Bed bugs are microscopic blood-sucking insects that are oval-shaped, flat, and brown, and range in length from a quarter to a third of an inch. They grow elongated, bloated, and have a scarlet tone after a blood meal. Bed bugs can be as small as a pinhead or as large as an apple seed. Bed bugs also have a peculiar odour that is slightly sweet yet musty. Because bed bugs bite individuals while they sleep and hide when they wake up itching, they are generally felt before they are seen.
Bed bugs may create their homes in mattresses and pillows. Pillows can also be a source of bed bug eggs, making them a possible source of infection. The emergence of bites might be an indication that bed bugs have contaminated your pillows. Although some people may not have a reaction to bed bug bites, some bites turn into red pimples after a few days. These bites, which are also known as papules or wheals, can occur in clusters. Check your pillow carefully if you think you’ve been bitten by a bed bug. Bed bug excrement in small, black dots might indicate the presence of the insects. Infested pillows, mattresses, or sheets may also emit a pleasant, musty odour.
Laundering your pillow and pillowcase might help get rid of bed bugs for the time being. Bed bugs, on the other hand, infest a variety of other areas in homes and are difficult to eradicate.
• Bed bugs and ordinary pillows — Unfortunately, bed bugs do not have difficulty living in conventional pillows. Bed bugs, on the other hand, prefer to hide in the pillowcase rather than the filling.
• Bed bugs with memory foam pillows — bed bugs may travel about and reside in the pillowcase of a memory foam pillow. Bugs may not be squashed by your head while you sleep since memory foam pillows are denser and better at weight distribution. Blood stains or bed bug shells in and on the pillow might be avoided this way.
• Bed bugs and feather pillows – Bed bugs may make their way into feather pillows as well. They can dwell in such pillows even if there isn’t anything in particular that draws them to feathers.
Summary
Heat is not a friend of bed bugs. If the thought of bed bugs hiding in your pillows keeps you up at night, toss them in the dryer for 20 to 30 minutes on medium to high heat, but only if the manufacturer’s instructions allow it. This is effective against bed bugs at all phases of their life cycle. If you’re very itchy, you may also put your bed linens in the dryer. Mattress guards and pillow coverings for bed bugs are also available. This won’t stop bed bugs from getting into your house, but it will help prevent bed bugs from getting into your pillows.
