- Pillows and duvets: yes, inside the filling, not just the covers.
- Divan bases and fabric bed frames: very often, in staples, fabric folds and the underside lining.
- Headboards: yes, especially padded and buttoned ones and screw holes.
- Metal frames: rarely, because sealed steel has nowhere to hide.
Most people only think about the mattress. Then they treat it, get bitten again a week later, and lose faith in the whole process. The usual reason is that bugs were also living in the pillows, duvet filling or bed base. Sealing the mattress alone is a great start, but the whole bed has to be dealt with.
Free bed audit: where could they be hiding?
Tick everything that is on or part of your bed.
Do bed bugs live in pillows?
Yes. Pillows sit right next to your face and neck, where bed bugs feed, and the filling gives them dark folds to hide in. Washing the pillowcase does nothing for bugs inside the pillow. You have two choices: wash the whole pillow at 60°C every week for at least 4 weeks (only if the label allows), or seal it in a zipped pillow encasement so anything inside is trapped and starves.
Do bed bugs live in duvets?
They can, in the filling and the stitched channels. Most duvets cannot go in a home washer at 60°C, and a king size duvet often will not fit. A full-zip duvet encasement seals it instead. A hot tumble dry for 30 minutes also kills all stages if your dryer is big enough.
Do bed bugs live in divan beds and bed frames?
Divan bases are one of the worst places: fabric over a wooden box, held with staples, with a lining underneath that nobody ever checks. Upholstered frames and padded headboards are similar. Wooden frames hide bugs in joints, screw holes and cracks. A sealed steel frame with no fabric and welded joints leaves almost nowhere to hide and can be wiped and steamed easily.
Bed part by bed part
| Part of the bed | Bed bugs? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Mattress | Most common spot | Full-zip encasement, 12+ months |
| Pillows | Yes, in the filling | Encase, or wash whole pillow at 60°C weekly for 4 weeks |
| Duvet | Yes, in the filling | Encase, or hot tumble dry 30 min |
| Mattress topper | Yes | Hot wash or dry if possible; otherwise replace |
| Divan or fabric base | Very common | Professional treatment, or replace with a sealed frame |
| Padded headboard | Common | Steam and treat, or remove |
| Wooden frame | In joints and cracks | Steam joints, treat, check monthly |
| Sealed steel frame | Rarely | Wipe and steam; easy to inspect |
Seal everything in one go
Bed Bug Protector Set
Mattress, 2 pillow and duvet encasements. The cheapest way to seal every soft part of the bed.
Bed Bug Pillow Encasements (x2)
Full zip. Traps anything in the filling and keeps new bugs out.
Sealed Steel Bed Frame
No fabric, staples or wooden joints. Wipe and steam in minutes. 35cm clearance to vacuum under.
Frequently asked questions
Should I throw my pillows away if I have bed bugs?
You do not have to. Wash the whole pillow at 60°C if the label allows, or seal it in a zipped encasement for 12 months. If you do bin them, seal them in a bag first.
Can bed bugs live in a memory foam mattress?
They do not burrow into foam, but they live in the cover seams, zips and underside. A full-zip encasement covers all of that.
Do metal bed frames prevent bed bugs?
No frame prevents bed bugs arriving, but a sealed steel frame gives them far fewer places to hide and is much easier to inspect, wipe and steam than a divan or fabric bed.
Seal every hiding place on the bed
Mattress, pillows and duvet in one order. Free next-day UK delivery on orders over £149.
Shop the bed bug protector set See the sealed frameWritten by Richard Williams, founder of iDustMite, former NHS worker, guest speaker at the Allergy UK Show in 2025 and 2026, and adviser on over 1,000 one-to-one bedroom consultations. Reviewed October 2026.
