Remove Bed Bug Stains from Just About Anything

Bed bugs are parasitic insects that live in fabrics and can cause bed bug stains. They bite humans, feeding on blood meal. These bites can cause you to become itchy.

The bed bugs cause blood stains in the fabric as their fecal matter are blood-stained. This causes dark spots to appear in bed sheets or duvets. 

The unsightly stains can be tough to remove as the stains contain blood. The stains can remain even if the bed bug problem has been eliminated. 

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

How can I remove the stains?

1. Spray the affected area with some enzyme-based stain remover that you would use on fabrics or laundry. Allow the enzyme cleaner to remain on the linen for the recommended period of time. This is often around thirty minutes.
2. Put the bedding in the washing machine with your usual laundry detergent. Using hot water can be the most effective way to ensure the elimination of any live bed bugs.
3. Moisten the stained areas in equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia if there are any remaining spots after being in the washing machine. 
4. Rinse the hydrogen peroxide and ammonia away after around ten to fifteen minutes. Don’t leave these substances in place for more than fifteen minutes, as you may risk damaging the bedding. 

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Removing bed bug stains from mattresses 

1. Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. Moisten the affected areas and leave for about eight minutes. 
2. Blot the areas with a clean cloth.
3. Sprinkle dry borax onto the stains and blot with the cloth to rub it in. 
4. Repeat steps until stains are removed. 
5. Hold a cloth over the damp areas to remove the spots’ moisture. Before applying any bedding, wait until the mattress is completely dry to prevent mold and mildew. 

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How to remove bed bug stains from walls?

1. Start by spraying water on the stain and gently rub it with a damp cloth. You can also test the water on one part of the wall to ensure it won’t cause any discoloration. 
2. If water and cloth don’t work, you can use stronger or harsher products containing hydrogen peroxide. 

Do bed bugs live in walls? 

Yes, they can live in walls and often in small hiding places or books and crannies of walls when they are not feeding. Once they want to feed, they can come down the walls and into your bed. 

Do bed bugs always leave stains?

Bed bugs will leave stains as their fecal spots are blood-stained. This is what causes the stain.

You may not see the stain on an absorbent surface, but on fabrics and woods, it will be dark brown or black. If you have large patches of staining, you likely have an infested area there. 

How can you treat bed bug bites? 

• Put something cool on the affected area, like a clean and damp cloth, to help soothe itching and swelling. 
• Keep the affected area clean.
• Avoid scratching the area further. 

How do you get bed bugs? 

Bed bugs can travel from place to place by being hidden in furniture or clothing. They can also travel in any soft upholstered item.

They can also travel between rooms in multi-purpose buildings such as apartments or hotels.

What do bed bugs look like? 

Bed bugs are small insects that do not have wings. They can not fly or jump but can crawl rapidly.

Their body resembles an apple seed, and they are red/brown. They hide during the day in crevices they can find, such as headboards, mattresses, and walls, and then they come out at night. 

Should I use pesticides? 

Pesticides are not safe for human skin or to be used indoors. This would not be a good idea.

It can take a long time and persistence to get rid of bed bugs, and pest control companies can be expensive. If you decide to use a pest control company, be sure they have experience dealing with bed bugs.

Bed bugs aren’t a health concern but a nuisance and can generally be dealt with by yourself. 

Do bed bugs only like dirty areas? 

This is a myth. Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime.

They are only attracted to human blood. Having clutter in the house, however, will help them hide.

They typically come out in the middle of the night to feed and will go back into hiding. If you have bed bugs, it doesn’t necessarily mean your property is dirty.

Bed bugs can also survive for many months without food, so simply isolating where the issue is won’t help. 

What attracts bed bugs?

Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide. Humans emit this gas from their breath.

This lets the bed bug know that there is a food source nearby. 

Do bed bugs reproduce? 

Yes, they do reproduce and can also leave bed bug eggs in spots in your house. One female bed bug can cause an entire infestation.

The bed bugs can live for 4-6 months. Adult bed bugs are around 5mm long. 

Is there bed bug treatment I can buy online?

