Can You Get Bed Bugs From A Pillow?

Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Pillows

Bed bugs can potentially live in soft furnishings such as mattresses and pillows. Pillows are another potential entry point for bed bugs because they can harbour bed bug eggs.

A history of bites may indicate that your pillow has been infested with bed bugs. Multiple bites, or papules or wheals, may appear at once.

If you think bedbugs have bitten you, your pillow is an excellent place to start looking. Bed bugs may be indicated by tiny, dark stains on their faces. Infected bedding items may also give off a sweet, musty odour.

You can temporarily try laundering your pillow and pillowcase to eliminate the bed bugs. Infestations of bed bugs are challenging to eradicate because they spread to other parts of a home. Call your local pest control service and ask for an inspection and consultation if you think you have a bed bug problem.

Those who have bed bugs in their pillows may be tempted to toss the pillows, separate the bedding from the mattress, wash it thoroughly, and dry it on high heat. Instead of tossing out your old, bug-ridden pillows, try these alternatives instead:

Because high temperatures kill bed bugs, you should dry the pillows in the dryer for at least 30 minutes.

If the pillows' care instructions don't require an extended drying time, you should stick to those. Make sure the pads are dried in a hot environment. It can be effective against both bed bug eggs and adult bed bugs.

Washing is an effective method of eliminating bed bugs. Pillows and other bedding that It may have infected should be placed in a plastic bag before being taken to the washing machine.

It would help if you washed pillows and sheets in hot water. The detergent and water will kill insects that survive the initial immersion.

If they survive by some miracle, the scorching water will surely kill them. Do away with the pillow and bedding storage bag to prevent reinfestation.

One of the most common approaches to eliminating bed bugs is to use a pesticide spray. Sprays like these are helpful because they kill insects on contact and continue to repel and kill insects for weeks after application.

Simply washing and drying won't do the trick unless you first try one of these methods. Pillows quickly become infested again if you skip this step.

Have you considered hiring a pest control company?

Termites can cause significant structural damage to your property if you don't catch them quickly enough. In a fast and affordable manner, All Pests can help you get rid of these pests.

We understand how important it is to keep your home safe from termites. This is why we provide a wide range of service levels to meet your specific needs. Rest assured that you've made the best possible decision for your home and family with our unconditional satisfaction guarantee.

To get in touch with us, please call 0409 523 029.

How To Eliminate Bed Bugs From Your Pillows

Finding a live bed bug can be challenging, even if you're sure you have them. Bed bugs are tiny parasites with no wings that are experts at concealing themselves in mattresses. These scummy critters will have already begun to make their home under your pillow before you even have a chance to check.

Regardless of where they are, you must implement a bed bug control programme before the problem spirals out of control.

Identification

Bed bugs are minor, brown, oval, bloodsucking insects measuring only a quarter to a third of an inch in length. After consuming blood, they grow longer and redder in colour. In terms of size, bed bugs can be as small as a pinhead or as large as an apple seed.

The odour bed bugs give off is sweet and musty, and it is easily recognisable.

Since they feed on their hosts while they sleep and disappear when their hosts become aware of the itching caused, bed bugs are often felt before they're seen.

Inspection

Female bed bugs can produce anywhere from 200 to 250 eggs. The average lifespan of an adult bed bug is 2–6 months.

Bed bugs will quickly spread throughout your home if you do nothing to stop them.

Castes Of Bedbugs

Bed bug faeces on the mattress is another sign that you may have an infestation of bed bugs in your pillows. Bed bugs have infested a room if tiny black splotches are all over the sheets.

One That Smells Sweet And Musty At The Same Time

As mentioned in the Identification section, when bed bugs are present, there will be a musty, sweet odour near your pillow. The stench can confirm the presence of bed bugs they leave behind.

Spots Of Blood

Your body weight could accidentally kill a bed bug while you sleep. Bloodstains can be found on bedding where bed bugs have been crushed. Bloodspots on your mattress, sheets, or box springs are another telltale sign that you have a bed bug infestation.

Treatment

Instead of relying on just one method, we advise taking a multi-pronged approach to eliminating bed bugs.

First, Clean Your Bedding.

