Bed bugs are difficult to spot. They multiply quickly and can spread on drapes, linens, and couches. While you can use bug spray, the safest way to get rid of them is through a bed bug vacuum. But with hundreds of brands claiming to be effective, how do you know it's the best?
My team of experts tested the most popular brands, rounded up 10 of them, and finally came up with the best vacuum for bed bugs.
10 Best Vacuums for Bed Bugs in 2020
Atrix Bug Sucker
Of all the different vacuum models we've tried, the Atrix Bug Sucker was the best we've reviewed so far. It's a backpack vacuum, which makes moving around more manageable.
The Atrix Sucker has a 1400 watt motor designed to provide continuous and robust suctioning. Suction is essential as eggs laid by bed bugs tend to be quite sticky. A lot of vacuums are often found to lack the sufficient power to suck them up.
The Atrix Sucker's backpack vacuum surpasses the competition in terms of its extra tools. For instance, attachments like the crevice tool are necessary to get the hard to reach places that bed bugs and critters like to hide in. By using the right accessories and a proper technique, it's possible to suck up all of the bed bugs in your plastic bag.
PROS
- Multiple attachments to clean tight spots
- HEPA filter makes the air cleaner
- Backpack vacuum makes moving easier
- 1400 watts
- Free belt strap included
CONS
- Extension cord needed
Housmile Mattress 810
We were impressed by how the Housmile 810 vacuum work. Out of all the best vacuum for bed bugs and insects, it offers the most options to clean and eliminate bed bugs and other pests.
The product comes with a UV vacuum light along with a top HEPA bag filter and an activated carbon filter. With a motor that rotates at 6000 cycles per minute, creating powerful suction, we find it great at filtering and safely storing air pollutants in the vacuum bag.
The Mattress 810 performed well when cleaning large areas, such as carpets and mattresses contaminated with bed bugs. One thing which we didn't find, though, was the upholstery nozzle or extension hose.
PROS
- UV light helps kill bed bugs
- HEPA filter removes bacteria
- Vacuum for ease of use
- Comes with Carbon filter that purifies the air
CONS
- No attachment to clean cracks and crevices
AHSC Atrix Canister
The Atrix Canister, also known as the Lil Red, has a 3-stage HEPA filtration system perfect for powerful suction and capturing pests.
The canister holds a large 2-quart HEPA bag that helps trap microorganisms and dust mites. A few users find the vacuum bag easy to change.
If your house has a significant infestation, you need to make sure you are vacuuming and replacing the plastic bag often to avoid having bed bugs and other pests escape.
The Lil Red features a 1200-watt motor powerful enough to suck up a variety of critters, from ticks and fleas to spiders, cockroaches, eggs, and other pests. It has three-speed options to clean a range of surfaces, including carpets and wood flooring. Make sure to keep it pointed away from your face when vacuuming. The vacuum bag is strongly sealed, ensuring the bed bugs can't get out between uses.
PROS
- 1-year manufacturer's warranty
- Retractable power cord and extension wand
- Comes with 1200 watts
- 3-stage HEPA filter system
CONS
- No crevice insert option
Vapamore MR100 (Steamer)
Indeed, powerful suction is an excellent way to rid your room of a bed bug problem. But another good way of killing bed bugs is with a bed bug steam cleaner that relies on heat.
The pests die when their body temperature exceeds 113°F [1]. During our research, this top steam cleaner for bed bugs performed well at eliminating the creatures.
High temperatures are great for eliminating bed bugs and their egg casings. It also works on a range of surfaces, such as a leather sofa or box springs. The one downside is that using a bug steamer is a bit more labor-intensive cleaning process. Be sure not to bend your spine too much when vacuuming in order to avoid common lower back pains.
PROS
- Reaches temperatures between 210°F and 220°F
- 10+ attachments to clean different surfaces
- Tank capacity gives you 1-hour use
- No soap or chemicals needed
CONS
- Extension needed due to short power cord
Housmile 804 Anti-Dust Mites
Like the Housmile 810, the 804 will kill bed bugs and take care of dust mites. The product comes with UV vacuum lighting.
The 810 has the added benefit of using hot air to help with extermination.
There is no bag canister to drag around. If you're cleaning a large area such as mattress covers or a rug, this product does the job well.
