Should I throw out my mattress if I have bed bugs?

You should generally not throw out your mattress if you have bed bugs unless it is heavily infested, torn, or you were already planning to replace it, because throwing it out often does not solve the problem and can spread bed bugs to other areas and cost unnecessary money. Bed bugs hide not only in mattresses but also in box springs, bed frames, headboards, baseboards, electrical outlets, and nearby furniture, so discarding only the mattress leaves many bugs behind and they will infest the new mattress. If you do decide to discard, you must follow proper procedures to avoid spreading infestation, including encasing the mattress in plastic and sealing it tightly, labeling it as infested with bed bugs so no one takes it, and checking local disposal rules. The recommended approach from pest control professionals and the EPA is to keep your mattress and treat it, by vacuuming mattress seams thoroughly, then encasing both mattress and box spring in high-quality bed bug-proof encasements costing $30 to $60 each that have zipper locks and trap bugs inside to starve over 12 months and prevent new bugs from hiding. Encasements also make it easier to spot bugs and treat surfaces. Combined with washing bedding in hot water and drying on high heat above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing clutter, moving bed away from walls, using interceptors on bed legs, and professional heat treatment, encasing is more effective and economical than replacement. Only throw out a mattress if it is heavily damaged or after encasing is not possible, and never bring in a new mattress before treatment is complete.