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Blog > How to Test a Mattress for Bed Bugs – Complete Guide
Do you wake up with itchy bites or strange red spots on your sheets? If so, you might have bed bugs hiding in your bed.
This guide explains how to test a mattress for bed bugs, step by step. You’ll learn what to look for, how to inspect your mattress, and what to do if you find signs of an infestation.
Bed bugs are small insects that come out at night to feed on your blood while you sleep. They hide during the day in your mattress, bed frame, or nearby furniture. A single female bed bug can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime.
Even a small infestation can grow quickly. That’s why testing your mattress early is important. It can help you avoid:
If you think you might have bed bugs, it’s important to check your mattress carefully. Here’s how to do it.
Before you start, get these items ready:
These tools help you search more thoroughly.
Take off all your bedding - sheets, pillowcases, blankets, mattress pads. Put them straight into the washing machine and use hot water and high heat in the dryer. This will kill any bed bugs or eggs hiding in the fabric.
Also, remove any clutter near the bed so you can reach all areas around and under it.
Use your flashlight to check the seams, piping, folds, and tufts of the mattress. Slide your credit card slowly along these edges. This helps uncover bed bugs or eggs hiding deep inside the fabric.
If you see small dark spots, use a cotton swab soaked in rubbing alcohol and press it against the spot. If the spot turns red or black on the swab, it could be bed bug feces or blood residue.
Flip the mattress over and check the bottom seams just like before. Then remove the fabric cover from the box spring, if it has one.
Look closely at the wooden frame, especially around staples, cracks, and joints. These are common hiding spots for bed bugs. Use your credit card or thin tool to poke into corners and between wooden parts.
Bed bugs don’t just hide in your mattress - they often move to nearby furniture and objects.
Check these areas carefully:
Even if your mattress looks clean, bed bugs may still be nearby.
When you’re checking for bed bugs, it’s not just about spotting live bugs. Look for evidence that they’ve been there.
Here are the most common signs:
Seeing even one of these signs - especially live bugs - means it’s likely you have a bed bug infestation.
If you find signs of bed bugs, here’s what to do next:
Put your mattress and box spring in bed-bug-proof covers with zippers. Leave them sealed for at least one year to trap any bugs inside and stop them from feeding or escaping.
Wash all your bedding, pillows, and clothes in hot water. Dry everything on high heat.
Vacuum your mattress seams, bed frame, carpet, and nearby furniture. After vacuuming, seal the vacuum bag in a plastic trash bag and throw it away outside.
Use a steam cleaner that reaches at least 120°F (49°C). Move slowly over seams, folds, and cracks to kill any bugs or eggs.
If the problem is still there, call a licensed pest control professional. They may use heat, cold, or safe chemicals to treat your home.
In severe cases, you may need to replace the mattress entirely. If that happens, consider visiting a SleePare showroom to test high-quality, bed-bug-free mattresses in person and get expert help choosing the right one for your sleep needs.
One to two weeks after treatment, repeat your mattress test. Check the same spots again to make sure the infestation is truly gone.
Once you’ve treated bed bugs, you’ll want to keep them from coming back. These steps help prevent future infestations:
Prevention is easier - and cheaper - than treatment.
A thorough mattress inspection takes 15–30 minutes, depending on size and setup. Testing tools like flashlights, credit cards, and swabs help speed things up. Plan time for follow-up checks after any treatment.
Yes - light from a flashlight, a credit card, and swabs for residue testing are all you need. You don’t need traps or high-tech gear for a basic home inspection. Be systematic and consistent during your checks.
Even finding one live bed bug means there may be more hidden. Proceed with full mattress isolation, cleaning, vacuuming, and possibly professional treatment. Then re-test to ensure they’re gone.
Test your mattress every three months as a preventative habit. Do another check anytime you notice itchy bites, blood spots, or musty odors. Seasonal peaks in travel can also increase risk - test after returning from trips. If you’re replacing your mattress after an infestation, consider visiting a SleePare showroom where you can try top-rated mattresses in person and get expert help finding the right fit for your sleep style.
Knowing how to test a mattress for bed bugs helps you stop a problem before it gets worse. With just a flashlight, a credit card, and cotton swabs, you can find signs like eggs, bugs, stains, and smells.
If your mattress test is positive, act fast. Isolate the mattress, clean everything, treat the area, and test again. With regular checks and prevention steps, you can keep your sleep space safe and bug-free.
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Meet The Author:
Shanir Kol
Shanir Kol, founder and CEO of SleePare, pioneered the “Try and Buy” model in eCommerce, enhancing mattress shopping by combining in-store trials with online purchases. Launching in 1999, his company focuses on customer satisfaction and eco-friendly practices, aiming to minimize mattress waste and expand sustainably.