ventilate the room well. There are foggers on the market for $10 to $20.

Desiccant Pesticides

Dust-based products like diatomaceous earth (DE) or silica aerogel effectively kill bed bugs and other insects that invade your home. A 4-pound bag of DE pesticides will run you around $10 to $20.

• Buy DE formulated for indoor pesticide use. 

• Use a dust mask, goggles, and gloves when using large amounts of DE so you don’t irritate your skin, eyes, or lungs.

• You can sprinkle it in small cracks and seams or use a paintbrush to dust any infected furniture. 

• Clean up and dispose of the dead bed bugs carefully.

Sprays

Contact bug sprays will kill pests on contact. A bottle of contact spray costs around $8 to $10.

There are also pyrethroid sprays, but it’s known that some bed bugs have developed resistance to them. These run from $15 to $30.

• Remove all pets from the area.

• Protect yourself by wearing goggles, gloves, and a mask.

• Spray bed bugs directly. Don’t spray on kitchen counters or dining tables.

• After using pesticide sprays, you must leave the room and keep your pets out, too. All sprayed surfaces must dry completely, and you should ventilate the room.

Pesticide Strips

Instead of using the sunlight or a freezer to kill the bed bugs, you can use pesticide strips inside bags or bins—alternatively, place strips in very low-traffic areas of your home, like closets. 

Keep children and pets away from the strips, don’t use them near the kitchen or around food, and wash your hands well after handling. The cost ranges from $10 to $50 based on how many strips you need.

4. Check for Bedbugs in One Week 

Once you do everything you can to get rid of bed bugs without an exterminator, you’ll want to check weekly to see if you were successful. Check the bed interceptors for signs of bugs, or place traps under your bed and other problem areas.

To increase your chances of success, keep your house clean, inspect all of the rooms in your home, and be vigilant about what items you bring back inside the house after treatment.

5. Cleaning After a Bed Bug Infestation

If the tiny bed bugs are giving you nightmares, the best thing you can do is start cleaning as soon as possible. You can start cleaning with items you probably already have in your house or invest a little money in products. And if renting some strategic equipment is within your budget, it will speed up your cleaning process.

Soapy Water

It’s a good idea to use only soapy water or other non-chemical methods for bed bug treatment if you’re dealing with nurseries or kids’ rooms.

• Use soap and water to wipe down all hard surfaces to destroy bed bugs and eggs.

• Mop the floor and wipe down window sills and walls. Remember the furniture, including your bed frame, dressers, and cabinets.

Vacuum

• Use a HEPA vacuum to remove bed bugs, and take advantage of the attachments. The smaller wands will help you get to the bugs hiding in small cracks and seams.

• Disassemble all furniture to carefully clean all of the small recessed parts, like screw holes. 

• Every time you finish vacuuming an area with bed bugs, you must empty the contents into a trash bag and throw it away immediately.

Laundry

• Double-bag all of your bedding, clothing, and drapery. 

• Wash laundry with hot water for 30 minutes.

• Tumble dry for at least 30 minutes on high heat.

Seal Cracks

• Look for spots in your walls, windows, and doors that could allow bed bugs to crawl in.

• Make sure bed bugs can’t crawl back into your home by sealing cracks with caulk. 

• Inspect your home for cracks and crevices regularly.

Declutter

• Throw away all unnecessary paper products like magazines, newspapers, and cardboard. 

• Throw away severely infested upholstered furniture like couches and chairs. Wicker furniture is usually hard to salvage after an infestation.

• If you remove large items like furniture, take them immediately to the dump. 

• If you set it on the curb for trash service, you should mark the furniture with a warning about bed bugs. You’ll save someone from taking the free furniture (with the bed bugs) into their home.

6. Prevent Future Infestations

Now that you’ve managed your current bed bug problem, be sure to implement measures to prevent future infestations. Follow these guidelines to keep the bed bugs away.

Add Protective Covers

You should purchase protective covers after thoroughly vacuuming the mattress and bed springs. The cover will keep the bugs inside until they die and keep any bugs out of the mattress. Mattress covers cost $10 to $40, and box spring covers cost $30 to $60.

Install Bed Bug Interceptors

Once you care for the mattress and box spring, you must stop new bed bugs from crawling onto your bed. The first thing you should do is move your bed at least 6 inches from the wall. Also, remove any items that you might be storing under the bed. Don’t use bed skirts or allow bedding to touch the floor.

Next, you must install bed bug interceptors for at least a year. These specially designed cups sit under each foot of your bed and keep bed bugs from climbing your bed frame. The interceptors cost $13 to $30.

Clean Linens Regularly

It’s a good rule of thumb to wash your bed and other linens regularly, but it’s particularly important if you recently had a bed bug problem. Be sure to wash and dry all bedding weekly on high heat to ward off bed bugs and kill any remaining eggs.

Vacuum Frequently

Similar to washing your linens, vacuuming your upholstery and floors frequently can help prevent a future bed bug infestation. Vacuum daily or every few days if you have carpets, many rugs, or several upholstered features in your home.

Inspect Furniture Often

After dealing with a bed bug problem, you’ll likely stay on high alert for signs of future infestations. One method for catching infestations early is to regularly inspect your furniture for signs of these persistent pests. Take a few minutes to carefully check your curtains, couches, chairs, mattresses, and other furniture, if only to provide yourself some peace of mind.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Getting rid of bed bugs yourself costs between $50 and $200 for a kit with a pesticide, and you can get a steamer for between $30 and $400. A professional bed bug exterminator will cost between $1,750 and $3,250 on average. If you have the time and determination, you can eliminate a minor bed bug infestation yourself. However, hiring a professional for a more severe infestation is recommended because you will need to use whole-home methods to eliminate them.