A decent mattress should last you 7-10 years, if you take care of it. A mattress protector helps, but if you start to notice the quality of your sleep declining, it might be time to think about replacing it. Load of Rubbish is happy to schedule a pickup for your old mattress. To a point…

Sometimes, mattresses need to be discarded for other reasons though. And we’ve seen some pretty nasty ones that you wouldn’t ever want to reuse. The worst culprit for that is bed bugs.

Mattresses and Bed Bugs

Range in size of bed bugs

Bed bugs are small, biting insects. And yes, they are most often seen in beds. These voracious little insects range in size from 1.5 mm to 10 mm long. They breed rapidly and leave behind itchy, red bites, typically around the face, neck, arms, and torso. While they do not transmit any communicable diseases, the stigma behind having bed bugs is rather unpleasant.

Load of Rubbish has come across mattresses infested by bed bugs before. As with any location, when these oval-shaped insects are discovered, a full cleaning and fumigation is required. If they are found on a mattress, they are probably lurking in headboards, nightstands, picture frames, and other furniture found nearby the infected bed. While it is unpleasant to deal with in your home, it is even worse for us, as our trucks are our livelihood. They also need to be thoroughly cleaned to ensure no apple seed critters are left behind to infest ourselves or other items bound for donation.

For this reason, we discourage pickup of infected mattresses. We just can’t afford to take the risk. If you have bedbugs in your apartment, contact the landlord to have your home cleaned and professionally fumigated.

Load of Rubbish will happily collect old mattresses, but we can’t risk the downtime associated with bed bug infestations

Steps to Reduce Bed Bug Infestation

  • reduce clutter
  • use a nylon mattress protection
  • clean regularly
  • inspect and clean used furniture before bringing it into your home
  • seal any cracks or crevices with caulking to prevent them entering your home
  • tighten switch plates & electrical outlet covers
  • repair wallpaper

What to Do if you Have a Bed Bug Infestation

  • wash all clothing, linens, towels, & bedding in hot water and dry on high heat for at least 1/2 hour
  • vacuum beds, carpets, rugs, baseboards, & immediately dispose of vacuum bags outside
  • dispose of any infested furniture which cannot be thoroughly disinfected
  • seal infected mattresses or furniture in plastic mattress cover & put to the curb with an attached warning sign to deter people from scavenging
  • contact a licensed pest control company for treatment

The best way to prevent bed bugs is with a clean and clutter-free home. If you need help with that, Load of Rubbish is -happy to pickup your excess junk. Call us today at 519-637-6928!