As little kids, they often told us “sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!”, but they never told us what to do when those tiny creepers strike! If you’re dealing with a bed bug infestation and are looking to deal with it yourself, consider investing in a quality vacuum & steamer to help in your battle against these blood sucking pests.

In this article, we have put together some of the best bed bug vacuums for your consideration. Also read to the end of the article for ways you can identify whether you are facing a bed bug infestation, as well as some tips and tricks on how to use vacuum or steamer to get rid of bed bugs.

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Here are our pick of the Best Bed Bug Vacuums:

1) Atrix – VACBP1 HEPA Backpack Vacuum

Kicking off our list, the VACBP1 HEPA Backpack Vacuum Cleaner from Atrix is an excellent combination of quality and convenience, wrapped in a lightweight compact package.

Delivering 1,400 watts of suction power, this mighty 120 volts backpack vacuum offers reliable performance for all sorts of infestation control including bed bugs. Moreover, it’s equipped with a premium 8-Quart HEPA filter to safely pick up even the smallest particles while effectively reducing the risk of having harmful bacteria and allergens escape into the air. 

Weighing only 10.5 pounds, the Atrix Backpack Vacuum is a breeze to carry around. It also adopts a low profile design with adjustable shoulder straps and a belt loop to ensure a comfortable fit and firm support for your back.

The VACBP1 Backpack Vacuum is a corded machine that allows you to easily maneuver its 6-foot hose whether you’re right or left-handed. Also functioning as a blower, the Atrix Vacuum package is loaded with handy attachments including 3 blower nozzles, furniture nozzle, and a crevice tool.

This vacuum is a great choice if you need a powerful and versatile vacuum cleaner minus the dragging hassle.

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2) RAYCOP LITE UV Sanitising HEPA Allergen Vacuum

This vacuum by RAYCOP features a UV Sanitiser technology that kills up to 99% of viruses and bacteria on fabric surfaces. Its HEPA filtration is capable of filtering particles as small as 0.3 microns.

The special Pulsating Pads are designed to agitate and loosen dirt, dust and dust mite matter through the vibration of up to 3,300 times per minute.

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3) Housmile Anti-dust Vacuum Cleaner (Upgraded)

Applying state-of-the-art technologies to eradicate the tiniest parasites and germs, the Housemile Anti-dust Vacuum Cleaner doesn’t only suck up bed bugs, the integrated UV light system also serves to kill the imposing insects.

The operation mechanism offered by this practical machine begins by dislodging bugs and bringing them up to the bed’s surface, which is done using the integrated motor and brush, rotating at 6000 cycles per minute.

After beating the parasites out of the fabric, a light tube emits intense UV radiation onto your mattress to produce heat levels that are able to almost instantly kill bed bugs, mites, and germs. Then, you can vacuum your bed normally to remove the dead bed bugs so you’re left with a truly clean mattress.

This particular model of the Housmile Vacuum is upgraded to produce 20% more UV light and include an Energy Cover for effective elimination, with a killing rate exceeding 99.7%. Additionally, the whole machine is equipped with HEPA filtration capturing up to 99.98% of particles sized as small as 0.3 microns.

This vacuum cleaner is also quite compact, weighing only 4.5 pounds. It comes with an exclusive activated carbon filtration system to prevent pollutants from exiting through the air outlet, as well as a 200ml dust box.

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4) Bissell Zing Canister 2156A Vacuum

Landing in with thousands of positive reviews, the Zing Canister Vacuum from the infamous Bissell brand offers decent suction through its high-energy cyclonic action, which could be all that you need to wipe out the lurking bed bugs.

This vacuum is very easy to use, especially with the built-in carrying handle that allows you to simply lift the 7.5 pounds machine from one room to another or up and down some stairs. 

The Zing Canister Vacuum works by connecting its cord to a regular household outlet, with a length of 15 feet to save the hassle of repeated plugging and unplugging. Also, you don’t need to worry about manually wrapping the cord since it automatically rewinds for convenient storage.

This model of Bissell vacuums delivers a multi-surface cleaning action, meaning you can use it to clean other places besides your bed such as carpets and floors.  Moreover, it doesn’t include a bag since it bears a canister design. Instead, it has a detachable dirt cup with an Easy Empty lid that opens up from the bottom for quick and hygienic disposal of collected bugs and dust. 

