Do Bed Bug Mattress Covers Really Work?(1)

When it comes to protecting your home, there's nothing but the best to do. Check out the best bed bug mattress covers to keep those pesky pests out.

Bed Bug Mattress Covers

Sleeping without a bed bug mattress cover is like leaving your front door wide open. You wouldn't allow intruders to enter your home at night and harm your family, so why let pests do the same? A bed bug mattress cover prevents bed bugs from using the mattress - one of their favorite places - as a hiding place and locks existing pests inside, starving and killing them.

In an infested home, up to 90 percent of bed bugs occur on or near mattresses and box springs. A bed bug cover can prevent your mattress from becoming infested and eliminate existing bed bugs that may be hiding deep within the mattress. Here's everything you should know about how to find the best bed bug mattress protector for your home.

What is a bed bug mattress protector?

A bed bug mattress protector is a large, removable fabric that fits tightly around the mattress, completely encasing it. Each protector has a zipper that locks the particles - and pests - inside. Once locked inside, bed bugs have no way to escape from the package and reach their blood supply hosts. As a result, the mattress protector causes bed bugs to starve and die. According to research at the University of Minnesota, bed bugs can die in as little as two weeks while trapped inside. Again, bed bug wraps are key to preventing more bed bug infestations on mattresses because new bed bugs have no way to penetrate the mattress protector.

How to pick a mattress cover for bed bugs. So, what should you look for in a bed bug mattress cover? Consider the following questions.

Is it a complete wrap?

An effective mattress cover should cover the entire mattress. Some mattress covers are marketed as "bed bug proof", but only for certain areas of the mattress. Look for a mattress cover that completely wraps around the mattress and box spring.

Is it properly sealed?

Mattress covers kill existing bed bugs by sealing them in so they don't feed on you at night. But bed bugs are very small. Because of their flat shape, they can easily slip through the cracks. Buy a mattress cover with a zipper and reinforced seams. Higher quality covers also contain strip seals to protect the zippers and ensure a tight seal.