Ensure you clean the bag bin thoroughly after each use, though. Dust mites and other bugs can dwell in the bag bin after being sucked up and can even get out of the vacuum. It's best to throw everything in a plastic bag and immediately take out the bag from your home and into the trash.
PROS
- Hot air reaches temperatures of 131°F
- Comes with UV light for better pest control
- 2.81lbs makes carrying it easy
- Activated carbon filtration
CONS
- User complaints of high noise level while vacuuming bed bugs
Kenmore 600 Series
The 600 series is another canister vacuum that is good for everyday use. It has two-motors for extra-strong sucking power.
Despite the powerful two-motors, a few users have noted that it is quiet compared to some of the other bed bug vacuum productsƒkill bed bugs.
Another impressive feature is the product comes with a triple HEPA filter bag. It is excellent for capturing critters and keeping them from crawling back out.
The product also ensures that any air which passes through the vacuum comes out cleaner. What makes this especially suitable when taking care of bugs is the powered attachment nozzle. It is designed specifically for cleaning hair from pets but can also clean bed bugs off your rugs or linen.
PROS
- Comes with crevice and fabric brush
- 1-year warranty (90 days non-home use)
- Telescoping vacuum hose gives you better reach
- 28-foot cord provides better mobility
CONS
- Less affordable than other models
Dibea Vacuum Cleaner
The Dibea is explicitly advertised for cleaning beds and bed bug control. We like the handheld design and UV light that gives added power.
It also has an incredible 6-stage HEPA, which the manufacturer reports remove 99.97% of particles.
The light does an excellent job of killing off smaller critters, such as dust mites.
For the remaining bugs, the 300-watt motor easily creates enough energy to suck them up. One other thing we liked is that the product vibrates at 33,000 cycles per minute to help shake up pests stuck to fibers.
PROS
- Lifetime customer service
- 6-stage HEPA filter combination
- 14.7-foot long extension cord
- Comes with UV light kills small critters
CONS
- No added carpet attachment
RAYCOP Lite UV
The RAYCOP Lite is a handheld vacuum cleaner meant to clean sofas and beds.
Many users have noted the 330-watt motor produces a powerful suction for cleaning mites and kill other pests.
Something we particularly liked during research is the pulsating system.
It shakes the surface to loosen up items such as casings, dandruff, and dust mites.
A 6 watt UV lamp then disinfects the surface and kills smaller bugs before getting sucked up and trapped in the HEPA filter. The manufacturer claims the vacuum can kill over 99.97% of mites, bacteria, and viruses.
PROS
- UV vacuum light to sanitize surfaces
- Pulsating pads shake loose debris
- 4lbs for easy portability
- Removes allergens from furniture
CONS
- Less affordable than other handheld vacuums
DYSON V8
When doing initial testing, we were impressed with this product. It's a cordless vacuum cleaner making it the most portable product to treat a bed bug problem.
But, what we liked the most is that you can separate the motorhead from the shaft to clean your bed, sofa, and other furniture.
The main drawback is that it lacks essential tools. A few users have also complained of long charging times and short usage duration on max power. The average user will get 40-minutes of fade-free use during a single charge.
PROS
- Cordless for complete portability
- Sucks up larger debris and creatures
- Detaches from vacuum wand to become handheld
- Comes with HEPA filter system
CONS
- Only 8-mins on max power
Dirt Devil Scorpion
The Scorpion is the most affordable of the best bed bug vacuum cleaners we tested.
It's another handheld vacuum designed to give strong suction power in small spaces.
It is not good with vacuuming large surfaces. Instead, you can use this on your sofa and other furniture where bed bugs hide. We like that it also has a crevice tool attached.
Many of the other best vacuums lacked any extra attachments making them less effective with small cracks and crevices.
PROS
- Tool to vacuum crevices
- Affordable vacuum cleaner
- 3.75lbs provides easy mobility
- Best with small surfaces
CONS
- Loud according to some users
Things to Look For
Weight & Size
Weight and size will impact how easy it is to use your vacuum cleaner. For portable handheld vacuums, you want to look at the lightest option you can find. It will ensure your arms don't tire after you used it for too long. A backpack vacuum may also be a good option for ease of use and enhanced mobility.