Yes. There are many products available on Amazon with fast delivery.

Here are some listed below:

Ortho home defense max bed bug killer

This bed bug killer is part of a three-step process. It is also suitable for killing fleas and ticks.

It also has a helpful wand to reach into hard-to-reach places, nooks, and crannies. This is available on Amazon for $18.

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Harris Pyrethroid bed bug spray

This product is classed as the best spray bottle available. It kills both bed bugs and eggs.

It is also EPA-registered and safe to use in homes and around pets. The spray has a long residual life and can still kill bed bugs after 16 weeks of application.

This bed bug spray is also an odorless formula and safe to use on furniture. It is harmful if inhaled and toxic to aquatic life.

It can also be a skin irritant. Always follow the instructions on the label.

Harris pyrethroid bed bug spray is available on Amazon for $20. 

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Rockwell cimexa insecticide dust

This bed bug-killing product is in powder form and is the best powder product on the market. The product works by drying out the bed bugs and claims to stay active for ten years.

It also controls bed bugs, lice, fleas, ticks, silverfish, spiders, mites, and dry wood termites. It is one of the cheaper products on the market, coming in at $9. 

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Eco Defense bed bug killer

This product doesn’t use harsh chemicals and uses natural ingredients. However, the product has an odor due to the use of plant oils.

This product is best used on active bed bugs; it does not have a residual life, so it is better used with other treatment methods for infestations.

It does come in as one of the higher ticket products at $60.

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Bedlam plus

Bedlam Plus is most suitable for treating infestations on mattresses. While many other products are available on the market, Bedlam Plus is the more popular option.

The spray is water-based, so it is unlikely to stain your furniture. Pesticide-based products are more likely to stain furniture.

The product has a residual life of two weeks. It is available on Amazon for $24. 

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Trapper max glue boards

Trapper max glue boards are a different product and aren’t a spray. This other treatment method is perfect for those on a budget of $6.

It may take longer to get rid of the bed bugs, but the product works by putting the boards around the legs of beds, making it harder for the bed bugs to climb up.

The bed bugs will stick to the boards, but you will still need to use a spray or another treatment method to get them out of your mattress or furniture. 

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Rest easy bed bug spray

This bed bug spray is designed to put your mind at rest when you travel or go on vacation. The spray is a 2-ounce bottle that will pass TSA regulations.

It won’t take up space in your luggage and has a sweet cinnamon scent. It is not designed to treat a home infestation but as more of a preventative measure on the road. 

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FAQS About Bed Bug Stains

How do I identify bed bug stains?

Those nasty little bugs leave behind tell-tale bed bug signs like small black spots on your sheets and mattress.

Upon closer inspection, you may see blood smears in their teeny tiny bed bug droppings. Gross, I know, but it’s one way to know you’ve got an infestation.

What do bed bug marks look like on sheets?

It’s like waking up to find your sheets were used as a dot-to-dot puzzle!

Bed bugs leave clusters of small dark spots from their poop and blood-filled feces. Check the seams of the mattress and folds of sheets carefully for these gross but revealing spots.

Do bed bugs like clean sheets?

Clean or dirty sheets won’t deter bed bugs – they feast on humans, not grime. But they do appreciate all the nooks and crannies in rumpled sheets to hide their disgusting little selves in.

Keep things tidy and smoothed out!

What does residue from bed bugs look like?

We’re talking leftover shed skins, pesky bed bug eggs, the occasional dead bug, and most noticeably – those reddish-brown stains everywhere. You’ll find these remnants clustered where the bugs hide out.

Can bed bugs live in your pillow?

You bet they can. Pillows provide cushy crevices and folds for bed bugs to nestle into during the day, before coming out for their revolting nighttime feedings.

So check pillowcases and seams thoroughly if you suspect bed bugs!

What are the early signs of a bed bug infestation?

Early signs of bed bugs include itchy red bites on the skin, dark spots on your bedding (which are bed bug feces), and the presence of bed bugs in the seams of mattresses or a bed frame.

You might also notice a musty odor around your sleeping area, which is a sign of a larger infestation.