Does washing bedding and clothing in high heat kill bed bugs?
Yes, washing your bedding or clothing in high heat will kill bed bugs. While this will not get rid of your infestation entirely, it will control the bed bug problem.
Follow these instructions to get rid of bed bugs on or in your bedding and clothing:
- Take all linens off your bed and sort with any clothes you need to wash as well.
- Place each sorted pile into plastic bags. Transport the bag and tip out linens into the washing machine.
- Use your normal detergent as normal.
- Set the washing machine at a high temperature (at least 140°F) for at least 90 minutes.
- Quickly transfer washed clothes to the dryer and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
Instructions to get rid of bed bugs on bedding
If you have discovered bed bugs in your property, you likely want to act fast. One of the best things you can do to control the spread of a bed bug problem is to run clothes, bedding, and any other infested items through a hot water wash. First, it’s important to sort your clothes.
After sorting as you normally would, place each sorted pile into separate plastic sealed bags. This helps reduce the likelihood of spreading the bed bugs into other rooms while transferring. Tip the sealed bag into the machine, place the plastic bag into another sealed bag, and dispose. Wash and dry the clothes on the highest heat possible. Fold your laundry and place in sealed bags to protect them from bed bugs that may still be in your home.
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Do bed bugs survive in the washing machine?
Whether you are using high heat or freezing temps, extreme temperatures are a highly effective 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. It’s important to exercise caution in moving infested linens during the process to avoid spreading the bed bugs to other rooms!
Will washing bed bug infested linens stop an infestation?
While washing and drying linens in high temperatures help, obviously this method isn’t available for all infested items or areas of the home. To get rid of bed bugs in every area of the home, it’s important to enlist the help of a professional bed bug exterminator.