How to Make Bed Bugs Come Out of Hiding

Co-authored by Kevin Carrillo

Dealing with bed bugs can be frustrating, especially when you can't see them. While it's best to take steps to prevent bed bugs from infesting in the first place, there are a few things you can do to flush them out and target them for extermination if it's too late. Once you've identified a few of the places where bed bugs are most likely to be hiding, blast them with a hair dryer set to high heat or scrape them out by hand using a credit card or similar tool. When contending with large numbers, you can also carpet-bomb them a cloud of pyrethrin- or pyrethroid-based pesticide approved for indoor use.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Evicting Bed Bugs with a Hair Dryer

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Hunt for bed bugs in bedding, furniture, and other likely hiding places. Bed bugs commonly conceal themselves in the contours of mattresses, the internal cavity of the box springs, and the many cracks and crevices in the bed frame. In addition to the bed itself, bed bugs can often be found in places like carpeting, curtain folds, electrical outlets, and furniture joints. Work your way around the room slowly, exploring each of these potential hot spots in depth.^{[1]
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- Bed bugs are typically around 5–7 millimetres (0.20–0.28 in) long, with oval-shaped bodies and a reddish-brown hue. Younger pests may be lighter in color or even translucent if they haven't fed recently.^{[2]
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- While they are visible to the naked eye, bed bugs are exceptionally tiny, so you'll need to look closely in order to spot them. A flashlight may come in handy in dimly-lit areas.
- Even if you don't catch a glimpse of the bugs themselves, the presence of skin castings, droppings, and rust-colored stains will confirm that they've found their way into your home.^{[3]
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2
Plug in a hair dryer and set it to high heat. Be sure to hook up your hair dryer in a central location to maximize its reach. You'll be using the concentrated heat it generates to drive the bed bugs out of the hard-to-reach places where they've set themselves up.^{[4]
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- Bed bugs are sensitive to heat, so the more intense the temperature you expose them to, the better.
- Switch the hair dryer to a low heat setting instead if you're going to be using it around plastics or other materials that might melt or warp.
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3
Direct the heat over areas where you think bed bugs may be hiding. Hold the nozzle of the hair dryer 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) away from the suspected hiding spot and wave it back and forth slowly. If there are indeed bed bugs lurking inside, you should notice them making a run for it within a few seconds.^{[5]
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- If you don't detect any signs of activity after about a minute, move on to another possible location and try again.
- The hair dryer method will be most effective for forcing bed bugs out of spots where they'd be difficult or impossible to see, such as small cracks, electrical fixtures, pipes, and other openings.
Tip: The heat from a hair dryer can actually kill bed bugs if it's held on them steadily for around 30 seconds.^{[6]
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4
Crush the emerging bed bugs with a piece of toilet paper or paper towel. Cover your hand with the paper and be ready to eliminate pests as they flee from the heat of the hair dryer. It may help to use the tip of one finger to create enough pressure to flatten the tiny invaders in their tracks.^{[7]
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- If for some reason you're not able to flush the paper right away, take it outside and dispose of it in a sealed trash receptacle a safe distance from your home.^{[8]
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- Remember that paper towels shouldn't be flushed down the toilet, as this can put unnecessary strain on your plumbing or septic system.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Bed Bugs by Hand

1
Grab a flashlight to aid you in your search. The focused beam of illumination will make it easier to catch sight of pests tucked away in dark spaces. Whenever possible, hold your flashlight close to the surface you're inspecting at a parallel angle. This will cause bugs and their eggs to cast a more noticeable shadow.^{[9]
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- While you're at it, turn on all of the lights in the room to maximize your visibility. Contrary to popular belief, light usually doesn't do much to keep bed bugs away.^{[10]
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2
Force encamped bugs out of hiding with a card or similar thin object. When you spy a cluster of bugs, insert your tool into the infested space and slowly drag it towards you to scrape them out. Hold the edge of the tool firmly against the surface and angle it to cover more ground and ensure that none of the bugs have a chance to scurry free.^{[11]
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- Ideally, the tool you use should be relatively durable. That way, you won't have to worry about it breaking accidentally.
- You probably won't be able to fish out every last pest like this, but it can be a good way to thin their numbers.
Tip: An old credit card, playing card, or putty knife may be just the right size to slip into hiding places that would otherwise be inaccessible.
3
Trap the exposed bugs with a piece of tape or a damp cloth. Mash the tape or cloth directly into the pests, aiming to pick up as many as you can. Due to their size, they'll have a hard time escaping from the adhesive or moist, textured cloth.^{[12]
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- Stickier types of tape, such as duct or packing tape, will offer the best results.
- If you decide to go with the damp cloth approach, keep a small container of hot, soapy water nearby where you can deposit the bugs you collect.^{[13]
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Dispose of the trapped pests securely outside of your home. If you're using tape, fold the piece over on itself to make absolutely sure the bed bugs will stay stuck. If you're using a cloth, submerge it in your bucket of water and wring it out thoroughly to loosen the bugs. Throw the tape in a sealed trash receptacle outside and dump bug-filled water a safe distance from your home.^{[14]
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- After doing battle with bed bugs, always wash the clothes you're wearing as a precautionary measure. You can also heat-treat clothing and accessories in the dryer for 30 minutes if you don't have time to do a full load of laundry.^{[15]
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- Be sure to scrub your bucket with hot water and a powerful detergent to kill bacteria left behind by bugs or their skin castings or droppings.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Flushing out Bed Bugs Using Pesticides

