Part 1. List of household items that need to be disinfested (A-Z)

DRAFT
This document is not final and is subject to change.

The following table lists broad categories of common household items and the recommended methods for eliminating bed bugs. Some methods work better than others; some take more time than others. No method is perfect, but when the right tool is used correctly it can bring success—often with less expense.

Later, in Part 2 of this document, we outline detailed, effective techniques to eliminate bed bugs from household items. Because pesticide products come and go, new laws can change what products are available, and bed bugs show some resistance to available pesticides, it is important to understand tactics that do not depend on them.

Physical methods such as heat, steam, vacuuming and isolation do not require registration with the U.S. EPA, are currently effective at managing bed bug populations, and are generally require less financial investment. Some techniques, however, do require an investment of time.

Hundreds of Bed Bugs Crawling all over object.
A laboratory colony of bed bugs. All life stages can be seen. (Photo A. T. Allen, NYSIPM Program).

A.

  1. Air Conditioner - Window mount, through the wall and stand-alone tower
  2. Animal bedding - Fabric beds for cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, etc.
  3. Animal Cages - Dog kennels, cages for birds, hamsters and other small animals
  4. Appliances, Small - Alarm clock, radio, speakers, power tools, kitchen
  5. Artwork - Paintings, photographs, posters, tapestry, wall quilts, sculpture

B.

  1. Baby stroller and car seat
  2. Backpack, handbag, or duffel bag - Any soft, durable luggage
  3. Baskets - Woven, natural or synthetic materials
  4. Bedding - Sheets, blankets, pillows, bed skirts, mattress covers, sleeping bags
  5. Bed frame - Wood, composite, metal or plastic, including headboard
  6. Blanket - See Bedding
  7. Books - Paperback, hardcover, school notebooks, binders, etc.
  8. Book shelf - See Furniture, wood and metal
  9. Boxes - Cardboard, storage
  10. Box spring or foundation of bed
  11. Brush, comb or other hair styling tools
  12. Broom, mop, duster and other cleaning tools

C.

  1. Cameras - Digital or film, including video
  2. Cane or crutches - See Walker, cane and crutches
  3. Car seat, baby or toddler - See Baby stroller and car seat
  4. Cat furniture - Scratching post, tree and tower, rug or upholstery covered
  5. CDs, DVDs and cases
  6. Cell phones and handheld game units - Small digital devices
  7. Chair, wood - See Furniture, wood and metal
  8. Clock, table or wall—See Electronics. For grandfather clocks, see Furniture.
  9. Clothing - All washable clothes (for non-washable, use dry cleaning)
  10. Coats - Wool, leather or items unable to be washed in water
  11. Computers and equipment - Laptop, desktop, keyboard, speakers, mouse, monitor
  12. Console - See Furniture, wood and metal
  13. CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure system (used by individuals with obstructive sleep apnea)
  14. Crib, baby—Wood or plastic, including bassinet (for crib mattress see: Mattress)
  15. Curtains and drapes - See Bedding for washable items. Dry clean non-washable,
    delicate and velvet items.
  16. Curtain Rods - Hollow tube (metal) or solid wood

D.

  1. Desk - See Furniture, wood and metal
  2. Dishes - Plates, bowls, cups, silverware, mixing bowls, trays, bake ware, etc.
  3. Documents - See Books or Paper and Files
  4. Dog bedding - See Animal Bedding
  5. Dog toys (also cat, bird and other animal toys) - Rope, balls, chew and plush toys
  6. Drapes - See Bedding and Linens for washable items – Use dry cleaning for delicate
    or velvet items.
  7. Dresser - See Furniture, wood and metal
  8. Drums - See Instruments

E.

  1. Electronics – Including television, home phone, cell phone, TV remote, game system, lamps/lights, laptops, radio, DVD player, clock, printers, cable box
  2. Entertainment Center - See Furniture, wood and metal

F.

  1. Furniture, wood and metal (not upholstered): Nightstand, dressers or wardrobes with clothing and personal items, kitchen/office or folding chairs, tables, consoles, book shelves, desks, entertainment centers
  2. Furniture – Upholstered couches, sofas, recliners, cushions

G.

  1. Game unit, handheld - See Electronics
  2. Guitar - See Instruments

H.

  1. Handbags - See Leather items
  2. Heater - See Air conditioner

I.

  1. Instrument - String, brass, woodwind, percussion, etc.
  2. Instrument case
  3. Ironing board

J.

  1. Jewelry box - Wood plastic or metal

K.

  1. Kitchen Appliances - See Appliances, small or Refrigerator
  2. Keyboard - See Computers and Equipment

L.

  1. Lamp - Table top or floor
  2. Laptop - See Computers and equipment
  3. Laundry basket - Wicker, plastic or metal
  4. Leather items - Coats, handbags, briefcases
  5. Litter box - Plastic pan, lid and self-cleaning units
  6. Luggage - All hard shell and nylon hard-frame

M.

  1. Mattress - All types
  2. Medical equipment - Small electronic or battery, digital, including defibrillator, EKG monitor, insulin pump
  3. Mop - See Broom, mop, dusters and other cleaning tools
  4. Musical instruments - See Instruments

N.

  1. Nightstand - See Furniture, wood or metal

P.

  1. Pantry – Food items in pantry or kitchen cabinets
  2. Paper and Files - Magazines, newspapers, paper files
  3. Phone - landline or house phone - See Electronics
  4. Photographs - See Artwork
  5. Piano – Wood and strings
  6. Picture frames - Frames for art, photographs, posters and mirrors, religious items
  7. Pillows - See Bedding
  8. Plants - Houseplants
  9. Photo albums - Paper and cardboard with printed photos 
  10. Photographs - See Artwork
  11. Posters - See Artwork
  12. Pots and Pans—See Dishes
  13. Printer - See Electronics
  14. Prosthetics

R.

  1. Radio - See Appliances, small or Electronics
  2. Records, vinyl (Record player - See Appliances or Electronics)
  3. Refrigerator
  4. Remote control - TV, cable, game console, garage opener, car key dongle
  5. Rugs - Small area rugs
  6. Rugs - Large area (wall-to-wall carpeting should be treated as part of the structure)

S.

  1. Scale - For weight monitoring - See Appliances or Electronics
  2. Shoes – Boots, heels, sneakers, tennis shoes, sport shoes, sandals
  3. Shoes – including fancy, boots, heels, sneakers, tennis shoes, sport shoes
  4. Shower curtain - See Bedding for washable items
  5. Sports equipment - Balls, baseball gloves, pads, gear, not including uniforms
  6. Space heater - See Air Conditioner

T.

    1. Table, wood - See Furniture, wood or metal
    2. Television - See Electronics
    3. Telephone—See Electronics
    4. Tools (power) - See Appliances, small. Hand tools - See Utensils
    5. Toys - Board games, paper coloring books, cardboard boxes for games, cards
    6. Toys - Hard plastic, metal or wood
    7. Toys - Soft, plush or stuffed animals

 

U.

    1. Undergarments - see Clothing
    2. Utensils - Silverware, cooking tools

 

V.

  1. Vacuum cleaner - Vacuum contaminated by being in an area with bed bugs, not through use in control of bed bugs.
  2. Video tapes and film

W.

  1. Walker, cane and crutches
  2. Wallpaper - Rips, tears, loose edges
  3. Wardrobe - See Furniture, wood or metal
  4. Wheelchair and scooter

Y.

  1. Yoga mat—Rubber or plastic

Updated 7/9/2025

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