Bed bugs may still make their way into an air mattress if they squeeze through the seams or get too close to the pump. Any crack or crevice, no matter how tiny, can provide a bed bug with a safe haven.
Once they establish a breeding ground, bedbugs have no trouble climbing up onto your air mattress to bite you while you sleep.
If you suspect that your air mattress is infested with bed bugs, you must move quickly to eliminate the problem. If you don’t take this step, the bed bugs will keep coming back and multiplying, making eradication more difficult.
Which begs the question: can bed bugs infest air mattresses? They can, but it wouldn’t be a good place for a bed bug colony to set up shop. A bed bug can get onto an air mattress by crawling between the seams or getting close to the pump.
In order to prevent bed bugs from taking up residence in your air mattress, it is crucial that you do regular inspections. It’s best to hire a professional exterminator to get rid of bed bugs if you ever find any.
Table of Contents
What Is A Bed Bug?
The small size of bed bugs belies the damage they can do to a home. These parasites are tiny, with a length of only 1-7 mm, and they have a flat, spherical body that is a rusty brown color.
Bed bugs are distinguished from other insects by their ridged bodies and winglessness. Bed bugs, despite their diminutive size, are capable of laying hundreds of eggs at a time.
Up to five eggs can be laid by an adult bed bug every single day, and these eggs will hatch in about two weeks. Upon hatching, the eggs produce cream-colored nymphs that are able to consume blood as a food source.
Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, and they will attack humans if given the chance. They aren’t picky eaters, either, and will eat anything they can get their mouths on. Bed bugs’ numbing saliva is released during biting, so victims may not realize they’ve been bitten until it’s too late.
The bug can stay on a person’s skin for as long as five minutes, during which time it feeds. Due to their resilience, bed bugs are notoriously challenging to eradicate.
They may go up to a year without eating, but when they have access to food, they eat every 5-10 days. They can quickly locate a source of food because to the carbon dioxide we exhale and the body heat we release.
How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Air Mattress?
Bed bugs are a particularly troublesome type of insect pest. Your bed isn’t the only place they can hide; they’re also good at getting into shoes, cartons, and bags.
Due to their skill in concealment, these pests are notoriously challenging to eradicate. Any sign of bed bugs on your air mattress calls for prompt action to remove them. Box springs, mattresses, and even crevices in folded mattresses are all potential hiding places for bed bugs.
They can hide in the crevices of furniture, behind walls, in electrical switch plates, in picture frames, in upholstery, in wallpaper, behind baseboards, and so on.
There are a few different approaches you can take to exterminate bed bugs from an air mattress. These include:
Wash Your Beddings
Your bedsheets, pillowcases, and other items may be infected with bed bugs if you regularly awake with bites from these parasites. The only way to get rid of bed bugs is to wash all of your linens and clothes that may have come into touch with them. Insects and their eggs can be destroyed in this way, making a return of the problem less likely.
To get rid of bed bugs, follow these steps to wash all of your linens and clothes:
Remove all Bedding: Get rid of your air mattress’s sheets, pillowcases, mattress cover, and anything else that may have been in contact with the bed bugs. To prevent the insects from spreading to other parts of the bedroom, place them in a plastic bag and shut it up right away.
Get the Laundry Done: Pajamas, socks used in bed, and any other articles of clothing that may have come into contact with bed bugs should be laundered. Take them out of your bedroom, put them in a plastic bag, and zip it shut right away.
Machine Drying: Be sure to use the hot water and high heat settings while washing sheets, towels, and clothes. All bed bugs and their eggs will perish in the extreme heat.
Dry on High Heat: Dry your sheets and clothes on the hottest setting possible after washing them. The heat will help to kill any remaining bed bugs and their eggs, reducing the risk of a further infestation.
Clean Your Pets
As part of the process of getting rid of bed bugs, it is essential to clean and disinfect your pets. Untreated pets provide a food supply for bed bugs, which means they will continue to be drawn to your home if you don’t take preventative measures.
In the first step, you should give your pet a full bath, paying special attention to the regions where bed bugs like to hide (such as the ears, the belly, and the paws). If your pet has bed bugs, try giving it a bath in warm water laced with a disinfectant like Dettol.
Look for little red bumps on your pet’s arms or tummy, then check for evidence of living bugs. Bed bugs are extremely contagious, so if you notice any signs of them on your pet, it’s best to get them checked out by a vet.
It’s important to remember that keeping your pets clean and free of bed bugs is a crucial step in getting rid of these unwanted guests. Cleaning and disinfecting your pet is a vital step in eliminating bed bugs from your house.
Beloved pets flea and tick prevention is a good sanitiser as well as Coat defense Canine Preventative Dry Powder and Eco defense biobased pest control spray.
Vacuum The Bed Bugs
Your air mattress or foam mattress can be treated for bed bugs by using a vacuum. Bed bugs and their eggs may be removed using the strong suction power of a vacuum cleaner, making this an essential step in getting rid of them.