One method is regularly washing all bedding items, including pillowcases and sheets. Pillows should be washed and dried to get rid of any bed bugs in them, rather than sprayed with pesticides. 

Chemical Methods Of Pest Management: Flex 10-10, Gentrol Igr, And Pyrid

After thoroughly cleaning and heat treatment, you can apply chemical pesticides for long-lasting results. 

If you have bed bugs, you can safely spray your mattress with Flex 10-10, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide.

Use a Flex 10-10 spray on your mattress first. Flex 10-10 calls for 3.2 fluid ounces per gallon when diluted, as stated on the product's label. In extreme cases of infestation, the recommended dosage is increased to 6.4 fluid ounces per gallon of water. Put the right amount of Flex 10-10 into the sprayer. Carefully spray the mattress around the seams, folds, and buttons, taking care not to overwet as this could result in staining.

Apply A Mixture Of Gentrol Igr And Flex 10-10 To The Bed's Frame, Box Spring, And Cracks.

One ounce of Gentrol IGR per gallon of diluted Flex 10-10. Bed Bug eggs and nymphs that come into contact with Gentrol, an Insect Growth Regulator, will develop abnormally and die before adulthood. When combined, Gentrol IGR and Flex 10-10 are lethal to all bed bug life stages.

After you've taken the netting off your box spring and cleaned all the crevices, you can apply the solution. To stop the bed bugs from spreading to other rooms, you should also treat the carpet or flooring near the bed and any adjoining rooms.

Aerosol Of Pyrite

Bed frames, drawers, and cabinets can benefit from being treated with the ready-to-use aerosol spray Pyrid Aerosol, which quickly knock down bed bugs. 

Employ D-Fense Dust

Protect your bed and box spring by placing an encasement over them.

To prevent reinfestation of your bed after you have used all of your chemical treatments and killed the bed bugs, you should instal a Bed Bug Encasement. Mattress, box spring, and pillow encasements are commercially available (sold separately). Because they eliminate potential bed bug hiding places, these can be useful in preventing an infestation.

Place the encasement over the mattress, pillow, or box spring and zip it closed to ensure a snug fit. It is unlikely that bed bugs can survive inside the encasement, but if any are found there, they will perish.

Prevention

If you want to prevent bringing bed bugs home with you from your travels, you should immediately vacuum out your luggage and wash your clothes.

Do you have large pests in your area? All Pests is the company to call for large pests removal in Melbourne. We have the experience and expertise to take care of any infestation, big or small.

Red Flags That Your Pillow May Have Bed Bugs

The Horror Of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs prefer to feed on a living human or animal, so if you find them in your home, likely, they've already made that decision. 

Some people get itchy or red when bitten by bed bugs, but many others do not react. 

Bed bug bites on the face, neck, or shoulders are a telltale sign that the pillow you're sleeping on is infested. 

An Infestation Of Bedbugs Has Been Observed In Your Residence.

Examine your sheets, pillow, and the space between your mattress for evidence of these pests before you freak out.

Bed bugs range in length from a quarter to a third of an inch and can be a dark brown or reddish colour. After an extended feeding, bed bugs become red and can grow by a factor of two.

You'll need to thoroughly inspect your home during the day to find out where these pests are hiding because they only come out at night to feed. Try searching the spaces between cushions on furniture, under rugs and carpets, and even behind picture frames.

Bed Bug Indicators On Pillows: Can They Be Found In Any Design?

Having bed bugs can be upsetting whether you sleep on a traditional pillow, a memory foam pillow, or a pillow filled with feathers. When it comes to regular pillows, these pests prefer to make their home in the cover rather than the filling. It facilitates their mobility and protects them from being crushed.

Although bed bugs are less likely to thrive in the tight space between a memory foam pillow and a pillowcase, this does not mean you should stop using a regular pad. 

Even feather pillows can harbour bed bugs, so it's not the pillow's fault. 

A Look At Bed Bug Eggs And Other Telltale Symptoms

You can find bed bugs anywhere, but they especially like to hang out in your pillows so they can lay their eggs there. Look out for tiny white oval eggs. Make sure to inspect the mattress, sheets, and pillow.

