The 3 bedroom items to clean weekly to spot a bed bugs before they spread

On the left, a woman stands next to a bed as she strips the bedding. On the right, a close up of bed bugs in a mattress — (Image credit: Shutterstock | Future)

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The 3 items to clean weekly
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Bed bug cleaning essentials

Bed bug infestations often start small but spread fast. If you don't act quickly your entire mattress will be under siege in a week, according to pest experts, with a full-blown infestation in your home taking place around a month or two later.

There are ways to avoid this fate, however, and a simple cleaning schedule can keep your home bed bug free. More specifically, targeting three key items in your weekly bedroom clean can help you spot early signs of bed bugs to head off an infestation before it has time to take root.

3 bedroom items to clean weekly to help you spot early signs of bed bugs

1. Your bedding

You know the enticing aroma that wafts from a bakery? That's what your sheets smell like to bed bugs — rich with the scent of their favorite food.

Regularly washing your sheets busts odors and removes embedded sweat and moisture. A hot wash at 140°F (60°C) also helps kill bed bugs, which are heat adverse and not a fan of water.

TG bedding writer placing hands on the Coop Percale sheet set — (Image credit: Future)

The weekly wash is an excellent opportunity to check for bed bug warning signs, such as rusty marks, gray or black stains, and a musty odor.

And a heads-up: avoid red or black bedding as these colors are a bed bug favorite.

2. Your mattress

You might be creating the perfect conditions for bed bugs if you aren't regularly cleaning your mattress.

And it's not as time consuming as it sounds. Once you've stripped the bedding, use a simple cleaning solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water to treat any stains. Give the mattress a once over for any signs of bed bugs and then leave it uncovered to air dry.

Once dry, use a vacuum to clean the surface. A handheld mattress vacuum is best for getting into the seams and quilting (a bed bugs preferred hiding place) but a vacuum with an upholstery attachment will work. Finish by dressing the bed in fresh sheets.

This is all you need to do for a weekly clean but every couple of months, make sure to complete a mattress deep clean.

Need a new mattress after all? Take a look at the options in our best mattress guide for our latest top-rated picks.

3. The space under your bed

You might not check under the bed for monsters anymore but you should give this hidey-hole a weekly clean if you want to stop bed bugs.

Storing things under your bed creates plenty of dark, quiet comfortable places for bed bugs to call home and as these items tend to be 'out of sight, out of mind', they're also a breeding ground for dust mites.

The image shows a woman sitting at the foot of the Helix Twilight mattress, which is placed on a wooden bed frame in a neutrally decorated bedroom — (Image credit: Future)

If space is at a premium, you might not be able to avoid keeping things under your mattress. However, using plastic storage boxes can reduce clutter, cut down pest hiding spots and aid cleaning.

Once a week simply pull out the boxes and wipe them down with a damp cloth, then vacuum the cleared space (including the baseboards.) And if you aren't storing anything under the bed, a quick vacuum will do.

More bed bug fighting tips

We always say that it's easier to prevent a bed bug outbreak than it is to eradicate a full-blow infestation. These are some more simple tips to keep your home bed bug free:

Use a mattress encasement: This acts as a protective barrier on your bed.
Clean the bed frame regularly: Either wipe with a damp cloth or, if you have a fabric bed frame, vacuum with the upholstery attachment.
Wash decorative bedding items: Your throw cushions and blankets aren't immune to bed bugs, so make sure to clean and vacuum on a regular basis.
Spray a lavender solution: Bed bugs aren't keen on the smell of lavender while humans find it sleep-inducing, so this is a win-win.
Take precautions when traveling: Bed bugs are often picked up when traveling so put your luggage in the bath and check the mattress for pests before settling into your hotel.
Stock up on bed bug essentials: Diatomaceous earth can kill the early stages of a bed bug infestation while bed bug traps keep you on top of an outbreak.

Bed bug cleaning essentials

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Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.