Use a HEPA-filtered vacuum and pay special attention to the crevices in the mattress and the baseboards to ensure that the bugs are completely eradicated. Bed bugs often congregate in these spaces, therefore a thorough cleaning is necessary to get rid of them.
You should also flip the mattress numerous times while vacuuming it so that all six sides get cleaned thoroughly. By doing so, you can lessen the likelihood of a re-infestation and make sure that all the bugs and their eggs are eradicated.
Shark NV360 Navigator upright vacuum, Bissell MultiClean Vacuum, and Prolux Tritan Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner are all HEPA sealed vacuum cleaners that will be effective in removing bed bugs.
Steam Clean The Floor and Carpets
Eliminating bed bugs without resorting to toxic chemicals is possible with the help of a powerful steamer. Use of a steamer, which can reach deep into carpets and under floors, can be an efficient and rapid method of removing bed bugs.
This chemical-free approach can also assist in keeping your home tidy and secure for your loved ones. It’s most effective if you steam the mattress, headboard, floorboard, box spring, and anywhere else you might find bed bugs.
You can stop the progress of the bed bug infestation and regain control by using a steamer. Bissell Power Fresh Steam Mop, Shark Steam Pocket Mop and LIGHT ‘N’ EASY Multi-Functional steam mop will do a great job.
Encase The Air Mattress With A Mattress Cover
Protect yourself from bed bugs by encasing your air mattress in a mattress cover. A mattress protector keeps unwanted guests from snuggling up next to you while you sleep. It will be more challenging for the bugs to crawl into your mattress and bite you this way.
Plastic mattress liners are one type of mattress cover; they are usually waterproof and resistant to bed bugs. The covers are made to closely enclose your air mattress, making it impossible for bed bugs to escape.
Whenever you invest in a new air mattress, it’s wise to also invest in a mattress protector. A bed insect infestation can be stopped in its tracks. It’s not too late to apply a mattress cover if you’ve already had a bed insect invasion, though. After you’ve cleaned and steamed your mattress, you can protect it from further infection by placing a cover over it.
SafeRest Zippered Mattress Protector and Hospitology products Mattress Encasement are highly rated and will keep the bed bugs out.
Use Bed Bug Sprays
Sprays to kill bed bugs can be bought at any home improvement store or ordered online. The best bed bug killer is one that is made for the express purpose of eliminating these parasites. The active compounds in bed bug sprays range from pyrethroids and pyrethrins to neonicotinoids.
It’s crucial to read and follow all instructions on the bottle of any bed insect spray before applying it. First, empty the air mattress of any personal belongings, such as sheets and blankets, and give it a good vacuuming.
Then, spray the mattress itself, making sure to get into any cracks or crevices where the bugs could be hiding. Use only in a well-ventilated environment and always protect yourself by wearing gloves, a mask, and long sleeves when spraying.
It’s important to wait for the spray to dry completely after applying it. To make sure all bed bugs and their eggs are gone, it’s best to repeat the treatment in 7 to 10 days. You can use Harris Bed Bug Killer, EcoVenge Bed Bug Killer or Eco Defense Bed Bug Spray.
Be aware that sprays designed to kill bed bugs should only be used as a last resort, in addition to other measures such as vacuuming, steaming, and covering the mattress. The bed bugs on your air mattress can be eliminated and prevented from returning if you use a combination of these techniques.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?
Bed bugs are bloodsucking pests that can be found in close quarters with both humans and animals. They are quite good at evading detection by hiding in narrow areas, such as cracks and fissures.
Once inside your home, the population of bed bugs can quickly multiply due to the females’ ability to produce hundreds of eggs at once. Some common places where you might find bed bugs are:
Bed bugs are a serious problem in a public transportation because they may easily hide in the crevices of vehicles like buses and trains. Before settling in, check the seat carefully for any evidence of blood spots or bed bugs to ensure you won’t be bringing them home with you.
Bed bugs are a widespread issue in hotel rooms around the world. Inspect the bed and its surroundings for bed bugs before you get comfortable. If you detect any signs of an infestation, you should request a new room right away.
The library is another possible bed bug hotspot. Look for blood stains and signs of bedbugs before settling into any seat.
Second-hand mattresses, couches, and box springs can be a source of bed bugs, just as they can be found in other types of used furniture. Whether you choose to hire a professional pest controller or do a DIY inspection, make sure to look over any used furniture completely before bringing it into your home.
Conclusion
Bed bugs can infest air mattresses the same way they can infest conventional beds. The insects can invade a bed by crawling into it and laying eggs there.
Avoiding this issue requires vigilance in the form of routine mattress inspections for telltale indicators of bed bugs. Preventative methods, such as mattress coverings, can be used in addition to routine cleaning and vacuuming to lessen the likelihood of a bed bug infestation.
As soon as an infestation is spotted, steps should be taken to eliminate the pests and stop them from spreading to other parts of the house.
