Quick Answer: In Brantford, a bed-bug-infested mattress must be sealed in a mattress disposal bag before moving through your home, then taken to Mohawk Street Landfill. Do not set it at the curb unsealed. Most pest control companies recommend disposing rather than treating a heavily infested mattress. Treatment with heat (48°C+ for 90 minutes) works for mild infestations before deciding.
In This Guide
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Bed bugs are one of the more stressful household problems. They are not a hygiene issue, anyone can get them, but they require careful, methodical handling to avoid spreading them further through your home or to your neighbours. Handling a bed-bug mattress in Brantford means following specific steps from the moment you confirm the infestation through to disposal at Mohawk Street Landfill.
Confirming You Have Bed Bugs (Not Something Else)
Before taking any action, confirm the identification. Several other pests and conditions can be mistaken for bed bugs:
Bed Bug Identification Checklist
- Adult bed bugs: Flat, oval, reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed (5-7mm). After feeding, they become rounder and darker.
- Nymphs (immature bugs): Translucent to yellowish-white, smaller. Harder to spot but visible to the naked eye.
- Eggs: Tiny (1mm), white, oval, often in clusters in seams and crevices. Sticky, difficult to dislodge.
- Faecal spots: Small dark (rust to black) spots on mattress seams, bed frame, baseboards. These smear if you press them with a damp cloth.
- Blood spots: Small rusty spots on sheets from crushed bugs or feeding.
- Sweet musty odour: Heavy infestations sometimes produce a distinctive odour from the bugs' scent glands.
If you are unsure, take a clear photo and contact Brantford's public health unit or a licensed pest control operator for confirmation before proceeding. Treating a mattress unnecessarily for bed bugs is expensive and disruptive. Conversely, treating the wrong problem while bed bugs continue to spread is far worse.
Bed Bugs in Brantford: What to Know
Bed bug infestations in Brantford are reported through the Brant County Health Unit. If you are in a multi-unit building or rental property, Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act imposes specific pest control obligations on landlords. Tenants in Brantford who discover bed bugs should notify their landlord in writing immediately. The landlord is responsible for professional extermination in rental units. If you own your home, the responsibility is yours, and the process below applies directly.
Treat or Dispose: How to Decide
Not every bed-bug mattress needs to go to the landfill. The decision depends on the severity of infestation and the age and condition of the mattress:
Treat vs. Dispose Decision Guide
- Consider treatment if: The mattress is less than 5 years old, in otherwise good condition, and the infestation is early stage (a few bugs, no eggs visible in seams).
- Consider treatment if: A professional pest control company is treating the whole room. In this case, they may recommend encasing the mattress rather than disposing it, treating the bugs in situ.
- Dispose if: The mattress is heavily infested with visible bugs, eggs, and faecal staining in the seams and foam layers.
- Dispose if: The mattress is already at end of life (soft spots, body impressions, 8+ years old). Do not invest in treatment to save a mattress that needed replacing anyway.
- Dispose if: The foam or ticking is torn, providing bed bugs direct access to the interior. Encasement will not contain them effectively.
Treatment Options Before Disposal
If you decide to treat before disposing (or to treat and keep), these are the realistic options for a mattress:
Heat Treatment: The Most Effective DIY Option
Bed bugs and their eggs die at sustained temperatures above 48°C. Research by Benoit et al. (2009) in the Journal of Economic Entomology confirmed that 100% mortality occurs at 48°C sustained for 90 minutes. Professional pest control companies use specialised heaters to bring entire rooms to 49-57°C for several hours. For a mattress alone, portable heat treatment chambers are available from some pest control suppliers. Standard household methods (electric blankets, leaving a mattress in a hot car) do not achieve reliable temperature penetration throughout the full mattress depth.
Realistic Treatment Options for a Mattress
- Professional whole-room heat treatment: The most effective option. A pest control company brings the room (including the mattress) to bed-bug-lethal temperature. Typically $300-$600 for a bedroom in Brantford. This treats the mattress, box spring, furniture, and baseboards simultaneously.
