On this page
Where to look on a mattress
- Seams running around the edge of the mattress
- Care labels and the fabric behind them
- Piping, tufts and quilting folds
- The box spring, particularly the fabric underside and corner brackets
- The bed frame, slats and headboard fixings
Inspecting the bed
- Strip the bedding and bag it for laundering rather than carrying it loose through the property.
- Work slowly along each seam in good light.
- Lift the mattress and check the box spring underside and the frame.
- Arrange a professional inspection if anything is found, before moving items between rooms.
Where encasements fit in
A quality encasement can trap what is already inside a mattress or box spring and makes future inspection much easier, because there are fewer places to check. It does not treat the room, and it is not a substitute for professional treatment where that is needed.
Disposal considerations
If a mattress is genuinely at the end of its life, or a professional has advised that it cannot be treated effectively, removal may be appropriate. Containing or wrapping the item before it is moved matters, and local disposal rules apply.
Do not sell or give away a mattress that may still be infested.