Bed Bugs, Bed Sheets, and Your Mattress
Mon Mar 30 2026
- Mattresses
Spring Clean the Bugs
Bed Bugs, Bed Sheets, and Your Mattress
Night night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite…
How many moms out there have said these exact words? We laugh or smirk when we hear them and repeat them to others. But what if you really do have bed bugs? It’s common to not know you have the pests. The first sign tends to be itchy, red bumps on skin because bed bugs feed on human flesh. In fact, according to “What Attracts Bed Bugs to a Person,” human bodies are the only thing that attract these bugs. When you have them, it’s difficult to get rid of them. This blog is dedicated to bed bug myths, how to spot the signs, and how to eradicate the bugs.
We will also discuss how to keep your bedding and mattress clean to prevent these creepy crawlies from showing up. This spring, you can move forward with a clean, bug-free sleeping space by following a few simple suggestions.
Bed Bugs Myths
You may think you know everything there is to know about these flat, red bugs that live in your mattress and on your bed sheets. But we tend to lump facts and fiction together and mix up our creepy-crawly stories. There are several myths about these creatures to debunk:
Myth #1 – You can’t see bed bugs. Out of sight, out of mind, right? This is false. Bed bugs are small, but they are reddish-brown, flat, oval bugs that you can see.
Myth #2 – Bed bugs live in dirty places. This is not true either. Bed bugs actually live in dark, tight, concealed places that are close to a human host.
Myth #3 – Bed bugs transmit diseases. While they do not transmit diseases, bed bugs do bite the skin and eat flesh, causing irritation.
Myth #4 – Bed bugs are not a public pest. According to “The Introduction to Bed Bugs,” the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does, in fact, “consider bed bugs a public pest.”
Myth #5 – Bed bugs will not come out in the light. While it’s true that bed bugs are nocturnal creatures and they are sensitive to light, their need to eat will override their aversion to light.
Myth #6 – I have bed bugs! In this article, “How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs for Good, According to Pest Experts,” entomologist Dr. Richard Pollack says that “fewer than 10% of critters people identify as bed bugs actually are bed bugs.”
Spotting the Signs
Are you worried you have bed bugs but you don’t know for sure? Check out these signs to determine:
Sign #1: Rusty or red spots on your bedsheets. This is the blood of a bed bug. If you see this, it means you have rolled over them and crushed them in your sleep.
Sign #2: Yellow spots on the bed. This indicates that the eggs the bed bugs have laid are smooshed, which leaves a yellow residue on the bed.
Sign #3: You can see them.
Prevention
Preventing bed bugs from entering your space is always the best plan. Bed bugs like to travel. Specifically, from vacation, to your luggage, and finally, to your home. For many of us, not traveling isn’t an option. Bed bugs also like to come home with us from furniture, clothes, boxes, and bedding that you acquire secondhand. It’s likely you will bring home pre-used items at some point in life. Obviously, the longer bed bugs exist, the more they will multiply and the harder they will be to get rid of. So, here are some ways to prevent bed bugs from tagging along.
- 1. Clean clutter.
- 2. Wash sheets, blankets, and bedding that touches the ground.
- 3. Vacuum floors thoroughly and frequently.
- 4. Use a mattress protector and change it out regularly.
How to Eradiate Them
If you have bed bugs, step one: release your guilt. It’s not your fault. Bed bugs just happen sometimes. It’s no one’s fault. But you do need to react quickly to be sure they don’t multiply any more than they already have.
· First, confirm that you really do have bed bugs.
· Check the spaces around your bedding, like bed boards, cracks, and tight spaces.
· Hire an expert to fumigate immediately when you discover the problem.
· Seal infested bedding and clothing in clean plastic bags and wash everything in extremely hot water.
Sometimes, no matter how thorough you are and even after you’ve done everything you can, the thought in the back of your head remains—maybe we should just start over with all new bedding and get a new mattress. To decide if it’s time to start new, here’s a short video called “When Does Your Mattress Need to be Replaced?”
Live Fresh, Relax, Sleep Well, and Be Happy
A new mattress or good cleaning of the one you have enables you to sleep well and dream good dreams. You can relax and be happy with Beautyrest Sleep Gallery, knowing your mattress is bug-free this spring. If you think it’s time to upgrade your mattress, browse these mattresses online: Beautyrest Sleep Gallery Mattresses. Note that the best way to determine if there’s a new, better mattress fit for you and your partner is to come in, have a conversation with a sleep expert, and try out a new bed. You might be surprised at the difference it makes in your ability to relax, sleep well, and be happy.
References:
“Introduction to Bed Bugs.” Accessed Feb. 22, 2026. Epa.gov.
“Bed Bug Seekers. “What Attracts Bed Bugs to a Person?” May 21, 2023. Bedseekers.com.
Related Articles