Bed Bugs Stains on Sheets
Identifying and Treating Bed Bug Stains on Sheets
Bed bugs can be a nightmare to deal with, but they can also leave evidence behind on your sheets. To determine and remove bed bug stains, it is important to understand more about them and the treatment options available.
Types of Bed Bug Stains
Bed bug stains usually look rusty red or brown spots and streaks on your sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers. The spots are the excrement of bed bugs, either adult or immature, and often accompany an infestation.
Treating Bed Bug Stains
In order to stop the further spread of bed bugs, it is important to take the appropriate steps for treatment.
- Launder items in hot water to kill bed bugs and remove the stains.
- Use high-temperature settings when washing and drying to ensure bed bugs and their eggs are destroyed
- Vacuum around and inside your mattress to remove any remaining bed bugs or eggs
- Steam cleaning may also be an effective method of removing bed bug stains
If you are unable to properly remove the bed bug stains with any of these methods, it is best to replace the affected items as they may continue to re-infest despite being cleaned.
Preventing Bed Bug Stains
The best way to handle bed bug stains is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. To reduce the risk of a bed bug infestation, take the following steps:
- Frequently wash and dry sheets, and ensure high-temperature washing and drying settings are used.
- Carefully inspect mattresses when buying second-hand, to ensure they aren’t carrying bed bugs.
- Check bedding when staying in hotels or other rented accommodation.
By taking these steps, you can help to ensure bed bug stains on your sheets and other items are less likely to occur.
