The University of Minnesota Extension puts it plainly: "Washing will kill some of the bed bugs, but it is the heat of drying that will kill any remaining bed bugs" (UMN Extension). The National Pesticide Information Center says drying heat-durable items "on high heat for 30 minutes will kill all bed bugs, including the eggs" (NPIC).
Can bed bugs survive the washing machine?
Some can. A wash cycle on its own isn't a reliable kill step, which is why every extension guide we rely on tells you to follow it with the dryer (UMN Extension). If you only have time for one step, skip the wash and use the dryer. UMN notes that "simply putting infested items in the dryer for 30 minutes on high heat will kill all the bed bugs" if you don't need the clothes cleaned.
How hot and how long should I dry clothes?
- High heat, at least 30 minutes. That's the standard from NPIC and Michigan State University Extension (NPIC; MSU Extension). It's also what we put in our own prep instructions: wash and dry linens, towels and clothes on high heat for 30 minutes or more.
- What temperature kills bed bugs in laundry? UMN says clothes "laundered in hot water and/or dried at temperatures hotter than 122°F for 20 minutes will kill all stages of bed bugs," which is typically the medium-high setting (UMN Extension). The 30-minute rule gives you margin.
- Don't cram the dryer. A packed load heats unevenly. Tightly packed fabric is the same problem we deal with during heat treatments: piles of clothing and linens insulate bed bugs and protect them from lethal heat.
- Wet loads need a full cycle. The clock that matters is time at full heat, not time in the machine.
How do I get laundry to the machine without spreading bugs?
This is where most people go wrong. Carrying an armload of clothes through the house can drop bugs along the way.
- Sort clothes in the infested room the way you normally would, and put each pile in its own plastic bag (UMN Extension).
- Seal the bags before you move them.
- Tip each bag straight into the washer or dryer, then fold the empty bag in on itself, put it in another bag and seal it before throwing it out (UMN).
- At a shared laundromat, NPIC suggests dissolvable laundry bags or plastic bags you can throw away outside (NPIC).
Where should I put clothes after they're washed?
Not back in the bedroom. NPIC says dried items "should be stored in sealable plastic bins or bags to stop bugs from moving back in" (NPIC).
Before a heat treatment, our instructions are specific: put laundered items in tied trash bags and keep them in the garage or the kitchen or dining area, not the bedrooms, and don't set the bags on beds or in closets. On treatment day, wear freshly washed clothes that were stored in a sealed bag. More in how to prepare for heat treatment.
Do I have to wash every piece of clothing I own?
Usually not, and before a heat treatment you shouldn't. Our prep instructions tell customers that clothing already hanging in the closet and items on closet shelves can stay where they are, and clothes in drawers can stay as long as the drawers aren't crammed. If a drawer or linen closet is packed tight, remove about half and launder it. The point is to let heat reach everything, not to empty the house.
If you're not getting a heat treatment, focus on bedding and anything that was on or near the bed, the floor, or an open suitcase.
What about dry-clean-only and delicate items?
Many can still go in the dryer even though they can't get wet. UMN suggests running dryer-safe, dry-clean-only clothes on at least medium to high for 30 minutes, then taking them to the cleaner for cleaning and pressing (UMN Extension). If you use a dry cleaner, tell them the items may have bed bugs so they can keep them bagged until loading (UMN).
During one of our heat treatments, dry-clean-only and delicate items can stay in the room as long as they aren't packed tightly. The treatment heat reaches them.
I just got home from a trip. What should I do with my clothes?
Treat the suitcase as suspect until you've checked it. Unpack on a hard surface under bright light, put clothes straight from sealed bags into the laundry, and dry everything on medium or high heat for at least 30 minutes (MSU Extension). NPIC calls returning home from a trip "your best opportunity to prevent bed bug infestations" and recommends drying all clothing on a hot setting for thirty minutes before putting it away (NPIC). The full routine is in how to avoid bringing bed bugs home from travel. If the bags rode in your car, see can bed bugs live in your car.
Can I just throw the clothes away?
You don't need to. UMN says there's no need to throw away luggage and clothing after finding an infestation (UMN Extension). If you plan to donate clothes, dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes first so you're not passing bugs on, which is what we tell our customers too.
Will laundry get rid of my bed bugs?
No. Laundry protects your clothes and bedding, but bed bugs live in mattress seams, bed frames, furniture, baseboards and wall voids. NPIC notes bed bugs are hard to control even for professionals, and many are resistant to common pesticides (NPIC). If you're seeing bites, shed skins or live bugs, laundry is step one, not the fix. Compare what you're finding with signs of bed bugs, and see heat treatment vs Aprehend vs chemical spray for how the real treatment options compare.