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Does Washing Bedding and Clothing in High Heat Kill Bed Bugs?

There are plenty of bed bug killing methods that work – or claim to work – without the use of professional exterminating services. And we’ll be the first to tell you that some “solutions” are more effective than others. Tea tree oil and baking soda claim to do a lot more than they actually do, but how useful can washing your bedding and clothing be when it comes to killing bed bugs? 

While it won’t stop a full-on bed bug infestation, washing your infested fabrics can help a great deal in controlling the growth and spread of these pests.

Does washing bedding and clothing in high heat kill bed bugs in Broken Arrow OK |  Arrow Exterminators, Inc

Washing Instructions for Bed Bugs in Broken Arrow OK

If you find bed bugs in your covers, one of the best things you can do is immediately wash any infested items in a washing machine with hot water. You can wash them the way you would any other linens, with regular detergent and separating colors as needed. What matters is that you set the water to be 140°F or more for at least 90 minutes. After that, you can dry them on high for 30 minutes to a full hour, which will ensure any bed bugs are dead.

Can Bed Bugs Survive in the Washing Machine?

Bed bugs are unable to withstand extreme temperatures, from heat about 140°F to cold below 0°F. So when you wash your linens in hot water for long enough, you effectively kill all bed bugs and any eggs they may have laid in the folds of fabric. Between the hot water and the heat of the dryer, you should be able to cleanse your bedding and clothes of any residual pests.

Will Washing Bed-Bug Infested Linens Always Work?

It’s true that washing your covers, blankets, and clothes will help kill any bed bugs hiding within the fabric. However, your washing machine cannot keep bed bugs from getting back in your bed, and it cannot stop the infestation you may be experiencing. That can only be done by a bed bug control professional, like the team at Arrow Exterminators, Inc..

Does Washing Bedding and Clothing in High Heat Kill Bed Bugs? Serving Broken Arrow OK & Oklahoma City OK

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