People ask me this all the time and then seem surprised when I tell them, “Yes!” Fortunately, a conventional clothes dryer can kill bed bugs. This is good news since it is so hard to kill bed bugs, even with pesticides. High temperatures will kill many insects, and bed bugs are no exception. Show
Keep It Hot for a Long TimeNotice that I said “high temperatures.” One research study found that all stages of bed bugs died at temperatures of 104-122° F., if held for at least 30 minutes. Other research has shown that even higher temperatures are necessary to do the job. You should err on the side of drying for a longer time to ensure kill. When items spent only 10 minutes in a dryer on high, 25% of the bed bug nymphs and 15% of adult bed bugs survived. Using the COOL setting on a dryer for an extended time did not kill any bed bugs at all. This shows that it’s the heat, not the trauma of being “tumbled” that is killing the bugs. The problem is that most people don’t know how hot their dryer gets on the HIGH or HOT setting. In general, LOW settings are around 125° F., MEDIUM settings reach 135° F., and on HIGH, a dryer should reach 155° F. Use the hottest dryer setting that your items will tolerate. Washing clothes at very hot temperatures will also kill bed bugs without the need for a hot dry cycle—although adding a drying cycle will help insure kill. Again, both time and temperature are important. One hundred percent of bed bugs are killed when wash water is 140° F. for a 30-minute wash cycle. Washing at lower temperatures will kill adults and nymphs but most bed bugs eggs will survive. 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. Clothes or other items that don’t require washing but do require bed bug disinfestation can be dried only. Items like backpacks, fabric purses, stuffed animals, and shoes can be placed in a dryer, too, as long as they won’t be damaged by hot temps. Dry cleaning kills all stages of bed bugs and is a good alternative for delicate items that can’t take hot washer or dryer temperatures. Washing & Drying Won’t Eliminate an InfestationRemember, though, that washing and/or drying clothes and certain items may give you peace of mind after a vacation, but if you have a bed bug infestation in your home, you need the services of a professional exterminator. After all, you can’t wash and dry your mattress, box spring, bedside table, etc., all of which may be hiding bed bugs. Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years' experience; writing for over 20 years. Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process Updated on 10/19/22 Reviewed by Amanda Rose Newton  Reviewed by Amanda Rose Newton Amanda Rose Newton holds degrees in Horticulture, Biochemistry, Entomology, and soon a PhD in STEM Education. She is a board-certified entomologist and volunteers for USAIDs Farmer to Farmer program. Currently, she is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and pest specialist. Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board Fact checked by Emily Estep Fact checked by Emily Estep Emily Estep is a plant biologist and fact-checker focused on environmental sciences. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Science in Plant Biology from Ohio University. Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade. Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process The Spruce / Madelyn Goodnight In This Article Expand
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If you find yourself dealing with a bedbug outbreak, you don't need to dispose of your wardrobe and bedding—though you might be tempted. It's entirely possible to clean laundry infested with bedbugs in a manner that kills these troublesome insects. The key to successfully ridding your clothing and bedding of bedbugs is to wash and dry it with the highest heat your items can tolerate. Here are the general steps to follow to get rid of bed bugs in laundry. If you can't wash it immediately, it's important to isolate your laundry in sealed plastic bags or bins to prevent bedbugs from taking up residence in furniture, rugs, and carpeting. Unless you do this, there's a good chance the infestation will return, as bedbugs can live for months between feedings. What Is a Bedbug?The bedbug (Cimex spp.) is a very tiny (just over 1/8 inch long) blood-feeding insect that hides in creases and crevices of furniture and fabrics, during daylight hours, emerging in darkness to seek out and bite warm-blooded animals, including humans and pets. Home infestations usually occur after homeowners have been traveling to regions where bedbugs are endemic, such as tropical resorts or hotels, bringing back the insects in luggage and clothing. Bedbugs are so small that the initial bites can be virtually painless, becoming obvious only days later as red, itchy welts appear, similar in appearance to mosquito bites. The insects themselves, if you spot them, are sometimes mistaken for ticks, as both insects have flat, disc-shaped bodies. But unlike ticks, bedbugs to not latch on and embed themselves in skin, but rather retreat back into cracks, crevices and creases once they've enjoyed their tiny nighttime blood meal. The bites of bedbugs are often mistaken for flea bites, but bedbugs typically bite on the upper half of the body (probably because they are drawn by carbon dioxide in human breath), while fleas are more likely to bite on the lower body, with bites that are much smaller than the red welts left by bedbugs. The Spruce / Leticia Almeida Featured Video