- Steam treatment (surface only): A consumer or professional steam cleaner reaching 100°C at the nozzle will kill bed bugs on contact. It does not penetrate the full mattress depth. Use in combination with encasement, not as a standalone solution for a significantly infested mattress.
- Pesticide treatment by a licensed pest control operator: Chemical treatment of a mattress is generally not recommended by Health Canada because residual pesticide on a sleeping surface is a health concern. Pest control operators use registered pesticides in surrounding areas (baseboards, frame, box spring) and typically recommend encasement rather than direct chemical application to the mattress surface.
- Encasement after treatment: After professional treatment or steam treatment, encasing the mattress in a zippered bed bug-proof encasement traps any remaining bugs inside, where they eventually die from starvation (typically within 12-18 months). This is a standard post-treatment strategy for mattresses that are structurally sound.
Safe Mattress Removal Through Your Home
If you are disposing of the mattress, how you move it matters as much as what you do with it. A bed-bug-infested mattress dragged through your home can deposit bugs and eggs along every corridor, staircase, and doorway you pass through.
How to Remove a Bed Bug Mattress Safely
Step 1: Get a mattress disposal bag first
Purchase a mattress disposal bag (also called a mattress bag or moving bag) before you move the mattress at all. These are heavy-duty plastic bags that fully encase the mattress and zip or tape closed. Available at moving supply stores, Canadian Tire, and some hardware stores in Brantford. Do not use a standard garbage bag; it will tear.
Step 2: Seal the mattress in the bedroom
Encase the mattress in the bag while it is still in the room, before moving it. Seal the bag completely with tape around the closure. Mark the bag clearly as "BED BUGS" so no one handles it without knowing what is inside.
Step 3: Clear a path to the exit
Remove any obstacles from the hallway and stairs. Lay down plastic sheeting along the route if possible. The goal is to avoid the bag touching walls, banisters, or carpeted areas while in transit.
Step 4: Move directly to vehicle
Move the bagged mattress directly to your vehicle. Do not leave it in a hallway or on the porch. If you are using a pick-up truck, line the bed with plastic before loading.
Step 5: Transport to Mohawk Street Landfill
Take it directly to the City of Brantford's Waste Management Facility at Mohawk Street. Do not leave it at the curb unsealed, as this creates a risk to neighbours and waste collection workers.
Step 6: Clean and inspect after removal
After removing the mattress, vacuum the bedroom thoroughly (bag and seal the vacuum bag immediately afterward). Inspect the bed frame and box spring for signs of infestation. If bugs are present in the frame, the frame should be treated or also disposed of.
Brantford Mattress Disposal: Mohawk Street Landfill
The City of Brantford's primary waste disposal facility is the Waste Management Facility located at Mohawk Street. For mattress disposal:
Brantford Waste Disposal: Key Information
- Location: Mohawk Street, Brantford (call the City of Brantford Waste Management for current operating hours: 519-759-4150)
- Mattress disposal: Mattresses are accepted at the landfill. Tipping fees apply for household waste. Contact the facility before your visit to confirm current rates and any special requirements for bed-bug-infested items.
- Curbside pickup: The City of Brantford's large item curbside pickup typically requires items to be sealed if infested with pests. Confirm current requirements by calling Brantford Public Works or checking the City's waste collection page.
- Do not leave at curb unsealed: An unsealed bed-bug mattress at the curb is a bylaw issue in Brantford and a genuine public health concern. Seal it in a disposal bag before it leaves your property.
What to Do After the Mattress Is Gone
Disposing of the mattress removes a major source of infestation, but bed bugs will have spread to other areas of the room before you found them. Treating the mattress alone without treating the room is not sufficient.
After disposal:
- Contact a licensed pest control operator for a whole-room treatment if you have not already. In Ontario, bed bug chemical treatment of a residential unit by a non-licensed individual is not permitted under the Pesticides Act for most registered products.
- Wash all bedding at 60°C and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Bag and seal anything that cannot be immediately washed.
- Inspect the bed frame and box spring. Bed frames with hollow legs and box springs with fabric undersides are common harborage sites. If infested, treat or replace.
