How to Kill Bed Bugs

If a mattress is not extensively infested, an effective method of controlling bed bugs is to encase the mattress.

Bed bugs cannot chew or otherwise make their way through most materials, so there are a lot of options. The key is to be sure that the mattress (and probably also the box spring) is completely sealed. This will keep any live bed bugs and eggs inside the casing, separating them from sources of blood meals, and they will eventually die. Because bed bugs can live for up to 18 months without eating, the encasement should remain on the mattress for at least a year and a half.

An easy option is to cover the mattress with a zippered encasement that is sold as a solution for dust mites and allergies and can be found at most home furnishing stores.