- Can Bed Bugs Actually Live in Clothes?
- Step 1: Sort and Contain Before You Move Anything
- Step 2: Wash at the Right Temperature
- Step 3: Dry on High Heat for at Least 30 Minutes
- Step 4: Handle Items That Can't Be Washed
- Step 5: Store Clean Items Properly Until the Infestation Is Resolved
- When Laundry Alone Isn't Enough
- FAQs
Finding bed bugs in your home is stressful enough. Discovering they've made their way into your wardrobe makes everything worse. Clothes left piled on chairs, stored near the bed, or sitting in luggage are among the most common hiding spots for bed bugs and their eggs.
The good news: washing and drying contaminated clothing the right way will kill bed bugs at every stage of their lifecycle. This guide walks you through the full process — sorting, bagging, wash temperatures, dryer settings, and what to do with items you can't launder right away.
Can Bed Bugs Actually Live in Clothes?
Yes. Unlike lice, bed bugs don't live on your body — but they will absolutely hide in fabric folds, seams, and pockets, especially in clothing stored near where you sleep. Worn clothes left on the floor or draped over furniture near an infested mattress are particularly at risk.
Bed bugs are drawn to warmth and the carbon dioxide you exhale, so anything in their immediate environment can become a temporary refuge. They're also small enough to go completely unnoticed in a laundry pile until the infestation has already grown.
Step 1: Sort and Contain Before You Move Anything
The most common mistake people make is carrying loose clothing through the apartment to the laundry room. Every step is an opportunity to spread bugs or eggs.
Before you touch a single item, bring sealed plastic bags directly to the affected area. Sort clothes into bags right there on the spot, seal each one tightly, and don't move anything until it's contained.
A few sorting principles worth following:
- Separate by wash temperature tolerance, not just by color. You need to know which items can handle high heat before you start.
- Keep infested items completely separate from clean laundry. Never mix them in the same hamper or bag.
- Label everything clearly so you don't accidentally open the wrong bag later.
Once items have been washed and dried, transfer them immediately into fresh, clean bags. Don't bring them back into an infested room until the infestation itself has been treated.
Step 2: Wash at the Right Temperature
Heat is what kills bed bugs — not detergent, not a gentle cycle. Cold water won't do the job. Bed bugs and their eggs die when exposed to sustained heat, so your wash settings actually matter here.
Wash in the hottest water the fabric can safely handle. For most cotton items, that means a hot or very hot cycle. Check care labels, but when in doubt, go as high as the fabric will allow.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The wash cycle alone may not be sufficient if the water temperature runs low. The dryer is actually the more critical step.
- Delicate items that can't tolerate hot water still need heat treatment — which makes the dryer even more important for those pieces.
- Don't overload the machine. Clothes need room to reach full temperature throughout.
Step 3: Dry on High Heat for at Least 30 Minutes
If the washer is important, the dryer is essential. High heat kills bed bugs at every lifecycle stage, including eggs — which are the hardest to eliminate.
Dry everything on the highest heat setting the fabric allows for a minimum of 30 minutes. For thicker items like jeans, hoodies, or anything layered, push that to 45–60 minutes to make sure heat penetrates all the way through.
A few practical notes:
- If items are already dry, run them through a hot dryer cycle before washing. It's a fast, effective first treatment on its own.
- Don't open the dryer mid-cycle to add more items. Consistent heat throughout the cycle is what makes it work.
- Remove items promptly when the cycle ends and place them directly into clean, sealed bags.
Step 4: Handle Items That Can’t Be Washed
Not everything can go in a washer and dryer. Dry-clean-only garments, shoes, stuffed animals, and certain accessories need a different approach.
Options for non-washable items:
- Dry cleaning: Let the cleaner know about the potential bed bug exposure upfront. Heat during the dry cleaning process can be effective, but confirm that their process reaches sufficient temperatures before dropping anything off.
- Sealed bags and heat: Place items in black plastic bags and leave them in a hot car or in direct sunlight for several hours. Less reliable than a dryer, but it can work in warm conditions.
- Freezing: Bed bugs can be killed by sustained cold, but it requires temperatures at or below 0°F held for at least four days. Most household freezers aren't cold enough or consistent enough to guarantee results.
- Professional treatment: For high-value or delicate items, a pest control specialist can advise on the safest options.
When in doubt, seal the item in a bag and keep it out of circulation until the infestation has been professionally addressed.
Step 5: Store Clean Items Properly Until the Infestation Is Resolved
Washing your clothes is only part of the equation. Bringing clean items back into an infested room means starting the whole process over.
After treating and drying everything, store clothes in sealed plastic bags or airtight bins. Keep them in an unaffected room, or in a space that's already been treated. Don't stack them near the bed, on the floor, or anywhere bed bugs are likely to still be active.
It's an easy step to skip, but it protects everything you've already done.
When Laundry Alone Isn’t Enough
Washing your clothes handles the items themselves — it doesn't touch the infestation. Bed bugs live in mattress seams, box springs, baseboards, furniture joints, and wall cracks. They'll reinfest your clothing the moment you bring it back into an untreated space.
If you're dealing with bed bugs in New York City, Ace Bed Bug Exterminating NYC offers professional inspections and targeted biopesticide treatments across all five boroughs. Specialists treat the full lifecycle — eggs through adults — and provide post-treatment guidance to help prevent reinfestation. Handling your laundry correctly is a meaningful part of the process, but it works best alongside a thorough treatment of the space itself.
FAQs
Can bed bugs survive a washing machine cycle?
A standard wash cycle can kill bed bugs if the water temperature is high enough, but the dryer is more reliable. Running items through a high-heat dryer cycle for at least 30 minutes is the most consistent method for eliminating bed bugs and their eggs.
Do I need to wash every piece of clothing in my apartment?
Start with clothing stored near the infested area — especially anything near the bed, on the floor, or in open storage. If the infestation is widespread, it's safer to treat all clothing as potentially contaminated.
Can bed bugs travel in a laundry bag to the laundromat?
Yes. Always seal contaminated items in plastic bags before carrying them anywhere. At the laundromat, transfer directly from the bag into the machine and dispose of the bag there — not back at home.
How long do bed bugs survive in a sealed plastic bag?
Bed bugs can survive for several months without feeding, so sealing items in a bag contains them — it doesn't kill them. Heat treatment is still required.
Is it safe to wear clothes from an infested room?
If the clothes have been washed and dried on high heat and stored in a sealed bag away from the infestation, yes. If they haven't been treated, there's a real risk of carrying bugs or eggs with you.
What temperature kills bed bugs in a dryer?
Bed bugs die at sustained temperatures above 120°F. Most residential dryers on a high heat setting reach that range. Running the cycle for 30–45 minutes ensures heat penetrates thick or layered fabrics fully.
Should I tell my dry cleaner about bed bugs?
Always. A reputable cleaner will appreciate the heads-up and can take steps to avoid spreading bugs to other customers' items. Some may decline the items entirely — in that case, you'll need to explore an alternative treatment method.
Treating your clothing correctly is a practical, manageable step in getting a bed bug problem under control. Seal before you move anything, wash hot, dry longer than you think you need to, and store clean items well away from the infestation. These steps protect your wardrobe and support the broader work of clearing your home. If you live in Astoria or another Queens neighborhood and suspect the infestation has spread beyond what laundry can reach, contact a local bed bug specialist. For the infestation itself, professional treatment is still the most reliable path to a lasting solution.