When doing bed bug work, we tell customers that they need to clean or launder their clothing and linens to kill any bed bugs present. Bed bugs don’t live in clothes like body lice but they will hide in clothes or shoes. And it’s very likely that some bed bugs will be found on bed linens and mattress covers. Unfortunately, we don’t always give details as to how to kill bed bugs by washing.
Much of the information below was based on research conducted by British researchers R.A. Naylor and C.J. Boase and interpreted by entomology specialist Mike Merchant.
Do you know how long clothes have to remain in a dryer to kill bed bug eggs?
When washing or drying clothes the main thing to remember is HOT. The problem is that most people don’t know how hot their wash water or their dryer gets on the HIGH or HOT setting. You should err on the side of drying for a longer time to ensure kill. Clothes or other items that don’t require washing but do require bed bug disinfestation can be dried only. Items like back packs, fabric purses, stuffed animals, and shoes can be placed in a dryer too, as long as they wont be damaged by hot temps.
Using A Dryer
All stages of bed bugs will die at temperatures of 104-122 degrees. To reach this high temperature, clothes should be dried in a large tumble dryer at the HOT setting for at least 30 minutes (for a 7.7 lb load). In this study, when items spent only 10 minutes in a dryer on high, 25% of the nymphs and 15% of adult bed bugs survived. Using the COOL dryer setting did not kill any bed bugs at all. This shows that it’s the heat that is killing the bugs, not the trauma of being “tumbled. “
Washing clothes properly helps eliminate bed bugs from fabrics. Follow these steps to remove bed bugs effectively.
Kill Bed Bugs By Washing Step 1: Sort Infested Laundry
Separate infested clothing, bedding, and linens. Use plastic bags to prevent spreading bed bugs to other areas.
Kill Bed Bugs By Washing Step 2: Use High Heat When Washing
Wash items in hot water (at least 120°F) to kill bed bugs. Cold water won’t eliminate them.
Kill Bed Bugs By Washing Step 3: Dry Clothes on High Heat
Tumble dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. Heat kills bed bugs and their eggs.
Step 4: Store Clean Clothes Properly
Seal freshly washed items in plastic bags or airtight containers to prevent re-infestation.
Step 5: Clean Laundry Bins and Hampers
Vacuum and wipe down hampers and laundry baskets to remove any remaining bed bugs.
Final Tips for Bed Bug Control
Regularly wash bedding and clothes in hot water. Reduce clutter and vacuum frequently to prevent bed bug infestations.
