How Do I Know If Bed Bugs Are in My Pillow?

You’ll know bed bugs are in your pillow if you spot dark stains (droppings or blood), shed skins, or notice a musty smell. If you're waking up with itchy bites, bed bugs might be hiding in your pillow. Inspect the seams and zippers with a flashlight to be sure.

Should I Throw Away My Pillows If I Have Bed Bugs?

No need to throw away your pillows right away. Wash them in hot water, steam them, or use bed bug-proof encasements. If the infestation is severe and treatments fail, replacing them might be necessary.

How Do I Make Sure My Pillows Don’t Have Bed Bugs?

Use bed bug-proof encasements, wash your pillows regularly in hot water, and keep your bed away from walls and furniture. For extra protection, the Bed Bug Barrier Isolation System offers long-term prevention.

What Kills Bed Bugs on Pillows?

Heat kills bed bugs. Wash your pillows in hot water (60°C) and dry on high heat, or use a steamer. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) can also kill bed bugs, and safe, non-toxic bed bug sprays are effective as well.

Do Bed Bugs Live Inside Pillows? How To Find And Treat Fast

In the article

You might be wondering: do bed bugs live inside pillows? While it’s possible, it’s actually quite rare. Bed bugs prefer solid, non-moving places to nest, like mattress seams or bed frames, where they can stay hidden and undisturbed.

Pillows are soft and move around, making them less ideal for bed bugs to settle in. However, in cases of severe infestations that haven’t been treated, they might hide in or around pillows for easy access to their food source – you. Let’s dive deeper into where bed bugs typically prefer to hide and why.

Do Bed Bugs Live Inside Pillows

Signs of Bed Bugs in Your Pillows

So, how do you even know if bed bugs are crashing in your pillows? Look for these signs:

Tiny brown or black spots : These are bed bug droppings (gross, I know).
Bloodstains: They might leave behind tiny blood spots if squashed.
Shed skins: Bed bugs shed as they grow. You might find small, light brown skins.
Musty smell: A strong, musty odour can be a dead giveaway of bed bugs living inside pillows.

How to Check If Bed Bugs Live Inside Your Pillows

It’s time to inspect those pillows. Here’s how you do it:

Unzip any pillowcases or covers.
Look along the seams and zipper for bed bugs and dark poo spots or tiny white eggs.

If you spot any of the signs, you’ve likely got bed bugs living inside your pillows.

Can Bed Bugs Live in Memory Foam Pillows?

You might be wondering: do bed bugs live inside pillows? While it’s possible, it’s quite rare.

Bed bugs prefer hard, non-moving places like mattress seams or bed frames, where they can stay hidden and undisturbed. Pillows, especially memory foam ones, are soft and move around, making them less ideal. Plus, bed bugs tend to avoid memory foam since it’s not a natural material.

However, in cases of severe infestations, they might still hide around pillows for easy access to their food source – you. Let’s take a closer look at where bed bugs typically hide and why

How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Living Inside Your Pillows

Prevention is key. Here’s what you need to do to stop bed bugs from making your pillows their home:

Invest in bed bug-proof pillow encasements. These act like a fortress that keeps bed bugs out.
Wash your bedding regularly. High heat is your friend. Bed bugs can’t survive the washing machine and dryer.
Steam your pillows. Steam kills bed bugs instantly on contact. It’s instant and eco-friendly.

Use these tips to keep bed bugs from living inside your pillows in the first place.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Living Inside Pillows

Already have bed bugs in your pillows? Don’t panic. Here’s what you can do:

Wash the pillows in hot water and dry on high heat.
Use a steamer on your pillows. Bed bugs can’t survive the heat.
Seal the pillow in a bed bug-proof encasement. If you can’t wash or steam it, trap the bugs inside, and they’ll die eventually.
Replace the pillow if the infestation is too severe.

How to Protect Your Pillows from Bed Bugs

You’ve dealt with the issue, but how do you keep bed bugs from coming back? Here’s how:

Set up barriers around your bed, like bed bug traps.
Keep your bed away from walls. Bed bugs can crawl from walls to your pillows if they’re close enough.
Use the Bed Bug Barrier Isolation System. This system guarantees long-term protection with one application. It stops bed bugs in their tracks, so they can’t reach your bed or pillows.

Bed Bug Isolation Method

That’s the rundown on bed bugs living inside pillows. Bottom line: they can, but now you know how to spot them, deal with them, and prevent them from coming back.

FrequentlyAsked Questions:

How Do I Know If Bed Bugs Are in My Pillow?
You’ll know bed bugs are in your pillow if you spot dark stains (droppings or blood), shed skins, or notice a musty smell. If you’re waking up with itchy bites, bed bugs might be hiding in your pillow. Inspect the seams and zippers with a flashlight to be sure.
Should I Throw Away My Pillows If I Have Bed Bugs?
No need to throw away your pillows right away. Wash them in hot water, steam them, or use bed bug-proof encasements. If the infestation is severe and treatments fail, replacing them might be necessary.
How Do I Make Sure My Pillows Don’t Have Bed Bugs?
Use bed bug-proof encasements, wash your pillows regularly in hot water, and keep your bed away from walls and furniture. For extra protection, the Bed Bug Barrier Isolation System offers long-term prevention.
What Kills Bed Bugs on Pillows?
Heat kills bed bugs. Wash your pillows in hot water (60°C) and dry on high heat, or use a steamer. Diatomaceous Earth (DE) can also kill bed bugs, and safe, non-toxic bed bug sprays are effective as well.
Do Bed Bugs Live Inside Pillows?
While it’s possible, it’s actually quite rare. Bed bugs prefer solid, non-moving places to nest, like mattress seams or bed frames, where they can stay hidden and undisturbed.

Are You Looking for an Organic DIY Treatment?

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Pillows: Ensemble Bed

Do Bed Bugs Live Inside Pillows?

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs On Your Pillows: Bed Frame Bed

Do Bed Bugs Live Inside Pillows?

If you have enjoyed our blog “do bed bugs live inside pillows” then you might like to read about bed bug bites.

Sources:

Orkin (bed bugs in pillows), Department of Health WA

Tony Abrahams

Tony pioneered a non-toxic, eco-friendly solution for bedbug infestations. His innovation won the ABC TV show “The New Inventors” in 2009. In 2012, he successfully registered Diatomaceous Earth for bedbug control in Australia.