Warning! This blog contains content that may be graphic to those with a disdain for bugs!
Finding out you have bed bugs can feel overwhelming, but the good news is—you’re not alone. Whether you’re waking up with itchy bed bug bites or just discovered telltale stains on your mattress, it’s possible to get rid of bed bugs with the right strategy.
Let’s walk through the safest and most effective ways to tackle a bed bug problem from the first bite to full extermination.
Before you can treat it, you need to be sure it’s bed bugs you’re dealing with. Look for:
Clusters of red, itchy bites that appear overnight
Live bugs, shells, or eggs in mattress seams or furniture
Tiny black or rust-colored stains on bedding or box springs
A musty odor in the affected area
Need help identifying the signs? Click here to read our guide on early signs of bed bugs.
While DIY treatment may not fully eliminate the infestation, it’s a good starting point:
Wash bedding, curtains, and clothes in hot water and dry on high heat
Vacuum everything—mattresses, furniture, baseboards, carpets—and empty the vacuum immediately
Use bed bug-proof encasements on mattresses and box springs
Declutter your space so bugs have fewer places to hide
The first image in this series is showing a bed bug that has been considerably starved (it could have been months since it was fed)
Because bed bugs are incredibly resilient and hide in deep, inaccessible areas, professional pest control is often necessary. Here’s what we offer at Cal King Pest Control:
Targeted chemical treatments for high-traffic zones and hiding spots
Heat treatments that kill bugs and eggs in a single session
Follow-up visits to ensure complete extermination
Safe options for families, kids, and pets
Many over-the-counter sprays only kill bugs on contact and do nothing for the eggs or hidden colonies. A licensed bed bug exterminator has access to professional-grade treatments that eliminate infestations at every stage of the lifecycle.
Once your home is bed bug-free, prevent re-infestation by:
Regularly inspecting bedding and mattresses
Being cautious when buying used furniture
Using interceptor traps and mattress covers
Calling us for routine pest inspections
The longer you wait, the more bed bugs spread. Stop them fast and sleep easy again with professional help.
Call Cal King Pest Control at (530) 673-6322
Schedule your free inspection today: CalKingPestControl.com
The fastest and most effective way to get rid of bed bugs is through professional heat treatments and insecticide applications. These methods eliminate bed bugs at all life stages, including eggs, often in a single session.
While DIY methods like vacuuming, laundering, and using mattress covers can help reduce the population, they rarely eliminate the entire infestation. Bed bugs hide deep in cracks and crevices—making professional pest control the most reliable solution.
With professional treatment, most infestations can be resolved in 1 to 2 visits, though severe cases may require more. Each visit typically lasts 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the space and the treatment method used (e.g., heat vs. chemical). A follow-up visit may be scheduled to ensure all bed bugs and eggs are eliminated.
The average cost to get rid of bed bugs professionally ranges from $300 to $1,500, depending on the size of the infestation, type of treatment, and size of your home. Heat treatments tend to be more expensive but may only require one session. Most pest control companies, including Cal King, offer free inspections and quotes based on your specific situation.
If the infestation is fully eliminated and no new bugs are introduced, they won’t come back. However, because bed bugs are great hitchhikers, it’s important to take preventive steps—like inspecting luggage and secondhand items—to avoid re-infestation.
