If someone in your home is suffering from scabies, the sad truth is that you are dealing with an infestation. So it is very important to understand how long scabies can live in your mattress and, most importantly, how to get rid of them.
Scabies is a contagious disease caused by mites. It causes intense itching and a pimple-like rash. It can be spread through close skin contact, but also by sharing objects such as towels and bedding.
The good news is that you can get rid of scabies in your mattress. We’ll tell you how to combat scabies mites and give you expert advice. However, if after reading this article you decide to buy a new mattress, take a look at our top recommendations for the best mattress of 2024 for every budget.
What is scabies?
Scabies is an infectious skin disease caused by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei that burrow into the outer layer of skin and lay eggs. The eggs then hatch and the mites move to the surface of the skin where they mature into adults. They can also get into your bedding and mattress.
Dr Ross Perry, GP and Medical Director of Cosmetics Skin Clinics, tells us: “Scabies is an incredibly uncomfortable, itchy, bumpy skin rash caused by the saliva, eggs and faeces of the parasitic mite Sarcoptes.
“We are currently seeing a significant increase in the number of patients with scabies, a disease that is highly contagious because it is transmitted from skin to skin. It is particularly common in young adults who sleep with more than one person.
“The scabies rash can take up to eight weeks to appear on the body,” Dr. Perry continues, “during which time it can spread with alarming speed, especially on bedding, towels, clothing, and other items that are often shared between partners. The rash affects the entire body except the head and neck, and appears mainly around the fingers, under the arms, and in the groin, waist, and buttocks.”
Although scabies is not a serious condition, it must be treated with prescription medications (usually a cream or lotion) that kill the mites. Your mattress, bedding, towels, and clothing should also be treated.
How to Spot a Scabies Infestation in Your Mattress
It’s nearly impossible to spot a scabies infestation on or in your mattress. The mites are so microscopic that you won’t be able to see them with the naked eye. However, there are signs and symptoms you can watch for:
For example, you may see raised lines or “spots” on your mattress. These can be easy to miss, but they are caused by dust mites burrowing into the mattress material. Scabies mites also leave behind fecal matter that looks like tiny black dots on your bedding.
Key signs:
1. Raised lines on your mattress
2. Tiny black dots on the mattress
3. Intense itching of your skin
This isn’t the most reliable sign, though, because these droppings can be hard to distinguish from other debris. Small black dots can also indicate the presence of bed bugs in your mattress, or even mold. Ultimately, the main signs of an infection will come from you, but you may not see these symptoms for up to eight weeks.
The most common and obvious sign of a scabies infestation on your mattress is intense itching of the skin, especially at night. This itching is not only uncomfortable, it can also disrupt your sleep. You may feel tired, exhausted, and unrefreshed the next day.
The other key symptom is a rash. It appears as small, red, pimple-like bumps and develops in areas where mites have burrowed into the mattress. This means it can appear anywhere on your body, but you’re most likely to see it around your wrists, ankles, armpits, and between your fingers.
If you share a bed and your partner also suffers from very itchy skin, it is very likely that you have a scabies infestation, even if you have not yet shown symptoms. You should avoid close contact with other people while you treat the infection.
How long does scabies stay on a mattress?
Scabies mites require a human host to survive, but they can live for up to 72 hours on a mattress without a human host present. So, if you have scabies and have slept on the mattress, the mites can potentially continue their activity and re-infest anyone who sleeps on it without proper treatment or cleaning of the area.
The lifespan of scabies mites on a mattress without a human host also depends on the temperature and humidity levels. Generally, the higher the room temperature, the shorter the lifespan of the mites. However, higher humidity levels can be beneficial for scabies mites. If you can reduce the humidity in the room, it can reduce their survival time.
How to Get Rid of Scabies in Your Mattress
To eliminate scabies mites from your mattress and prevent a reinfestation, start by getting treated. This way, you won’t reintroduce the mites into your mattress when you sleep. For any remaining scabies mites, you’ll need to decontaminate your mattress and bedding. Here’s how…
1. Insulate the mattress
Once you have discovered a scabies infestation, it is important to isolate the mattress to prevent the mites from escaping and infesting other areas of your home. This also helps kill the mites by depriving them of their food source.
Patrick McClure, health expert and co-founder of WINIT Clinic, advises: “Since scabies mites can stay away from a human for 72 hours, I sealed the mattress in a plastic cover for at least a week. This will ensure that all the mites are not attacked.”
If possible, move your wrapped mattress to a separate room.
2. Wash all bedding and linens
Remove all bedding, including sheets, pillowcases and blankets, as well as your pajamas and other bed clothes, and wash them in hot water (at least 140ºF/60ºC but, if possible, higher).
McClure also recommends using your dryer, suggesting that you “dry on the highest heat setting to finally kill any mites that have already hatched.” Dust mites can’t tolerate high temperatures, so this is the quickest and easiest way to kill them.
If you have items that can’t be machine washed, follow the same process to eliminate an infestation from your mattress, placing them in a sealed plastic bag for at least 72 hours to ensure the mites are killed.
You can also wash your duvet and pillows. For more tips, read our guide on how to clean your pillows and sheets in spring, to get rid of dust mites, bed bugs and odours.
3. Vacuum your mattress thoroughly.
Make sure to vacuum your mattress regularly. This is the best way to combat dust mites, allergens, and bacteria that can build up on the surface, as well as get rid of live scabies mites and their eggs.
Pay special attention to crevices and folds where dust mites are found and be thorough in covering the entire surface of the mattress, including the top, bottom and sides.
After vacuuming your mattress, immediately empty the dust bin into a plastic bag. Seal it tightly and place it in an outdoor trash can. You can also clean the inside of the vacuum’s dust bin to prevent reinfestation.
4. Use anti-scabies products
Permethrin spray is an insecticide used to kill scabies mites. It is powerful, so follow the instructions carefully and spray a test area before tackling your entire mattress.
Do not use permethrin if you have a memory foam mattress, as it can damage the structure of the foam, causing it to lose its supportive qualities. Additionally, memory foam retains moisture, so any type of spray will introduce excess moisture that could lead to mold growth.
Avoid the affected room while the air clears. If you are using permethrin spray, avoid using your mattress for 12 hours after application.
5. Steam clean your mattress
As we mentioned before, scabies mites do not like heat. Steam cleaning your mattress is the most effective way to quickly kill live mites and their eggs. Not all mattresses can be steam cleaned. Memory foam mattresses in particular are sensitive to heat. Heat can cause the foam to break down, causing these mattresses to lose their shape and support qualities.
Steam cleaning should also be avoided if your mattress is made from delicate materials like cashmere or wool, as the high heat will cause them to shrink and break down. Regardless of what your mattress is made of, check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if it’s safe to steam clean it.
How to protect your mattress from scabies
If you want to keep scabies, dust mites, bed bugs, and other dirt, dust, debris, and liquids away from your mattress, consider purchasing a mattress encasement or one of the best mattress protectors of the year. Encasements completely enclose the mattress on the top, bottom, and sides, creating a waterproof barrier against insects. Here are three that we recommend…