I'm a sleep writer — 3 products I'd buy to bed bug proof my mattress in the Memorial Day sales

1 month ago 2
A small brown bed bug trapped in a glass jar on top of some soft fabric
(Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s officially bed bug season. The hot weather and the increase in travel over the summer is a recipe for infestations, with bed bugs feeding and breeding quicker than ever. So, what steps can you take to prevent these pests from taking over your bed?

Once bed bugs enter your mattress, it's a tricky job trying to get rid of them, let alone stopping them from spreading through the rest of your home.

If you’ve invested in one of this year’s best mattresses, you’ll want to protect it from creepy crawlies, not only for your sleep hygiene, but also for your sleep quality.

And the good news is that you can. With these three products, currently discounted in the Memorial Day mattress sales, you can reduce the risk of bed bugs settling in your mattress, keeping your sleep environment fresh, clean and pest free.

3 things you need to bed bug proof your mattress

1. Bed bug proof mattress encasement or liner

While the best mattress protectors do a great job at protecting your bed from spills, stains and accidents, they won’t do much against an infestation of bed bugs.

This is because they only cover the top of your mattress, and often, these pests will crawl into your mattress from underneath.

The solution? A mattress encasement. These cover the whole mattress and zip up at the edge, stopping anything from reaching your bed. Opt for a breathable fabric so you don’t trap heat and impact the temperature regulation of your mattress.

Alternatively, anti-bed bug mattress liners are an effective solution. These are essentially fitted sheets that can stop bed bugs from feeding and breeding, which means they die within just 10 minutes of contact with the liner.

2. Mattress vacuum

While a vacuum alone is unlikely to kill an infestation, it’s an important bed bug prevention step. Regularly vacuuming your mattress can help reduce the build up of dust mites and other allergens, and keep a clean and hygienic sleep environment.

Bed bugs are attracted to human odor and warmth and clutter creates an ideal environment for them to thrive, so keeping a tidy bedroom will help deter pests from settling in your mattress.

On top of this, regularly vacuuming your mattress will get rid of any existing bed bugs or bed bug eggs, helping you spot the early signs of an infestation and taking steps to prevent it.

3. Anti-allergen mattress

While no mattress can prevent bed bugs alone, you can keep a super fresh and clean bed set up by investing in an anti-allergen mattress.

These are beds that have a hypoallergenic cover or use hypoallergenic materials which help to prevent dust mites, pollen, pet dander, dead skin and more from accumulating and building up in your bed.

While it won’t stop bed bugs, it’ll help you maintain a clean environment that will naturally deter them.

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Lauren is an experienced writer and editor in the health and lifestyle industry and has led many campaigns and projects that deliver news, advice, and research on all things sleep. As the Sleep Features Editor for Tom’s Guide, Lauren writes, commissions and edits sleep and mattress content, from in-depth how-tos in sleep and mattress health to interviews with doctors and neuroscientists on the latest news in sleep. Lauren regularly tests new sleep tech and accessories to evaluate their effectiveness for getting good quality sleep and easing specific sleep struggles like nighttime anxiety. Alongside this, Lauren reports on the best mattress brands out there, like Helix, Saatva, and DreamCloud, helping readers find the right mattress for them and the best deals on them. 

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