Does Washing Clothes & Bedding At High Heat Kill Bed Bugs?

How to get rid of bed bugs by washing clothing and bedding:

1. Remove All Bedding & Clothes From Area
   Strip your bed of all linens and sort with any clothes you need to wash. It’s crucial to remove all bedding and clothing from the infested area promptly to prevent further spreading.
2. Store Infected Bedding & Clothes in Plastic Bags
   Place each sorted pile into plastic bags. Transport the bag and tip-out linens into the washing machine. Sealing infested items in plastic bags before transporting them prevents bed bugs from spreading to other rooms. Once emptied, seal the plastic bag again before disposing of it.
3. Use Detergent When Washing
   Use your normal detergent as needed. Combined with hot water, detergent can kill bed bugs and remove their eggs from fabrics.
4. Wash On the Hottest Setting
   Wash the bedding at a high temperature (at least 140°F) for 90 minutes or more. Bed bugs cannot survive exposure to extreme temperatures. Ensure your items are machine-washable and can withstand high temperatures before proceeding.
5. Dry On High Heat
   Quickly transfer washed clothes to the dryer and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. The dryer’s heat eradicates any remaining bed bugs and their eggs. Promptly transferring items prevents the chance of re-infestation.
6. Store Clean Items in Sealed Bags
   Fold your laundry and place in sealed bags to keep clean from bed bugs. Sealing cleaned items in plastic bags keeps them safe from contamination. This is important while we treat the infested area.

Washing Clothes & Bedding To Control Bed Bugs

Discovered you have bed bugs—now what? One of the best things you can do to control the spread of a bed bug problem is to wash clothes, bedding, and any other infested items in a hot water washing machine. Bed bugs thrive in hidden spaces, including folds of fabric, but they cannot withstand high heat. Washing and drying these items are effective ways to eliminate bed bugs before they spread further.
Extreme temperatures are the best way to kill bed bugs. Washing your clothing and bedding in a high heat wash should effectively kill off any bugs, as well as any eggs they’ve possibly laid. This simple yet powerful step is crucial for managing bed bug problems. It kills live bed bugs and destroys their eggs, which are often resistant to other methods.
It’s important to exercise caution when moving infested linens during the process to avoid spreading bed bugs to other rooms! Act fast and use extreme temperatures. This can cut down the infestation and keep your home safe from bed bugs.

Can Bed Bugs Survive in the Washing Machine?

Bed bugs are hardy pests, but they cannot survive the high temperatures found in most washing machines and dryers. When washed in hot water and dried on high heat, bed bugs at all life stages—adults, nymphs, and eggs—are killed. This makes washing an efficient and straightforward way to manage a bed bug infestation in its early stages.
Wash and dry the clothes on the highest heat possible. For small infestations, washing affected items can greatly lower pest numbers. This also helps stop the pests from spreading to new areas. However, it’s important to note that this method is most effective when bed bugs are confined to washable items like clothes and bedding. If the infestation has spread to furniture or walls, washing alone won’t solve the problem entirely.
Wash clothes and bedding often. This, along with other treatments, helps control bed bug spread.

Will Washing Bed-Bug Infested Linens Always Work?

Washing and drying linens at high temperatures helps. However, this method doesn’t work for all infested items or areas in your home. Bed bugs often hide in places that can’t be washed, such as mattresses, carpets, and cracks in furniture. Even if you wash all your clothes and bedding, bed bugs will persist if they’ve already spread to these areas.
Professional bed bug control is essential for infestations that extend beyond washable items. Experts can assess the extent of the problem and provide comprehensive solutions tailored to your needs.
If bed bugs are becoming a larger issue in your home, don’t hesitate to contact us today! Learn more about our treatment for bed bugs or how we can help you exterminate bed bugs today.

FAQs

To effectively kill bed bugs, you should wash clothes and bedding at a temperature of at least 140°F (60°C). Bed bugs and their eggs can’t survive high heat. So, using this temperature will get rid of them. Wash the items on the hottest setting your machine allows for the best results.

To kill bed bugs in bedding, you should wash and dry the items for at least 90 minutes at high heat. The high temperature during this time is needed to kill bed bugs, nymphs, and eggs. Once washed, immediately transfer the bedding to the dryer and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.

No laundry detergent is made to kill bed bugs. However, most regular detergents with hot water can help get rid of them. Detergents help break down oils and dirt, while the high heat kills the bed bugs and their eggs.
Some people use enzyme-based detergents for extra protection. These detergents can break down the protective coating of bed bugs.

Washing clothes once at a high temperature (140°F or higher) should be enough to kill bed bugs. If the infestation is severe, you might want to repeat the process or wash more items the same way. Dry your clothes on high heat for at least 30 minutes. This will help kill all bed bugs and their eggs.