Laundry Guide for a Bed Bug Infestation: Temperatures and Cycles

Laundry is one of the most effective things you can do yourself during a bed bug problem. Washing and, above all, high-heat drying can kill bed bugs and eggs in clothes and bedding. But the details matter: the temperature, the time and how you carry things to the machine.

This guide gives practical laundry steps. Always check garment labels.

The short answer

The most reliable step is drying on high heat. Bed bugs and eggs are killed by sustained high temperatures, so run items through a hot dryer for a good period, typically around thirty minutes or more depending on the dryer and load, after washing on a hot cycle where the fabric allows. If an item cannot be washed, dry it on high heat if the label permits. Carry laundry in sealed bags, avoid overloading the machine, and keep clean items sealed away from infested areas.

Before washing

1. Place items straight into sealed plastic bags in the infested room. Do not shake or carry loose items.
2. Carry bags directly to the washing machine or dryer.
3. Empty the bags into the machine, then dispose of or wash the bags.

Washing

• Use the hottest water the fabric label allows.
• Washing helps and removes some bugs, but heat-drying is the key killing step.
• Do not overload the machine, so water and heat reach everything.

Drying

• Use the highest heat setting the fabric allows.
• Dry for a sustained period, around thirty minutes or more, until items are fully hot and dry.
• Larger or heavier loads, like duvets, may need longer.
• For items that cannot be washed, such as dry-clean-only clothes, many sources suggest a hot dryer cycle if the label allows. Otherwise ask a professional or dry cleaner.

What about delicate items?

Delicate fabrics may not tolerate high heat. Options include professional dry cleaning with a warning to the cleaner, sealing items in bags while the home is treated, or asking a professional about heat treatment.

After laundry

1. Remove clean items promptly and fold them in a clean area.
2. Store in sealed bags or containers away from the infested room.
3. Do not put clean clothes back into an untreated wardrobe.
4. Clean the washing machine and dryer lint trap, and check them for bugs.

Common mistakes

• Washing but not drying on high heat.
• Carrying loose laundry through the house.
• Using low-heat cycles.
• Putting clean clothes back into an infested room.

When to call a professional

Laundry helps but does not clear the infestation. Combine it with professional treatment, interceptors and encasements.

Frequently asked questions

Does washing alone kill bed bugs?

Not reliably. Heat-drying is the more dependable step.

Can I use a laundromat?

Take care to carry items in sealed bags, and tell no one's laundry gets mixed. Many people prefer to do it at home.

Do I need to wash everything?

Prioritise bedding, clothes in the infested room and items near the bed.

What about shoes and bags?

If the label allows, tumble on a hot setting, or ask a professional about treatment.

This guide is part of IPest's complete resource on bed bug control. For identification help, prevention and treatment options, see our full bed bug treatment guide for Bangalore.