Possible evidence of bedbugs includes live insects, shed skins, tiny eggs, dark spotting, and rusty or reddish stains on bedding. Check the headboard and nearby furniture as well: the mattress is only one possible hiding place.
Skin marks alone are an unreliable way to identify an infestation. If you find a suspicious insect, photograph it clearly or keep it in a sealed container for identification by a qualified pest professional. US EPA
This small pause can prevent a much bigger mistake: repeatedly treating the wrong problem.
What about the white powder in the photograph?
A white powder could be salt, baking soda, a pest-control product, or something else entirely. You cannot safely identify it from an image.
Do not assume that a familiar kitchen ingredient becomes an effective bedbug treatment when scattered over a mattress. Also, a homemade powder is not interchangeable with a registered insecticidal dust.
Certain desiccant products work by damaging insects’ protective outer coating, causing them to dry out. However, the EPA advises using only products registered and labeled for bedbug control. Powders intended for other purposes—including some food-grade and swimming-pool products—can present inhalation hazards. Application must follow the label; these are not powders to spread freely across sleeping surfaces. US EPA
“Natural” describes an origin. It does not establish effectiveness or make breathing a product safe.
For dust mites, build a consistent bedding routine
When dust-mite exposure is the concern, regular care is more useful than an occasional dramatic mattress treatment.
Wash sheets, pillowcases, and washable blankets weekly. Mayo Clinic recommends water at least 130°F, or approximately 54°C, to kill mites and remove allergens, where the fabric permits. Follow care labels and avoid exposing anyone to scalding water.
Consider zippered dust-mite-proof covers for the mattress and pillows. These create a barrier between sleepers and allergens within the bedding. Wash the bedding used over them regularly, too.
