Bed bugs can survive a clothes washer, but will it kill them?

People ask me this all the time and then seem surprised when I tell them that a clothes dryer can kill bed bugs.It is difficult to kill bed bugs with pesticides.Bed bugs can be killed by high temperatures.

One study found that all stages of bed bugs died at temperatures of 104-122 F., if held for at least 30 minutes.Even higher temperatures are needed to do the job.If you want to kill, you should wait for a longer time to dry.25% of bed bug nymphs and 15% of adult bed bugs survived when items were only 10 minutes in the dryer.The setting on the dryer did not kill bed bugs.The heat is killing the bugs, not the trauma of beingtumbled.

Most people don't know how hot their dryer is.The lowest setting for a dryer is 125 F., the highest setting is 155F.

Adding a drying cycle will help kill bed bugs without the need for a hot dry cycle.Time and temperature are important.A hundred percent of bed bugs are killed when the water is 140 F.Most bed bugs eggs will survive washing at lower temperatures.

Bed bugs do not live in clothes but in shoes.Bed bugs are likely to be found on bed linens and mattress covers.Clothes and other items that do not require washing can be dried.It is possible to place items like backpacks, fabric purses, stuffed animals, and shoes in a dryer if they won't be damaged by hot temperatures.Dry cleaning kills all stages of bed bugs and is a good alternative for delicate items that can't take hot washer or dryer temperatures.

If you have a bed bug problem in your home, you need the services of a professional.It is not possible to wash and dry your mattress, box spring, bedside table, etc., all of which may be hiding bed bugs.