What Bed Bugs Are and How to Control Them
Controlling bed bugs takes a combined plan: confirm the insects really are bed bugs, reduce clutter, wash and heat-dry bedding and clothing, vacuum thoroughly, encase mattresses and box springs, and follow through with repeated professional treatment and monitoring. Bed bugs can be difficult to eliminate but not impossible, the EPA says, and its top tips for controlling bed bugs advise against immediately reaching for the spray can. Saela Pest Control is a residential and commercial pest control company based in Orem, Utah, that provides the best bed bug control for homes and businesses, with programs that pair repeated treatments with laundering and vacuuming between visits. This guide explains how to recognize bed bugs and what a full bed bug treatment program involves.
Bed bugs are small, flat, wingless insects that feed on the blood of people and animals while they sleep. According to the CDC’s bed bug overview, they are reddish-brown, range from 1 to 7 millimeters long and spread by hiding in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding and furniture. How clean a home is does not determine whether bed bugs are present.
Several traits make bed bugs hard to control:
- They hide in tiny spaces, from mattress seams and bed frame cracks to drawer joints and electrical receptacles
- They can live several months without a blood meal, so an empty room is not necessarily a clear one
- Their eggs are tiny, about 1 millimeter long, and easy to miss
- They resemble other small insects, such as carpet beetles, so sightings need to be confirmed
How Bed Bug Control Works Today
Bed bug control today relies on integrated pest management, which the EPA describes as an effective and environmentally sensitive approach. In practice, that means combining inspection, non-chemical methods such as heat, encasements and vacuuming, and targeted treatment, with pesticides as only one part of a multi-part plan.
Saela’s bed bug programs pair repeated treatments with customer laundering and vacuuming between visits, because both the treatment and the household’s preparation affect the outcome. The core elements of an effective program include:
- A careful inspection to confirm bed bugs and find where they are hiding
- Non-chemical steps such as laundering, heat and vacuuming
- Repeated treatments rather than a single visit
- Monitoring with tools such as bed bug interceptors to confirm the bugs are gone
How to Recognize the Signs of Bed Bugs
The most reliable signs of bed bugs are physical evidence on bedding and furniture, not bites. The EPA notes that bed bug bites can look like bites from other insects, rashes or even hives, so its guide on how to find bed bugs focuses on the bugs and the traces they leave.
Check mattress seams, box springs and the bed frame first, since those are common hiding places. Signs to look for include:
- Rusty or reddish stains on sheets or mattresses from crushed bed bugs
- Dark spots of excrement that bleed into fabric like a marker
- Tiny pale eggs, eggshells and the yellowish skins that nymphs shed as they grow
- Live bed bugs in seams, folds and cracks
Why a Thorough Inspection Comes First
A thorough inspection comes first because bed bugs hide in far more places than the bed. The EPA’s list of places bed bugs hide includes the seams of chairs and couches, the folds of curtains, drawer joints, electrical receptacles, loose wallpaper, the junction of wall and ceiling and even the head of a screw.
Identification takes training: Saela is a National Pest Management Association member and has Associate Certified Entomologists on staff, although not every technician is an entomologist. A careful bed bug inspection typically includes:
- Close checks of mattress seams, box springs, bed frames and headboards
- Upholstered furniture, curtains, drawers and outlets near sleeping areas
- Confirmed identification, since bed bugs can be mistaken for other insects
- A treatment and preparation plan based on what was found
Bed Bug Treatment Options
Effective bed bug treatment combines methods, because each one reaches bugs the others miss. Heat is one option: the EPA’s integrated pest management guidance for bed bugs says to heat infested items or areas to at least 120 °F for 90 minutes to make sure eggs are killed, and it notes that do-it-yourself freezing may not be a reliable method.
In a July 2020 Google review, Joseph O’Hara wrote that the technician “explained everything in great detail and was very thorough in his work.” Common treatment methods include:
- Heat applied with special equipment, since the EPA notes that very high temperatures are needed
- Targeted treatment with registered products, applied by a licensed professional according to the label
- Vacuuming, laundering and encasements to remove and trap bed bugs
- Follow-up visits and monitoring to confirm whether any bed bugs remain
How to Prevent Bed Bugs
Preventing bed bugs comes down to not bringing them home and catching any that arrive early. The CDC notes that early detection makes bed bug infestations easier to control, and Saela’s article on whether you should be afraid of bed bugs puts the risks in perspective.
Most prevention happens when you travel, buy used furniture or tidy sleeping areas. Useful habits include:
- Check luggage, bags and clothing after travel before bringing them into bedrooms
- Inspect second-hand furniture, especially seams and joints, before it comes inside
- Use mattress, box spring and pillow encasements, which the EPA says trap bed bugs and help detect infestations
- Reduce clutter so bed bugs have fewer places to hide
Using Pesticides Carefully
Careful bed bug control relies on non-chemical methods wherever they work and uses pesticides only where they are needed. Any pesticide should be used only as its label directs, and treatment of beds and furniture is best left to a licensed professional.
Lower-impact steps that reduce the need for repeated treatment include:
- Washing and heat-drying sheets, blankets, bedspreads and any clothing that touches the floor
- Vacuuming rugs, furniture and crevices thoroughly, and changing the vacuum bag after each use
- Keeping mattress and box spring encasements on for a year
- Destroying badly infested furniture before disposal so others don’t take it home
The Emotional Toll of Bed Bugs
Bed bugs affect more than skin. The EPA describes bed bugs as a public health issue: they have not been shown to transmit disease, but they can cause allergic reactions, secondary skin infections and mental health effects such as anxiety and insomnia. If bites cause a strong reaction or signs of infection, talk to a healthcare provider.
Staying calm helps, and the EPA’s first tips are to confirm you really have bed bugs and not to panic. Support that makes the process easier includes:
- Clear explanations of what treatment involves and how long it may take
- Written preparation steps, such as laundering and vacuuming, before each visit
- Plain updates on what each visit found
- Follow-up checks until monitoring shows no new activity
What Affects the Cost of Bed Bug Treatment
Bed bug treatment cost depends mainly on how widespread the infestation is, the size of the property and how many treatments are needed. Saela quotes based on pest type, location, property size, visit frequency and treatment products, and it does not publish a universal price, so check Saela’s pricing page to request a quote.
Before you compare quotes, confirm what each one covers. Cost factors include:
- How many rooms or units are affected
- Property size and layout
- The treatment methods used
- The number of follow-up visits and monitoring included
Conclusion: Steady Steps Control Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be controlled with a steady, combined approach: confirm the insects, reduce hiding places, launder and vacuum, encase beds and follow through with repeated treatment and monitoring. The EPA notes that hiring an experienced, responsible pest control professional can increase your chance of success, and Saela’s article on the benefits of professional bed bug control covers what that help adds.
Getting Professional Help
On Google, Saela’s Kansas City, Missouri location is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,795 reviews as of October 2026. If you’re seeing signs of bed bugs, start the laundering and vacuuming steps above so your home is ready for treatment.
When you’re ready, book a call with Saela to talk through a bed bug treatment plan for your home.
Who wrote this article?
Devin Hutchings (Marketing Director at Saela Pest Control) wrote this article.
Devin leads Saela’s marketing and growth strategy. He brings more than 15 years of marketing experience across Uber, C.R. England, Lugg, and Neighbor. His background spans customer acquisition, retention, and developing marketing channels for service businesses and consumer marketplaces.
