Bed Bug Treatment in Bakersfield
Bed bugs almost always need a licensed pest control company, a treatment plan with follow-up inspections, and real prep work from you. Do not set off a bug bomb first; it does not reach where bed bugs hide.
We only refer companies licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board.
On this page
If you are finding small reddish-brown bugs in mattress seams, or itchy bites in a line after a night's sleep, this guide covers what to check and what works. It also covers what a treatment costs. I would not try to bomb a bed bug problem away, and I would not wait on it either. A small infestation is much easier to clear than one that has spread into couches and the next bedroom.
How to tell it is bed bugs
Adult bed bugs are flat and oval. They are wingless and rusty red or mahogany, about 1/5 inch long. Young ones (nymphs) are smaller, from about 1/20 to 1/5 inch, and paler, almost yellowish white until they feed. Eggs are tiny and white, about 1/20 inch, and a female lays 200 to 500 in her life, according to the UC Statewide IPM Program.
Bites alone do not prove bed bugs. UC IPM notes that bites are usually painless and that many people only react days later with itching and swelling. Look for the bugs themselves, starting at the mattress seams.
If you are not sure what you found, a photo is the fastest way to get an answer.
Where bed bugs hide
UC IPM puts about 85% of bed bugs in or near the bed. Start your search there:
- Mattress seams and tufts, plus the piping around the edge
- Box spring corners and the wood joints inside it
- Cracks in the bed frame and behind the headboard
- Behind baseboards near the bed
The other 15% or so tend to be in upholstered furniture or in nightstands and dressers, as well as under loose wallpaper and in carpet edges. Clutter around the bed gives them more places to hide and makes treatment slower.
The highest-risk places for picking them up are hotels and shelters, along with furnished apartments and dorms. UC IPM also warns against bringing home secondhand mattresses or upholstered furniture without inspecting them first, and against leaving infested furniture on the curb where a neighbor might take it.
Why foggers and bug bombs fail
Over-the-counter total-release foggers have been shown to be ineffective against bed bugs, and UC IPM does not recommend them because they can also harm the people living in the home. The EPA says the spray "will not reach the cracks and crevices where bed bugs hide" and that foggers should not be your only method. EPA also warns that misused foggers can cause a fire or explosion.
There is a second problem. UC IPM reports that some bed bug populations have developed resistance to pyrethroid insecticides, which are common in store-bought sprays. So a bomb tends to kill a few exposed bugs while the rest stay tucked into the mattress seams.
EPA also says not to heat a room with space heaters or the thermostat to try to cook them out. It does not work and it is dangerous.
Heat treatment vs chemical treatment
There are two main professional approaches, and many jobs use some of both.
Heat
The technician brings in equipment to heat rooms or the whole home. UC IPM recommends at least 140F held for two hours, or 130F for three hours. The lethal minimum for bed bugs is 113F. Heat reaches eggs and bugs inside furniture without leaving residue on beds. In California, companies offering heat treatment must be licensed and bonded by the Structural Pest Control Board.
Living in Bakersfield does not help here. Even with 39 days a year at 100F or hotter, a closed house does not hold 130F to 140F long enough in every crack. That takes professional equipment and temperature monitoring.
Chemical
UC IPM lists several options licensed applicators use, including pyrethroid mixes, chlorfenapyr, the growth regulator hydroprene and dusts like silica gel placed in dry voids. UC IPM is clear that insecticides alone will not control an infestation; they work alongside vacuuming and laundering, plus clutter reduction and monitoring. Chemical treatment usually means more than one visit with inspections in between. EPA says bed bug treatment "can take weeks to months, depending on the extent of the infestation."
My view: for a heavy infestation or a home where bugs have spread past the bedroom, ask the company to quote heat. For a single room caught early, a chemical plan with follow-ups can be enough. Either way, ask what follow-up inspections are included.
The fastest way to know which you need is to have someone look.
How to prep before a treatment
EPA says prep should be done whether you treat yourself or hire a professional, because it makes it easier to spot bugs that survive. The company that inspects your home will give you its own list. These steps come from UC IPM and EPA guidance:
- Strip the beds. Wash sheets and blankets, along with clothes, in hot water and dry them on the hottest setting the fabric allows. UC IPM says 10 to 15 minutes on high in a dryer kills bed bugs in clothing and bedding.
- Cut clutter around beds and couches. Do not move items from an infested room into a clean one.
- Vacuum mattress seams and bed frames. Then vacuum baseboards and furniture. Repeat it; one pass rarely gets everything.
- Do not throw out furniture until the technician has looked. If something must go, mark it as infested or take it to the dump.
After treatment, keep checking. UC IPM recommends regular monitoring and vacuuming of the areas that were infested.
Are bed bugs dangerous?
UC IPM states that bed bugs have never been shown to transmit human disease. The harm is itching, scratching that can lead to skin infection, and lost sleep. The bigger health risk in many homes is the cure: heavy use of foggers and sprays. If you have kids or pets, that is one more reason to leave the insecticide work to a licensed technician and follow their re-entry instructions.
What bed bug treatment costs
This Old House (updated June 2026) publishes these national ranges:
| Treatment | Published national range |
|---|---|
| Single room | $150 for a small infestation to $1,000 for advanced cases |
| Chemical treatment | $150 to $400 per room |
| Heat treatment | $400 to $5,500 |
| Entire home | $1,500 to $5,000 |
These are not our quotes, and Bakersfield prices will vary with the size of the home and how far the bugs have spread. Ask for a quote before any treatment, and ask whether follow-up visits are in the price. Our pest control cost guide covers other pests.
Getting help in Kern County
We only refer companies licensed by the California Structural Pest Control Board. You can check any company's license yourself before you let them in. If you are also seeing cockroaches or fleas, mention it during the inspection so one visit covers everything.
If you want a licensed local company to confirm what you have and quote a plan, start here.
Questions homeowners ask
Do bug bombs kill bed bugs?
Not reliably. UC IPM says over-the-counter foggers have been shown to be ineffective for bed bugs, and EPA says the spray will not reach the cracks where bed bugs hide.
What temperature kills bed bugs?
UC IPM says 113F is the lethal minimum, and recommends professional heat treatments reach at least 140F for two hours or 130F for three hours. A home dryer on high for 10 to 15 minutes works for clothes and bedding.
How long does bed bug treatment take?
EPA says treating bed bugs can take weeks to months depending on the infestation. Chemical plans usually include more than one visit, and you should keep monitoring after the last one.
Do bed bugs spread disease?
UC IPM states that bed bugs have never been shown to transmit human disease. Bites can itch, and scratching can lead to skin infections.
Should I throw out my mattress?
Not before a technician inspects it. If you do discard one, UC IPM advises marking it as infested or taking it to the dump so no one else picks it up.