12 Products That Will Help Keep Bedbugs The Fuck Away From You

Bedbugs are a horrifying fact of life. But! There are practical steps you can take you protect yourself from their tyranny. From mattress covers to dissolving laundry bags to a blacklight (PARTY!), here are some things that will help you fight the good fight.

1. Bedbug covers for your mattress and box spring, so bugs that find their way to your bed won't be able to snuggle into the seams and ruin everything.

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COVER YOUR MATTRESS IMMEDIATELY! If for no other reason than it will give you peace of mind.

Promising review: "It works just as advertised. We had a bedbug infestation that seriously had me damn near screaming. I had bought one earlier, then bought this one, put them on the mattress and box springs, did everything I could possibly do to eradicate them pests, found a couple trying to hide under the zipper overlaps, destroyed them, and haven't seen any since. If they show up again, the covers will make it easy to spot them and they won't be able to hide inside either the mattress or box springs anymore." —John D Ekstromer

Get the mattress cover for $17.99+ and the box spring cover for $15.99+ from Amazon (both available twin–California king).

2. Foaming sealant to fill all the gaps and cracks around your home where bugs looove to burrow and hide.

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Promising review: "This stuff is fantastic for filling gaps and cracks. Not only for insulating purposes, but even just to keep bugs, snakes, lizards, skunks, and mice from sneaking into places where they don't belong. The material cuts easily so you can fill the desired gap and then clean up the edges for smooth operation of doors, garage doors, etc. Highly recommended!" —S. Templar

Get it from Amazon for $4.25+ (available in six sizes).

3. A metal bed frame, so just in case you do fall victim to an infestation, those little life-ruiners won't be able to get much traction.

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No need to throw away your wooden frame if you have one, but if you're debating between the two — and live in fear of bedbugs — consider a metal frame, since it's more difficult for bugs to climb up and hide in. Oh, and if you don't have a bed frame at all, you definitely want something to get your bed up off the floor somehow.

Promising review: "We ordered this bed frame to get our mattress off the floor. We wanted it to be tall enough so that we were able to store stuff under it, at a reasonable price. We are very pleased by this product. It was easy to assemble, has plenty of storage space, has the possibility of adding head/footboards, it doesn't make any noise, it doesn't move, and it's very sturdy. Definitely worth the money!" —Annie Louise

You can also get one with a headboard, if you prefer.

Promising review: "Nice, modern looking bed! Came packaged well in one, very, heavy box. I put this bed together in under an hour. No tools required. I am very satisfied with how sturdy the bed is. I have a regular, spring mattress, but it would surely hold a heavier memory foam or pillow top mattress with ease. Love that it's all metal, including the slats. Can't beat the price either!" —Kimberly A.

Get the platform frame for $55.84+ (available in seven sizes) or the headboard frame for $120.73+ (available in four sizes) from Amazon.

4. A combination stand-up and handheld vacuum with a HEPA filter, so you can get into the crevices where those little jerks hang out.

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Even if the bugs are only in your mind, a good preventative measure is making sure your space is vacuumed. It won't prevent the bugs, but it will make them easier to detect. And, if you do find yourself afflicted, a HEPA-filtered vacuum will allow you to suck up bugs without letting them escape.

Promising review: "This is one great vacuum. It comes apart when I need a hand vacuum for my car, and when I need to vacuum my home it can be a standing vacuum. Great suction! It even gets glitter up! It's lightweight to lift and slim to store. All in all a great vacuum!!" —Jan-marie Franco

Get it from Amazon for $39.99.

5. An ultraviolet flashlight so you can scout out any (ugh, sorry) telltale tiny blood spots on mattresses.

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Apparently it's also good for scorpion hunting??

