Quick Answer: Bed Bug Prevention
Bed bugs are not caused by dirty homes. They are hitchhikers that travel on luggage, used furniture, and clothing. Prevention: use a bed bug-proof mattress encasement (zippered, fully sealed), inspect hotel rooms when travelling (check mattress seams, headboard, nightstand), never bring used mattresses or upholstered furniture home without thorough inspection, and dry clothes and luggage on high heat after travelling. If you find bed bugs, call a professional exterminator immediately. DIY treatments rarely work for infestations.
Brad, Owner, 40+ years of experience: "We have been helping Brantford families sleep better since 1997. Every customer gets personal attention, honest advice, and the kind of follow-up service you just do not get from big box stores."
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Signs of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small (apple-seed sized), flat, reddish-brown insects that feed on blood at night. They hide in mattress seams, bed frames, headboards, and nightstands during the day.
- Bites: Small, red, itchy welts often in a line or cluster. Usually on exposed skin (arms, shoulders, neck). Not everyone reacts visibly to bites
- Blood spots: Small rust-coloured spots on sheets from crushed bugs or their droppings
- Dark spots: Black or dark brown dots along mattress seams, frame joints, and behind headboards. This is their excrement
- Shed skins: Translucent empty shells near hiding spots. Bed bugs shed their skin 5 times before reaching adulthood
- Sweet musty odour: Large infestations produce a distinctive sweet, musty smell from their scent glands
Prevention Strategies
Layer 1: Mattress and Bed Protection
Bed bug encasement: A fully zippered cover that encases all 6 sides of the mattress. Must be specifically rated for bed bugs (pore size too small for bugs to pass through). Different from a waterproof protector. Apply to both mattress and box spring/foundation. This traps any existing bugs inside (where they starve) and prevents new bugs from colonizing the mattress interior.
Interceptor traps: Small plastic dishes placed under each bed leg. Bed bugs climbing up from the floor get trapped in the dish. Also serves as an early detection system.
Pull bed 
away from walls: Prevents bugs from climbing from walls to the bed. Tuck in or remove bed skirts that touch the floor.
Reduce clutter under and around bed: Fewer hiding spots means easier detection and fewer places for bugs to establish.
Travel Protection
Hotel Room Inspection (2 Minutes)
(1) Put your luggage in the bathroom (hard floors, no hiding spots for bugs) when you first enter the room. (2) Pull back the bedsheets and inspect the mattress seams, especially at the head of the bed. Look for live bugs, dark spots, or shed skins. (3) Check behind the headboard if possible (pull away from wall). (4) Check the nightstand drawer. (5) If clear, you can bring your luggage in. Keep it on the luggage rack (metal, elevated) rather than the floor or bed. (6) When you return home, unpack directly into the washing machine. Dry everything on high heat for 30 minutes. Heat kills bed bugs and eggs at 49C+.
What to Do If You Find Bed Bugs
Call a professional. This is not a DIY situation. Over-the-counter sprays and bombs do not eliminate infestations and can spread bugs to other rooms. Professional treatment options include:
- Heat treatment: Professional heaters raise the room to 50-60C, killing all bugs and eggs. Most effective single treatment. Costs $1000-2500 in Ontario
-
Chemical treatment: Professional-grade ins
ecticides applied to hiding spots. Usually requires 2-3 visits over 2-4 weeks. Costs $300-800 per room - Combined approach: Most effective. Heat treatment followed by residual chemical barrier. One-and-done in most cases
Do NOT throw away your mattress unless the exterminator recommends it. With a proper encasement and professional treatment, most mattresses can be saved. If you do dispose of a bed bug mattress, wrap it completely in plastic and label it clearly to prevent others from taking it.
Find Your Perfect Mattress at Mattress Miracle
We are a family-owned mattress store in Brantford, helping our community sleep better since 1997. Come try mattresses in person and get honest, no-pressure advice.
441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario
Call 519-770-0001Frequently Asked Questions
Do bed bugs only live in dirty homes?
No. Bed bugs are equal-opportunity pests. They are found in luxury hotels, clean apartments, and pristine homes. They do not feed on dirt or food. They feed on blood and hitchhike on luggage, clothing, and used furniture. Cleanliness does not prevent them, but reducing clutter makes detection easier.
Can I get bed bugs from a new mattress?
Extremely unlikely if buying from a reputable retailer. New mattresses from Mattress Miracle are sealed in factory packaging. The risk is from used mattresses, returned mattresses from retailers with poor policies, or delivery trucks that also handle used mattress removal. We keep our delivery separate from old mattress disposal.
Do mattress encasements prevent bed bugs?
They prevent bugs from colonizing inside the mattress and trap any existing bugs inside. However, they do not prevent bugs from being in the room, on the bed frame, or in other furniture. Encasements are one layer of a multi-layer prevention strategy.
Should I throw away my mattress if I have bed bugs?
Usually not. Professional treatment plus a bed bug encasement saves most mattresses. Throwing away the mattress without treating the room means the bugs are still in your home and will infest the new mattress too. Treat first. Only replace the mattress if the exterminator recommends it.
Sources
- Jacobson BH, Boolani A, Smith DB. Changes in back pain, sleep quality, and perceived stress after introduction of new bedding systems. J Chiropr Med. 2009;8(1):1-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.002
- Radwan A, Fess P, James D, et al. Effect of different mattress designs on promoting sleep quality, pain reduction, and spinal alignment in adults with or without back pain. Sleep Health. 2015;1(4):257-267. DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2015.08.001
- Kovacs FM, Abraira V, Peña A, et al. Effect of firmness of mattress on chronic non-specific low-back pain: randomised, double-blind, controlled, multicentre trial. Lancet. 2003;362(9396):1599-1604. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14792-7
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Find us at 441 1/2 West Street, Brantford, Ontario. Rated 4.9 stars on Google. Family-owned since 1997.
Visit Our Brantford Showroom
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Mattress Miracle , 441½ West Street, Brantford, ON · (519) 770-0001
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10am–6pm, Thursday–Friday 10am–7pm, Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 12pm–4pm.