How long does it take to kill bed bugs with a mattress cover?

A bed bug mattress cover is often one of the first solutions people try when they want to get rid of a bed bug infestation. The logic is pretty obvious. If bed bugs live in the bed, then covering the mattress with a thick, non-breathable layer of sturdy outer fabric will certainly do the trick.

But do bed bug mattress wraps work? Well, unfortunately, the answer is not simple or clear. In this article, we'll explore the biology of bed bugs, the infestation, and why a protective bed cover may be part of the solution to an infestation, but is by no means a complete solution.

Bed bug bedspreads operate on a very basic principle. They encase the mattress in an impermeable barrier that prevents existing insects in the mattress from escaping while preventing new ones from setting up camp.

These bedspreads are usually made of tough cotton or similar fabric with a strong sealing mechanism. Some variants protect only your mattress. Other mattress covers protect both the mattress and its matching box spring.

Do they really work?

Ah, the six million dollar question! To answer this question accurately, we must take a step back and talk about the biology of bed bugs and what a typical infestation looks like.

The term "bed bugs" is a misnomer.

They don't just live in beds. Nor do these tenacious and resourceful little creatures confine themselves to your soft and padded furniture. These tiny insects are about the width of a fingernail, and they can successfully hide in your home, from carpets to clothing to cracks in wooden furniture.

Then there is the prolific reproductive cycle of this pest. An adult female will produce up to a dozen eggs per day. In addition, egg-laying insects instinctively move away from existing infestation sites. As a result, the spread of the pest is incredibly rapid.

In almost every infestation we encounter, bed bugs have spread to several rooms in the home before the homeowner realizes they have a problem. By that time, they're not just living in your bed anymore.

So, back to the issue at hand. Do protective mattress covers kill bed bugs? No, at least not in a meaningful way. While a properly installed mattress cover will slowly starve your mattress of unwanted guests, it will do nothing to prevent bed bugs from infesting multiple rooms in your home.

How long does it take to kill bed bugs with a mattress cover?

Unfortunately, the prospects for mattress covers as an infestation solution have become even worse. Entomologists often refer to bed bugs as "resilient," but when we're talking about the extreme survival intelligence of Cimex lectularius, that term doesn't quite fit.

Although these insects will try to feed on human blood at least once a week, if it loses its nourishment, the bedbug won't simply stand up and die-absolutely not.

These resourceful pests will go into a near-dormant state; some studies suggest they can remain stationary in your mattress for as long as 18 months. At any time during that year and a half, if the slightest seam or tear presents itself as an opportunity - you guessed it - they will reappear, hungrier than ever.