To get rid of bed bugs in a Sydney home, you need steam treatment and a residual spray applied to every hiding spot. Bed bugs hide in mattresses, bed frames, skirting boards and furniture, and they spread through luggage, second-hand furniture and shared walls in apartments. Priority Pest Services uses steam to kill bed bugs and eggs on contact, then a residual spray to catch any that hatch later. Bed bug treatment is priced at $300 per room and qualifies for our emergency same-day service* for biting and stinging insects.
- Bed bugs spread through luggage, second-hand furniture and shared apartment walls
- Steam kills bed bugs and eggs on contact - residual spray catches late hatchers
- A single female lays up to 500 eggs in her lifetime
- Bed bug treatment is $300 per room and carries a 6-Month Warranty*
How do bed bugs get into a Sydney home?
Bed bugs are hitchhikers. They do not fly or jump, but they climb onto luggage, clothing, furniture and bedding and travel wherever people go. In Sydney, the most common ways bed bugs enter a home are:
- Travel: Staying in a hotel, hostel or short-stay rental where bed bugs are present. They crawl into your suitcase and come home with you.
- Second-hand furniture: Bringing home a mattress, bed frame or lounge from a marketplace or hard rubbish collection.
- Apartment walls: Bed bugs travel between units through shared walls, pipes and electrical conduits, especially in older buildings in the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs.
- Visitors: Guests who unknowingly carry bed bugs on their clothing or bags.
"Bed bugs do not care about cleanliness. They follow people, not dirt. Any home can get them."
What are the signs of bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small, flat and reddish-brown, about the size of an apple seed. They hide during the day and come out at night to feed. Here is what to look for.
| Sign | What to check |
|---|---|
| Bites in lines or clusters | Itchy red bites on arms, legs and shoulders, often in a row of 3 to 4 |
| Blood spots on sheets | Small dark red stains where bed bugs have been crushed after feeding |
| Dark spots on mattress seams | Black dots along mattress edges, bed frame joints and skirting boards - bed bug droppings |
| Sweet, musty smell | A distinctive odour in the bedroom when the infestation is established |
| Shed skins and eggs | Pale, translucent skins and tiny white eggs in mattress seams and crevices |
Why are bed bugs so hard to get rid of?
Bed bugs are one of the most difficult household pests to eliminate. A single female lays up to 500 eggs in her lifetime, and the eggs are resistant to many surface sprays. Bed bugs can survive for months without feeding, hiding deep in cracks where sprays do not reach. They also develop resistance to common insecticides, which is why professional steam and residual treatments are more effective than supermarket sprays.
| Method | Kills eggs | Kills adults | Lasting protection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supermarket bug spray | No | On contact only | No |
| Bug bombs / foggers | No | Pushes them deeper | No |
| Professional steam | Yes | Yes | No - needs residual spray |
| Professional steam + residual | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How do professionals get rid of bed bugs?
Professional bed bug treatment combines steam and a residual spray to hit every life stage. Steam kills bed bugs and eggs on contact by delivering temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, which bed bugs cannot survive. The residual spray then targets any nymphs that hatch from eggs the steam missed.
- Inspect: We check every room and item affected, including mattresses, bed frames, skirting boards, furniture and luggage.
- Steam: We steam mattresses, bed frames, furniture and skirting boards to kill bed bugs and eggs on contact.
- Residual spray: We apply a residual treatment to cracks, crevices and hiding spots to catch late hatchers.
- Follow up: We check the result after two weeks and re-treat if needed for heavy infestations.
How to prepare for a bed bug treatment
Preparation is critical for a bed bug treatment to work. If the technician cannot reach every hiding spot, the bed bugs will survive. Here is what to do before we arrive.
- Wash all bedding and clothing from affected rooms on a hot cycle and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
- Clear the floor and under the bed so we can reach all areas.
- Move furniture away from walls where possible to expose skirting boards and hiding spots.
- Plan to be out of the house for 2 hours during treatment.
- Do not throw out your mattress unless we tell you to. Steam can save most mattresses.
How long does it take to get rid of bed bugs?
A single treatment takes about 1.5 hours per room. You should see a dramatic reduction in bites within 3 to 5 days. Most infestations are cleared with one treatment, but heavy infestations may need a follow-up visit after two weeks to catch any nymphs that hatched from surviving eggs. Bed bug treatment is covered by our 6-Month Warranty* on internal infestations. See our bed bug treatment service.
Key tips to stop bed bugs coming back
- Check luggage after travel - inspect your suitcase before bringing it inside, and wash all clothes on a hot cycle.
- Inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it home, especially mattresses and bed frames.
- Use a mattress encasement after treatment to trap any surviving bed bugs and make future inspections easier.
- Report bites early - the sooner you treat bed bugs, the easier they are to eliminate.
- Keep beds away from walls in apartments to reduce the risk of bed bugs travelling between units.
Bed bugs keeping you awake?
Priority Pest Services uses steam and residual treatments to kill bed bugs at every life stage. Bed bug treatment is $300 per room and carries a 6-Month Warranty*. We offer emergency same-day service for biting insects. Call us or request a free quote online today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to throw out my mattress?
Usually not. Steam kills bed bugs and eggs inside the mattress. We will tell you if a mattress is too far gone to save. A mattress encasement after treatment is a good extra layer of protection.
How much does bed bug treatment cost?
Bed bug treatment is $300 per room. This includes steam treatment, a residual spray and a follow-up check if needed. It carries our 6-Month Warranty* on internal activity.
Can you come the same day?
Yes. Bed bugs qualify for our emergency same-day service for biting and stinging insects. Bookings must be made before 12pm and are subject to availability.
How do bed bugs spread between apartments?
Bed bugs travel through shared walls, pipes and electrical conduits. If your neighbour has bed bugs, inspecting your unit early and treating both sides at the same time gives the best result.
Are the treatments safe for my family?
Yes. We ask you to leave for 2 hours during treatment. Once the residual spray is dry, it binds to surfaces and is safe for children and pets to return.