The Bissell Zing Canister comes with a crevice tool, a dusting brush, as well as washable filters. It’s a solid option for a rather affordable price.

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5) McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Cleaner

Last but definitely not least, the McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-duty Cleaner is praised by thousands of customers for its outstanding and performance when it comes to cleaning using pressurized steam. 

With a tank capacity of 48 ounces, the MC1275 heats up ordinary water to a temperature exceeding 200 °F in just 8 minutes, producing steam at 43 psi (pound-force per square inch) for 45 minutes straight. 

It features a lock switch that toggles a continuous stream of vapor once you push it forward. The included power cord measures at 15.7 feet long and the steam hose is more than 9 feet long, both work together to boost maneuverability.

The MC1275 Steamer comes with 18 different accessories including a brass bush, a mop head, and 5 nylon utility brushes. This machine is certified, tested for safety, and backed up by 2 years of warranty.

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What are Bed Bugs & Where Do They Come From?

Bed bugs are insects that feed off the blood of humans or animals. As adults, they’re reddish-brown in color, oval in shape, with a flat profile. However, once they suck blood, their bodies swell and become darker. Immature bed bugs are called nymphs, and they shed skin 5 times before maturity.

>> Related: How To Detect Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are approximately the same size as an apple seed, able to move quickly but lack the ability to fly. As for their whereabouts and origin, bed bugs are quite the travelers. They can hide pretty much in any place that’s near enough of a food source. Some of these spots include:

•     Folds of your mattress
•     Headboard cracks
•     Bed crevices
•     Suitcases
•     The furniture inside your bedroom

Bed bugs are nocturnal insects, meaning they come out at night to feed, taking about 5 minutes to have their fill.

>> Also read: Deadly Bed Bug Sprays

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What are the Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation?

So how do you know if your suspicions are correct, and actual bed bugs are sharing your bed? Well, here are some signs to help you recognize their presence:

•     Reddish or rust-colored spots on your sheets possibly resulting from bed bugs being squashed
•     Tiny, dark stains or specks that could be feces of the insect
•     Pale yellow shells or shed skin indicating the existence of eggs or nymphs

In case you’re having a hard time pinpointing the previous signs, you can check your own body for red itchy spots that seemingly developed overnight.

>> Also read: Best Bed Bug Detector Tools

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How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs – Vacuums vs Steamers

Now that you’ve made sure you’re really dealing with a bed bug infestation, it’s time for you to take action against these tiny invaders. The two most common weapons used to conquer such a problem are vacuums and steamers.

Vacuums, on one side, work by sucking up bed bugs present on the surface of your mattress. Some vacuums can even reach tricky grooves and crevices by adopting special attachments usually included with the machine. However, the majority of vacuums can’t handle tight nooks and crannies, in which case you may need to do some scraping first.

>> Related article: Best Bed Bug Steamers

On the other side, steamers possess the ability to effectively kill bed bugs by applying extreme heat. Steamers can easily eradicate bed bugs, as well as their eggs, no matter where they’re hiding.  Of course, this is an advantage achieved by steam itself and not so much the type of the nozzle. Steamers are also more expensive than vacuums, but many people think the results are worth it.

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How to use a Bed Bug Vacuum Cleaner?

If you decide on buying a bed bug vacuum cleaner, here are some tips to help you maximize your cleaning efficiency: 

•     If possible, always scrape or brush out bed bugs to get them out in the open, making for easier suction
•     Don’t resort to pressing down your vacuum while cleaning. This will only serve to further bury some of the bed bugs into seams and wrinkles
•     Divide the mattress into regions and go over them multiple times

>> Also read: Most Effective Bed Bug Traps

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Wrap Up

Choosing the best bed bug vacuum can be a confusing task, however, it’s a must if you don’t want to live with vampires shaped as insects!

That being said, the Housmile Anti-dust Vacuum Cleaner takes this one home, owing to its incredible performance in riding you of bed bugs. This machine doesn’t only suck up these stubborn insects, but it also uses brushes to displace them first, followed by UV rays to kill the culprits.