When it comes to the size of your vacuum cleaner, it can directly affect your access (or lack thereof) to certain areas. Bed bugs concentrate around beds and sofas and on objects like curtains. The restricted movement will make getting around tricky, which can limit the vacuum's effectiveness.
Suction Power of Bug Vacuum
In order to increase the count of captured or dead bugs in the plastic bag, vacuum cleaners require lots of suction power.
It makes them more efficient at getting bed bug eggs with each sweep, ensuring better pest control. The higher the motor speed and number of RPMs, the better the capabilities of the vacuum cleaner.
Also, it is much easier to eliminate bed bugs that are hanging on fibers, such as carpets or upholstery.
"Bed bugs and especially the eggs can be difficult to dislodge. Optimum results will be achieved by moving and scraping the end of the suction wand along infested areas...."
-Michael F. Potter, Entomologist
Bed Bug Vacuum Dustbin
The dustbin or vacuum bag is where everything goes that gets sucked up. There are essentially two types of dustbins: bagless containers and bagged. When shopping for the best vacuum for bed bugs, make sure to choose one that has a vacuum bag. It will keep the pests in a confined space so that they can't crawl out in case they aren't killed during vacuuming.
You may also be wondering what to do about bed bugs once you capture them. It's essential to empty the canister into a trash can immediately after use. You may not know this, but adult bed bugs can still dwell after being sucked up. They can also crawl out of the vacuum if left unsealed.
Extra Accessories
Attachments are an essential detail to pay attention to when buying a vacuum for bugs. These pests hide in small places such as between couch cushions and in little nooks and crannies. To make sure you can reach all the places the bugs like to hide, having the right equipment can help tremendously.
Failure to suck up all the bugs in an area can leave you at risk of the pests repopulating. These bugs can continue to spread until you kill them or use poison. So, check that the vacuum you decide on has the right attachments to complete the job.
FAQs
The difference between a steam cleaner and vacuum cleaner is that a steamer kills the bed bugs via extreme heat treatment, while vacuums kill the bed bugs via suctioning. Both are very effective methods of infestation control.
Yes, you can get rid of most bed bugs and other pests by vacuuming and properly disposing of the bag. However, bed bugs hidden in hard to reach spaces might perpetuate the infestation problem in your home if left unattended.
Yes, bed bugs can crawl out of vacuums. According to one entomologist, "Bed bugs can survive the high-speed trip down a vacuum, so it's important to carefully dispose of the vacuum contents in a sealed trash bag afterward." [2]
After a bed bug treatment, you should wait between 2 weeks and 30 days before you vacuum again. If you vacuum too soon, it can limit the effectiveness of some of the home remedies.
To get rid of bugs properly, you must use a vacuum with reliable suction power. Make sure not to press down the vacuum too hard as you might miss some of the bed bugs that way.
To prevent a bed bug infestation from spreading, you must keep your home clean by regularly vacuuming from top to bottom, and properly disposing the vacuum bag [3]. Adequate bed bug control also includes reducing clutter to remove potential hiding places. It is important to vacuum often to remove bugs and eggs, especially with a crevice tool for those hard-to-reach spots.
Yes, bed bugs can live in a vacuum cleaner. They may cling to the fabric of the bag and wedge in the crevices and cracks. They can even survive in the vacuum hose, which doesn't necessarily bode well for your infestation problem if left unattended. That's why it's important to remove the bag and seal it with a tape.
Bed bugs can be killed instantly by rubbing alcohol diluted in water. Besides using bed bug vacuums, heat is also effective in killing the bed bugs instantly and can be safely used anywhere in the home with the right pest control gear.
And the Best Vacuum for Bed Bugs is...
After a series of pest control testing, the Atrix Bug Sucker came out as the best vacuum for bed bugs.
We were impressed with how it's strong enough to pull up bugs and eggs, even in hard to reach places. There are also several vacuum attachments to help you get into tight areas where the bed bugs often hide.
Since it's a backpack vacuum, it's easier for you to move around furniture and even in small areas.
Atrix Bug Sucker
Our #1 Recommendation
- Multiple attachments to clean tight spots
- HEPA filter makes the air cleaner
- Backpack vacuum makes moving easier
- 1400 watts
- Free belt strap included
