Standard mattress covers designed to simply protect mattresses from dust and bodily fluids will be ineffective against bed bugs. It's very important that you get the right size encasement for the bed since encasements are only effective as long as they fit tightly.
To get rid of bed bugs in a mattress, use an aerosol spray labeled for bed bug treatment, such as Bedlam Aerosol Spray, and spray or mist the insecticide onto the mattress. Focus on the seams, tufts, and folds of the mattress and spray until the mattress is damp.
Rip covers and remove stuffing from furniture items. Use spray paint to mark furniture with "Bed Bugs." Have infested items picked up as soon as possible by the trash collection agency. Don't discard furniture if you can safely eliminate the bed bugs from it.
Treating your mattress with insecticide should be a last resort when you really don't want to (or can't) get rid of your bed. Most insecticides kill bed bugs on contact, but once the solution dries, it has no more effect on bed bugs that come across it later.
Now that you know how to get rid of old mattresses and bed bugs on your mattress, you're probably wondering why some people or places don't accept used, old mattresses when being sold or donated. Here are a few things that others are considering when it comes to an old and used mattress.
The encasements can be used to salvage beds that are infested with bed bugs. Once the encasements have been installed any bugs or eggs that are still associated with the mattresses and box springs will be trapped inside the encasement and will eventually die.
