Those little white worms in your bedroom are most likely insect larvae, commonly Clothes Moth Larvae, Carpet Beetle Larvae, or sometimes Fly Larvae (Maggots), feeding on organic matter like carpet fibers, dust, or even food spills, rather than parasitic worms, though you should also check for pet parasites. They indicate a need for deep cleaning, especially vacuuming and washing bedding, and potentially pest control to identify the source and prevent damage to fabrics.
Discovering small white worms in your house can be unsettling. These tiny pests are often the larvae of insects—most commonly moths (such as pantry moths), flies, or beetles. They thrive in dark, damp, or unsanitary areas, and can compromise food safety, upholstery, and general cleanliness.
Thorough Cleaning: Start by washing all bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and mattress covers, in hot water to kill any larvae or bugs present. Vacuum your mattress, box spring, and surrounding area to remove any debris and eggs.
Tiny worms in mattresses or bedding may be the larvae of beetles or moths. It is also possible that parasites like tapeworms or pinworms have fallen out of a host (like a cat or dog) and onto your bedding.
Here are some steps you can try to get small, tiny worms out of your home:
Bed worms, also known as mattress worms, are not a specific type of pest, but a group of pests and their larvae that can end up infesting your mattress or bedding. Unlike adult bed bugs and fleas, their larvae have not yet developed into an insect with a hard exoskeleton, giving them a worm-like appearance.
No, bed bugs do not start as worms. They go through a life cycle that includes eggs, nymphs, and adult stages, all of which maintain an insect-like appearance. Many people wrongly assume that bed bugs begin their life as some worm-like creature, which is not accurate.
In some cases, drain worms can also crawl up from the drain. Putting a piece of sticky tape over part of the drain is one way to test whether or not you have drain worms in that particular drain.
Some home remedies for pinworm infection include:
Bed Bug Identification
Immature bed bugs (there are 5 immature or nymphal instar stages) can also be seen with the naked eye but they are smaller than adults, and translucent whitish-yellow in color. The most difficult life stage to see is the first instar nymph.
Threadworms are small, white, thread-like worms between 2.5 and 12 mm long. They infect human guts (intestines). They are common in children, but anyone of any age can be affected.
Around the bed, they can be found near the piping, seams and tags of the mattress and box spring, and in cracks on the bed frame and headboard. If the room is heavily infested, you may find bed bugs: In the seams of chairs and couches, between cushions, in the folds of curtains. In drawer joints.
Risk factors for pinworms include poor hygiene, eating after touching contaminated items and living with an individual who is identified as egg positive.
Pinworms are small white worms about 1/2 inch long and as thin as a thread.
Bleach can help get rid of drain worms, especially the larvae and eggs sitting in the drain. However, it often does not reach all the hidden buildup deeper inside the pipes or in the trap, where they keep breeding. For better results, use bleach together with other methods.
With that being said, maggots can't really crawl up your walls. Instead, they wiggle around and will usually be found near decaying items including trash cans and garbage disposals. Unless you have shelves up high with something you forgot about decaying on them, it is more likely that moth larvae are to blame.
Pinworm eggs can cling to surfaces indoors for up to 3 weeks. This includes the surfaces of toys, faucets, bedding and toilet seats. Clean these items often.
To eliminate these pests from your home, you will need to thoroughly clean all infested areas and take measures to prevent a re-infestation. Using moth traps can be a proactive way to target these larvae before they cause extensive damage.
All household members, including adults and those without symptoms, should be treated. This is because many people with threadworms do not have any symptoms. However, they will still pass out eggs which can then infect other people. If one member of a household is infected, it is common for others also to be infected.
While pouring bleach down the drain can kill roaches, it's a harsh chemical that can be harmful to your plumbing over time. Alternatively, many people turn to methods using baking soda and vinegar.
An earthworm in a toilet can generally be a sign of a cracked sewer pipe that can require the sewer line repair services of an expert. When a sewer pipe is broken, it can let foreign bodies, worms, and other pest creatures into your home.
They hide in cracks and crevices in beds, wooden furniture, floors, and walls during the day and come out at night to feed on sleeping hosts. Bed bugs are not caused by poor hygiene or bad housekeeping. Bed bugs are not known to spread disease. Adult bed bugs are around 4-7 mm long, about the size of a lady bug.
Bed bugs dislike strong scents like lavender, peppermint, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus. These natural aromas can deter bed bugs by creating an environment they find unpleasant, though they're not guaranteed to eliminate an infestation. Using essential oil sprays or sachets can help as a preventive measure.
Common bugs that are mistaken for bed bugs
There are many bugs that look like bed bugs, like ticks, book lice, carpet beetles, fleas, spider beetles, and even swallow bugs. These bed bug look-alikes share some physical similarities but typically have different habits.