Under the legs
Best bed bug interceptors
The best bed bug interceptor is a cup under each leg of the bed and, if you can, the sofa. Bugs fall in and cannot climb the slick wall of the cup. You learn whether the infestation is still moving. You do not treat a multi-family stack with eight cups. Isolate the bed from the wall and from bedding that bridges the cup.
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Best known cup: ClimbUp bed-bug interceptors. ClimbUp-style interceptors. One per leg. Empty them on a schedule so you can see new catches. A cup with a quilt touching the floor is a bridge, not a trap.
Compare the picks
| Role | Tool | Best for | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best known cup | ClimbUp bed-bug interceptors | Bed and sofa legs | Hardware |
| Best spec to shop | Bed-bug interceptor cups | Any cup with a slick inner wall | Hardware |
| Best partner | Zippered mattress and box-spring encasement | The mattress the cups are guarding | Hardware |
Which one to buy
Hardware
ClimbUp bed-bug interceptors
Best known cup — ClimbUp-style interceptors. One per leg. Empty them on a schedule so you can see new catches. A cup with a quilt touching the floor is a bridge, not a trap.
Hardware
Bed-bug interceptor cups
Best spec to shop — Buy cups made for bed bugs, not a furniture coaster. The inner surface has to be too slick to climb. Get enough for every leg that touches the floor.
Hardware
Zippered mattress and box-spring encasement
Best partner — Cups tell you about climbers. Encasements deal with bugs already in the bed. Most jobs need both.
Setup mistakes that empty the cup
- Bed pushed against the wall, so bugs walk onto the frame.
- Dust ruffle or blanket touching the floor.
- Only two cups on a four-leg frame.
- Cups under the bed but none under a sofa people sleep on.
Common questions
Do bed bug interceptors kill infestations?
They catch bugs that try to climb that piece of furniture. Eggs in the frame and bugs in the next room are untouched. Use them to measure progress.
What if the interceptor stays empty?
Either the bed is isolated and the population is not climbing, or the bugs are already in the mattress and do not need to climb. Inspect seams and encase. An empty cup is not proof the room is clear.
Can I use interceptors on a platform bed?
Only if each support that touches the floor gets a cup and nothing else bridges the gap. Some platform frames need a different isolation plan.