1
Purchase a pyrethrin- or pyrethroid-based home pesticide. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are types of chemical compounds that are lethal to many insects. You can pick up pesticides that feature pyrethrins or pyrethroids as active ingredients at most drug stores, or in the pest control aisle of your local supermarket.^{[16]
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- Pyrethrins are naturally-derived, whereas pyrethroids are synthetic and have been designed to act like pyrethrins. Both substances share the same purpose—to obliterate stubborn pests like bed bugs.
- If possible, track down a product that contains both pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. This particular combination has been proven to work best for killing bed bugs and preventing newly-laid eggs from hatching.^{[17]
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Warning: Only shop for pesticides that have been approved for indoor use. Deploying an outdoor or agricultural pesticide in your home could make you or your family very sick.
2
Spray the pesticide anywhere you've spotted bed bugs previously. Apply the pesticide directly to the targeted area for 12-13 seconds, or just long enough to dampen the surrounding surface. Do this for every site that you believe may be harboring bed bugs. Once you've sprayed thoroughly, exit the room and allow it to air out for about 30 minutes.^{[18]
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- Focus on places like baseboards, bedside furniture, lampshades, and nearby wall fixtures and hangings that tend to offer sanctuary to the greatest number of pests.
- Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are found in many household products, and are generally safe to apply indoors. Even so, you should always use as little as needed to get the job done. Overexposure could result in dizziness, headache, nausea, or diarrhea.^{[19]
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Use a fogger to disperse the pesticide throughout the entire room. If you're still not sure where the bed bugs are hiding, or if you've found them in more than one place, a fogger may be the most efficient option. Set the canister in the recommended location, then activate it and leave the room immediately. You'll need to keep your distance for the length of time specified in the directions.
- Foggers are a type of pesticide application device that release a cloud of chemicals over a larger area than you could cover using a conventional spray.
- Don't re-enter the room before the fumes have had time to clear. By doing so, you could be putting yourself at risk of inhaling harmful chemicals.^{[20]
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Avoid using pesticides directly on or around your bed itself. Although many pyrethrin and pyrethroid-based pesticides are approved for indoor use, it's still not a good idea to deploy them where you sleep. To flush out bed bugs in your mattress or box springs, try using a hair dryer instead.^{[21]
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- The chemical compounds in these products take longer to break down inside than they do outside, which means there's a chance they could linger and cause mild airway irritation or other uncomfortable symptoms.^{[22]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What draws bed bugs out of hiding?

Kevin Carrillo
MMPC, Pest Control Specialist
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You're the most effective bait for luring bedbugs. If you want to draw bedbugs out of hiding, the best thing you could do would be to sit perfectly still in one spot between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00 am. Eventually, a bedbug will come out to feed on you.
Question

How do you attract bed bugs?

Kevin Carrillo
MMPC, Pest Control Specialist
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

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Use bedbug traps. Most traps simulate the scent of a human, since bedbugs prefer human blood. There are several products that are small plastic boxes with different chemical formulations that emit C02, which we exhale. They might also include keratone, which is a bed bug pheromone. The bed bugs will be attracted to the odor and fall in the box. Don't stay in the same room if you use these, though, because the bedbugs will come to you instead of the trap.
Question

How do you stop bed bugs from spreading?

Kevin Carrillo
MMPC, Pest Control Specialist
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

MMPC, Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

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Place traps on the legs of your bed if your bed isn't infested. There's a product called Climb Up Interceptors that are basically dishes that go on the legs of your bed. They're textured on the outside and they have a smooth trough on the inside. When you're laying in bed, the bedbugs will try to get to you, but they'll get trapped in the dishes.

Warnings

There's no guarantee that commercial pesticides, regardless of how effective they claim to be, will put an end to your bed bug problems once and for all. Your best bet is to hire a qualified exterminator to come in and treat your home using proven professional methods.

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