How to Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs Home When Shopping for a New Mattress

Buying a new mattress should be an exciting upgrade for your bedroom — not a route for bed bugs to enter your home. Unfortunately, mattresses (both new and second-hand) can be a vehicle for bed bugs if they’ve been stored, transported, or displayed in conditions where bugs were present. Here’s what to watch out for, and how to protect yourself.

It’s rare, but possible. A brand new mattress purchased from a reputable retailer is extremely unlikely to be infested. The risk comes from:

• Showroom display models: Mattresses that have been on display in a showroom have been sat on and tested by many people, some of whom may have had bed bugs on their clothing
• Delivery and warehousing: Mattresses stored in warehouses alongside returned or used goods can occasionally be exposed to bed bugs
• Delivery vehicles: Shared delivery vans that carry both new and returned items are a low but non-zero risk

In practice, the risk from a new mattress bought from a reputable retailer is very low. The far bigger risk is second-hand mattresses.

Pest controllers and public health professionals consistently advise against buying second-hand mattresses. Here’s why:

• Bed bugs can survive deep inside mattress padding for months without feeding
• Sellers on online marketplaces may not disclose an infestation, or may be unaware of it
• Even a mattress that looks clean on the surface can harbour bugs and eggs in its seams and internal structure
• There is no reliable way to inspect a mattress thoroughly enough to guarantee it’s bug-free

If you absolutely must buy a second-hand mattress for budget reasons, inspect it extremely carefully in good daylight before it enters your home, and consider using a bed bug mattress encasement cover immediately.

When your new mattress arrives:

1. Ask the delivery team to leave it in its packaging until you’re ready to inspect it
2. Inspect the packaging for any signs of damage, dark spots, or insects before opening
3. Once unwrapped, inspect the mattress seams, handles, and corners before placing it on the bed
4. Check your new bed frame too before assembly, particularly any hollow sections or fabric panels

A bed bug mattress encasement is a zip-up cover that completely encloses the mattress. Benefits include:

• Any bugs already inside the mattress are trapped and unable to feed, eventually dying
• Bugs on the outside of the encasement are easier to spot on the smooth surface
• The smooth surface has no seams for bugs to hide in
• Your mattress is protected from future infestation

Encasements should be labelled specifically for bed bugs (not just “waterproof”) and should fully enclose the mattress with a locking zip.

The bed frame itself can be just as risky as the mattress, particularly if it’s second-hand or upholstered. When buying a new or second-hand bed frame:

• Inspect all joints, hollow sections, and fabric panels carefully
• Metal and solid wood frames with no hollow sections are the safest option
• Upholstered bed frames and headboards carry higher risk as they have more hiding places

If you’ve recently bought a new mattress or bed and are now seeing signs of bed bugs — bites, dark spots on the mattress, or live bugs — act quickly. Contact a professional pest controller before the infestation has a chance to spread beyond the bedroom.

Midlands Bed Bug Heat Treatment Limited provides specialist heat treatment across Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and the wider Midlands. We can assess your situation and arrange treatment with same-week appointments.