Promising review: "Very bright light, so you should protect your eyes and keep pets away when using it! It does NOT make bedbugs glow — however, it can be used to more easily see blood stains left by the bedbugs. Since the flashlight is small and light, it can be easily packed to check out hotel rooms when traveling." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

6. Outlet covers, because apparently those monsters can scurry into the electrical depths and hide.

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Promising review: "Good quality plastic — doesn't feel like it's going to crack off when inserting and removing. It covers the entire outlet, including the ground hole, so it does a good job at blocking drafts, which was my primary concern. Doesn't obviously stand out at a glance." —Zack

Get a pack of 32 from Amazon for $10.

7. Dissolving laundry bags you can throw into the washing machine when you get back from a potentially infected hotel.

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If you're traveling and want to keep bugs from hitching a ride on your laundry, you can put your dirty clothes in one of these dissolvable bags and throw the whole bundle in the washing machine on high heat. Bedbug tip! The heat of the drying machine (on high for at least 30 minutes) will kill bedbugs.

Get a pack of three from Home Depot for $16.99.

8. Protective plastic boxes for under-bed storage (or hotel luggage).

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Ideally, you shouldn't store anything under your bed (in case of an infestation, you'll have fewer places for bugs to hide), but let's be real: That's some prime storage space. This storage bin will keep your shit safe from those creepers.

Promising review: "These are wonderful. I needed 10 flat containers with lids for my sons' LEGO. I was wishing I could find a whole stack of old 9x13 Tupperware containers and these are pretty close! These containers are fabulous because they are of excellent quality. The latches will prevent accidental spills. I can stack them 10 high in a closet or two high all along the floor under a bed. And the way the clips work, I can open a box on the bottom of the stack to slip in any LEGO pieces I find while vacuuming. Yay!" —northwest coast

Get them from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four sizes and in four-, six-, and eight-packs).

9. A bag of (pet- and kid-safe) diatomaceous earth, a powder made of fossilized plankton that will kill any bedbug that crosses its path, using the awesome power of desiccation.

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People also swear by this stuff for eradication of fleas, ants, and even joint pain (yep, you can eat it)!

Promising review: "I am so in love with this product. I own rental properties, and have been plagued by bedbugs despite repeated professional exterminations. I sprinkle this around the bed areas and sweep it into the carpets. After a year of fighting these pests, I am no longer getting phone calls about being bitten. As an aside many of my tenants have toddlers, and because this is food-grade material, I feel safe to have the product around the kids. Finally something that works and that is not that expensive. I am going to pick up another bag just to have it on hand." —Ida Mccarty

Get a 2-pound bag from Amazon for $10.35.

10. Bedbug traps, to intercept any rogue agents trying to scale the legs of your bed.

amazon.com, Kaitlin Christina / Via amazon.com

These little bowls are designed to be too slick for the bugs to escape, but for the (rightfully) paranoid, sprinkling some of the diatomaceous earth in there is a good fail-safe.

Promising review: "After discovering we had bedbugs, we immediately started to order everything we could to get rid of those little pests. I was worried they wouldn't work with the wheels on our bed frame, but these interceptors were a lot bigger than I expected so they fit perfectly! We sprinkled a little diatomaceous earth in the bottom of them and the next morning, there were so many of them caught in there! It was so disgusting and upsetting, but also it made me feel better that these worked and were going to help with our infestation. We have been fighting them for a few months, and we haven't seen a live one or found any new bites for a few weeks so I am really praying they are all gone now." —Kaitlyn Christina

Get a set of four from Amazon for $14.

11. Giant plastic bags you can stow your luggage in to keep out the tiny monsters when you're in a hotel.

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Don't let bug paranoia ruin your vacation!

Get a set of four from Amazon for $19.99.

12. An under-door sweep to prevent those brazen little assholes from strolling right in the front door.

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This one is especially important if you live in an apartment building.

Promising review: "Probably the best door sweep I've ever used, and believe it or not, I've been through at least a half dozen of them. This one is very easy to install (just cut to fit), has a sticky back, and comes with clear, sturdy nail heads/pins that you hammer into the door to secure it. It really does 'sweep' the bottom of the floor to make sure nothing gets in through the bottom — which is exactly what I was looking for!" —shopper-1359

Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in four colors).

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Some reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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