Signs of bed bugs
- Itchy bites in lines or small clusters, often on arms, neck and legs
- Small rust or dark spots on sheets and mattress seams
- Tiny shed skins or pale eggs along mattress tags, box springs and headboards
- Live bugs: flat, reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed
Treatment options
Heat treatment raises the temperature of a room or the whole home high enough to kill bed bugs and their eggs, usually in a single day. It works well but costs more.
Chemical treatment uses several products applied to mattresses, furniture, baseboards and outlets. It usually takes two or three visits about two weeks apart to catch bugs as eggs hatch.
Many companies combine the two, using heat for the bedroom and chemical treatment for the rest of the home.
Getting ready for treatment
The company will give you a prep list. It usually includes washing and drying bedding and clothes on high heat, bagging items, and moving furniture away from the walls. Good prep makes treatment work the first time.
Renters and apartments
In apartments, bed bugs can move between units through walls and outlets. If you rent, tell your landlord or property manager right away; in many cases they arrange and pay for treatment.
How it works
- Call the number on this page. Tell us what pests you are seeing and where you live.
- Get connected. Your call goes straight to a licensed pest control company serving Fayetteville.
- Schedule a visit. Set up an inspection or treatment at a time that works for you.
Common questions
How much does bed bug treatment cost?
It depends on the size of the problem and the method. In North Carolina, chemical treatment often starts around $1,000 and goes up with the number of rooms, and whole-home heat treatment can run $3,000 or more.
Can I get rid of bed bugs myself?
Over-the-counter sprays rarely reach eggs or bugs hiding in walls and furniture, and they can spread the problem. Professional treatment is usually the fastest fix.
Do I have to throw away my mattress?
Usually not. Mattresses can be treated and then sealed in a bed bug proof cover.