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InstructionsHow to Wash Laundry Infested With BedbugsDetergentRegularWater TemperatureHotCycle TypeNormalDrying Cycle TypeHighest heatSpecial TreatmentsDry-clean only garments must be handled separatelyIron SettingsVaries by garmentHow Often to WashOnce, unless infestation returns
Treating Stains on Laundry Infested With BedbugsUnfortunately, bedbugs can leave stains on your bedding and clothing. The stains, which are bedbug excrement, will look like little, dark rusty dots, and they'll likely be removed through the wash. If you see stains, pretreat them with a few different methods. Blotting while rubbing away the spots with cold water can remove the stains. (Hot water will set the stains.) Further lift the stains by blotting hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) on the damp areas. Or use an enzyme-based fabric stain remover to pretreat and break down the stains before washing the laundry. RepairsBedbugs can't bite through fabrics, so they won't rip your laundry. However, they do crawl through the tiniest of crevices and holes without causing damage to your clothing or bedding. The worst damage you'll see from bedbugs is the stains they leave behind. Storing Laundry Infested With BedbugsAfter washing laundry infested with bedbugs, store the clothing. Use plastic containers or plastic bags for storage, as bedbugs can live inside cardboard boxes. Keep the clothing stored until you’re sure that the infestation has been eliminated. If you can't wash or dry clean some delicate fabrics and dry-clean-only clothes because they cannot withstand the high heat required in the dryer to kill bedbugs, store them in the freezer. Bedbugs can't survive freezing temperatures. However, the freezer needs to be set at a very low temperature—0 degrees or lower is ideal. The same cold treatment will work for silk garments, suede boots or shoes, lingerie, and beloved stuffed animals.. Most items must be left in the freezer for at least four days. This will ensure that the center of the item has reached zero degrees. Bulky items can take longer. After removing the items from freezer storage, vacuum well to capture any debris, and dispose of the vacuum bag or dust cup contents in an outside bin. How Often to Clean Laundry Infested With BedbugsBecause it's the heat that kills the bedbugs, one high-temperature washing and drying per load of laundry should be enough to do the job. However, you'll need to monitor the bedbug situation for further infestations, as bedbugs hiding in mattress creases and cracks in walls and flooring can easily establish a new problem. Tips for Washing Laundry Infested With Bedbugs
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How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Related Topics
Article Sources The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Can bed bugs survive in the washing machine?Technically, bed bugs can live through a cycle in the washing machine. The truth is that while washing your clothes or linens will kill most of the bed bugs, the heat of drying your items is what will ultimately exterminate any and all remaining bugs. As we mentioned above, bed bugs do not tolerate heat.
Does the dryer kill bed bug eggs?So, for those dirty pieces of delicate clothing that can resist high temps of 120 degrees F. , throw them first in the dryer. That will kill bed bugs and their eggs. Then proceed with your usual laundry process for these: washing and drying at the typical temps.
How long does it take to kill bed bugs in dryer?Fortunately, a household dryer is excellent for killing bed bugs on these items. A loosely filled dryer set on “high” is capable of killing all bed bug life-stages and their eggs in 30 minutes.
How do you kill bed bugs in a washing machine?To get rid of bed bugs in your washing machine:. Strip the linens off of your bed and sort with other items to be washed.. Place each sorted pile into plastic bags and seal. ... . Insert a normal amount of your typical detergent.. Wash the load at a high temperature (at least 140°F) for 90 minutes.. |
Does the washer and dryer kill bed bugs
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