Have you ever woken up to find mysterious stains on your pillow? Frightening. The worst part about this experience isn’t the discovery of bed bug poop on your pillow but the fact that you have no idea how it got there. I’m here to tell you what is under your pillow (probably) and how you can get rid of bed bug poop on your pillow.
Bed bugs are not puppies or kittens. You can’t just be cool and think that they’ll leave on their own after they were invited into your home by your neighbor. I’m sure you realize this already, but to just reiterate, bed bugs don’t commit suicide when they run out of host available blood. They will look for other sources of food.
What does a bed bug poop look like?
Bed bug poop is called castings, and it looks like tiny spots on your bed. They’re usually red because they contain digested blood, but once they dry out, they turn black or brown.
You may also see them on other furniture in your home, such as chairs and sofas.
The poop is made up of digested blood, which will no longer be red once it dries out. These droppings can be found in clusters—usually around the bed or other furniture that you spend a lot of time on—but they can also appear alone.
Can you wash off bed bug poop?
Well, that depends.
The dark splotches on your mattress, bedspread, and pillows come from the feces of bed bugs that have been feeding on you during the night. Cold water washing might do the trick for fresh, light stains. Heavier stains will need to be pre-treated with an enzyme based stain remover and/or a peroxide-ammonia mixture.
Bed bug fecal matter is actually pretty easy to clean up when it’s still fresh and still wet—just wash it away with cold water. If you don’t have a stain remover handy, try pouring straight ammonia on the stain and letting it sit for about 30 minutes before washing it down with cold water again. It should come out easily.
But if you’re looking for more specific advice for treating your mattress after finding bed bugs in your home? We’ve got some tips for that too:
Can pillows carry bed bugs?
Bed bugs are one of the most common pests in the world, and they can live in many different places. But one thing that often gets overlooked is that mattresses and pillows can also be a home for bed bugs.
Whether you’re sleeping on a mattress or a pillow, it’s important to make sure you don’t have any unwanted guests in your house. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Mattresses and pillows can provide a warm environment where bed bugs can grow and reproduce. When you’re buying new bedding, make sure it has been treated with pesticides to prevent bed bug infestations from happening. You should also try to keep your home clean and dry so that there aren’t any food sources for them to feed on.
How many times do bed bugs poop?
With the recent resurgence of bed bugs, it’s become increasingly important to know how often they defecate.
Bed bugs are able to survive long periods without sustenance and can go for months without feeding when necessary, but it is becoming well known that bed bugs have the ability to survive long periods without sustenance, but few people are aware that bed bugs defecate for a period of two weeks shortly after feeding.
When you’re trying to understand what you’re up against, knowing how often bed bugs poop can be critical.
What can be mistaken for bed bug poop?
Bed bug feces are not like other pests. Bed bug droppings are small, dark brown, and oval in shape. The eggs are also very small and light brown in color.
If you suspect bed bugs, you should look for additional evidence such as shed skins, hatched eggs, or the presence of blood. If you see shed skins or hatched eggs, it is likely that you have bed bugs.
List of Bed Bug Traps and Pillow Protector
The bed bug traps are designed to capture any bed bugs that are in your room. The traps come with a special pheromone that attracts the bed bugs, but they won’t be able to escape from the trap once they enter it.
Below is a curated list of the best products:
ZappBug The Oven 2 XL Large Bed Bug Heater
Price: $339.99
Features:
- Efficient: Heats large items above 120℉ 50℃
- Quality bed bug heat treatment equipment, No mixing, measuring, odors, or stains, just heat.
- Easy to use: One person set-up, load with items, and press on, no need to bag items
- Large collapsible treatment tent: Measures 39.5 inches-by-39.5 inches-by-28 / or 1 meter-by-1 meter-by-70 centimeters
- Twice the power: two 1500-Watt programable heaters & wireless thermometer ensure necessary temperature & time inside the chamber
BEAPCO 10013 (Gray) 4-Pack Bug Traps for Bed-Frame Legs
Price: $37.57
Features:
- Rest easy knowing that your bed and furniture will remain bed bug free.
- The ribbed outer frame makes it easy for bed bugs to climb up into trap. Smooth inner channel prevents bed bugs from climbing back out once trapped.
- In addition to use in homes and apartments, the Bed Bug Detector can be used in hotels, hostels, dormitories, hospitals, nursing homes, and other residences.
- the BEAPCO Bed Bug Detector is constructed with a reinforced base plate for added durability and strength. As a result, these custom-designed bedbug traps for bed legs are a critical piece of any complete bed bug removal strategy and will help you rest easy and keep your family safe.
- Each box includes a set of four bed bug detector traps. Four traps will provide detection and protection for one bed or other piece of furniture.
SureGuard Pillow Protectors
Price: $29.97
Features:
- 100% Waterproof – Total protection against perspiration, saliva, liquids and stains; 10-year quality guarantee
- Bed Bug Proof – Super fine zipper with Invisi-Zip technology completely seals off your pillow from bed bugs – Best used with SureGuard Mattress and Box Spring Encasements.
- Hypoallergenic – Keep Your Pillows Clean & Fresh – Blocks dust mites, mold, mildew, pollen and pet dander. Ideal for down feather pillows – Stops feathers and quills from poking through.
- Soft & Noiseless – 100% cotton terry surface; Wicks away moisture; Retains the feel of your pillow
- Standard Size (21 in x 27 in) Zippered Pillow Case Covers – Set of 2 – Machine wash & dry. Independently lab tested and GREENGUARD Gold certified.
Final words,
In order for these traps to work properly you will need to place them near your bed, preferably under the sheets or on top of the mattress. You can also place them on furniture around your room as well if needed.