- Encasement on the new mattress from day one. When you replace the mattress (see below), put a certified bed-bug-proof encasement on it immediately. If any surviving bugs remain in the room, the new mattress stays protected.
When you are ready for a replacement mattress, come into Mattress Miracle at 441 1/2 West Street in Brantford. We offer white glove delivery with professional setup, and our delivery team uses shoe covers and floor protection. If you are replacing a bed-bug mattress, let Brad know when you call to arrange delivery so we can coordinate appropriately. Call us at (519) 770-0001.
For related guidance on mattress disposal in Brantford that does not involve bed bugs, see our article on mattress cleaning and replacement resources in Brantford.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a bed bug mattress at the Brantford curb?
Only if properly sealed in a mattress disposal bag. An unsealed infested mattress left at the curb creates a risk for neighbours, waste collection workers, and anyone who might pick it up. Brantford bylaws require pest-infested items to be sealed before curbside collection. Contact the City of Brantford Public Works for current collection rules, as requirements change.
Can I treat a bed bug mattress with a steam cleaner instead of disposing it?
Steam can kill bed bugs on direct contact at the surface. It does not penetrate the full mattress depth. Steam treatment works best as part of a professional whole-room heat treatment or as a supplement to encasement, not as a standalone solution for a significantly infested mattress. If the mattress is heavily infested with bugs visible in the seams and interior, disposal is more reliable.
How much does bed bug treatment cost in Brantford?
Professional bed bug treatment costs vary based on the method and scope. Whole-room heat treatment in Brantford typically runs $300-$700 for a single bedroom. Chemical treatment may be less expensive but often requires multiple visits. Contact licensed pest control operators in the Brantford area for specific quotes. The Brant County Health Unit can provide referrals.
If I dispose of the mattress, do I need to replace the box spring too?
Often yes. Box springs with fabric undersides are a primary harborage site. If bugs are visible in the box spring, treatment or disposal is needed. Some pest control operators recommend disposing of fabric-backed box springs and replacing with a solid platform base, which gives bed bugs fewer places to hide. Metal or solid wood platform bases are far more resistant to re-infestation.
Does Mattress Miracle deliver to homes that have had bed bugs?
Yes, with coordination. Our white glove delivery team uses shoe covers and takes care with each delivery. If you are replacing a bed-bug mattress and the room has been treated, let us know when you call to arrange delivery at (519) 770-0001. We will work with you to make sure the new mattress arrives safely. Our Brantford showroom is at 441 1/2 West Street.
Sources
- Benoit, J.B., Del Grosso, N.A., Yoder, J.A., & Denlinger, D.L. (2007). Resistance to dehydration between bouts of blood feeding in the bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is enhanced by water conservation, aggregation, and quiescence. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 76(5), 987-993. doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2007.76.987
- Kells, S.A., & Goblirsch, M.J. (2011). Temperature and time requirements for controlling bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) under commercial heat treatment conditions. Insects, 2(3), 412-422. doi.org/10.3390/insects2030412
- Ontario Ministry of the Environment. (2021). Pesticides Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.11. Queen's Printer for Ontario. ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p11
- Brant County Health Unit. (2024). Bed Bug Information for Residents. bchu.org
- Public Health Ontario. (2022). Bed Bugs: Environmental Health Fact Sheet. publichealthontario.ca
- Health Canada. (2015). Guidelines for the Use of Pesticides in Residential Settings. Pest Management Regulatory Agency. canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/pesticides-pest-management.html
Related Reading
- Mattress Cleaning Resources Brantford Ontario
- How to Remove Urine from a Memory Foam Mattress
- UV Light for Dust Mites on Mattresses: What Works
- Mattress Encasements and Protectors at Mattress Miracle
- How to Measure Mattress Sag for a Warranty Claim in Canada
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
Mattress Miracle
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford
Phone: (519) 770-0001
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thu-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4
Once your room is treated and ready, come in and we will help you find the right replacement. We stock bed-bug-proof encasements to go on the new mattress from day one. We have been helping Brantford families navigate mattress decisions since 1987.