A second sign is if you wake up to find tiny black spots on your pillow, which are the faeces of bed bugs. Contact with these faeces may result in skin redness, irritation, and even an allergic reaction.

Blood stains on your pillow are a telltale sign that bed bugs have been feasting on you during the night. Blood stains may also exist because you are crushing bugs with your head while sleeping. Be alarmed if you find tiny blood stains on your pillowcase in the morning.

If you find tiny white eggs or bugs of a strange hue, you likely have bed bugs. 

Obscure Odors

As you drift off to sleep, you may become aware of a peculiar odour. A foul odour is left behind by bed bugs infesting furniture and bedding.

Bed bug odour has been described as both sweet and musty. Check to see if your pillows have a strong sweet, and musty smell by sniffing them.

If they were squashed while still digesting blood in their stomachs, they would leave behind tiny, curled-up shells that may also contain stains.

Dead animals in your yard or home? All Pests Melbourne is here to help you with the removal of dead animals, as quickly and affordably as possible. We know the importance of keeping your home clean and free of pests, so we'll work hard to make sure the job is done right - and fast.

The Case For Keeping Old, Flea-Infested Pillows

Pillows are just a symptom of a more significant bed bug problem on the mattress. You shouldn't just toss your pillows; treat them and maybe even your mattress.

If the old pillows weren't the source of the problem, replacing them with new ones wouldn't solve it.

Since you will need money for the fight against bed bugs, replacing your pillows is not a cost-effective solution. If you're going to spend money, don't put it towards new pads — hire an exterminator instead.

However, you shouldn't just dump the pillows in any old trash can or leave them in the driveway or cellar.

You'll only end up spreading the pests to other people's homes and your own. You don't want to be responsible for stopping people from bringing bed bugs into your home on their shoes.

Conclusion

You can say "yes" because it's feasible. However, the likelihood is low unless you intentionally seek out and interact with an infested environment or object. Check out our guide on identifying and eliminating bed bugs if you want to take preventative measures. 

Content Summary

• A history of bites may indicate that your pillow has been infested with bed bugs.
• You can temporarily try laundering your pillow and pillowcase to eliminate the bed bugs.
• Call your local pest control service and ask for an inspection and consultation if you think you have a bed bug problem.
• Do away with the pillow and bedding storage bag to prevent reinfestation.
• One of the most common approaches to eliminating bed bugs is to use a pesticide spray.
• Regardless of where they are, you must implement a bed bug control programme before the problem spirals out of control.
• Bed bug faeces on the mattress is another sign that you may have an infestation of bed bugs in your pillows.
• Bloodspots on your mattress, sheets, or box springs are another telltale sign that you have a bed bug infestation.
• If you have bed bugs, you can safely spray your mattress with Flex 10-10, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide.
• Use a Flex 10-10 spray on your mattress first.
• To prevent reinfestation of your bed after you have used all of your chemical treatments and killed the bed bugs, you should install a Bed Bug Encasement.
• Place the encasement over the mattress, pillow, or box spring and zip it closed to ensure a snug fit.
• Bed bug bites on the face, neck, or shoulders are a telltale sign that the pillow you're sleeping on is infested.
• Examine your sheets, pillow, and the space between your mattress for evidence of these pests before you freak out.
• Blood stains on your pillow are a telltale sign that bed bugs have been feasting on you during the night.
• Be alarmed if you find tiny blood stains on your pillowcase in the morning.
• A foul odour is left behind by bed bugs infesting furniture and bedding.
• Check to see if your pillows have a strong sweet, and musty smell by sniffing them.
• If the old pillows weren't the source of the problem, replacing them with new ones wouldn't solve it.
• However, the likelihood is low unless you intentionally seek out and interact with an infested environment or object.
• Check out our guide on identifying and eliminating bed bugs if you want to take preventative measures.
• Bed bugs hide in your pillow because it's an excellent place to lay their eggs.
• Keep an eye out for white eggs that are very small and oval-shaped.
• Check the cushion, the inside of the pillowcase, and the mattress and sheets.
• The heat, water, and detergent should kill all bed bugs and their eggs.
• You can find bed bugs in places with small, dark spots of their waste.
• If you wash, bed bugs may be momentarily gone from your mattress and pillowcase.