Can Bed Bugs Survive in Water?
It’s a common thought: if you soak, wash or rinse long enough, bed bugs will drown. Unfortunately, water alone is a very unreliable way to control them. Bed bugs are resilient, eggs are remarkably tough, and typical household methods create gaps that let infestations persist. As heat-treatment specialists, ThermoPest focuses on what the science shows works consistently—controlled, whole-room heat delivered safely and evenly.
What people believe vs reality
Belief: A long soak or hot bath will drown bed bugs.
Reality: Bed bugs can float, cling to surfaces, and some can survive submersion for many hours, especially in cooler water. Eggs, glued to seams and cracks, are even harder to dislodge. Laundry helps if done at the right temperatures, but water alone won’t clear a property.
Belief: A normal wash cycle solves it.
Reality: Success depends on heat. Hot wash plus hot tumble drying is effective; cool or lukewarm cycles mostly redistribute insects and may leave eggs intact.
Science-backed facts
Bed bugs breathe through spiracles and tolerate periods with little oxygen, so brief submersion rarely kills them. Surface tension lets them float or cling at the waterline. Eggs are coated in adhesive, often protected in fabric seams and furniture joints. Heat is the dependable variable: adults die quickly above lethal thresholds and eggs require slightly higher sustained temperatures. For detail on thresholds, see what temperature kills bed bugs.
Common mistakes when using water
- Soaking mattresses or sofas: Water soaks in but seldom reaches every hidden egg; it also risks mould and damage.
- Cool or short wash cycles: Too little heat/time means many survive.
- Rinsing or hosing outdoors: Bugs cling to edges, and eggs remain in seams; you may just spread them.
- Assuming “no bites” means success: Low-level activity can continue unseen. Always verify with monitoring.
Practical steps you can do safely
- Laundry correctly: Bag items in sealed bags, tip them straight into the machine, wash at 60°C if fabrics allow, then tumble dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Heat is key.
- Vacuum methodically: Use crevice tools on mattress seams, bed slats, skirtings and furniture joints; immediately bag and dispose of vacuum contents outside.
- Isolate the bed: Pull it from walls, fit encasements where appropriate, and use interceptors. Confirm presence with guidance from how to check for bed bugs.
- Prepare thoroughly: If you plan professional treatment, follow preparing your home for treatment to reduce hiding places and protect belongings.
Why heat treatment is the superior solution
Whole-room heat doesn’t rely on chasing individual insects or hoping water reaches every seam. It creates a uniformly lethal environment, including the places you can’t see.
- Eliminates cold spots: Domestic attempts often leave cool refuges where eggs survive. Professional systems circulate and mix air to remove these cold spots.
- Sustained lethal temperature: It’s not just hitting a number; it’s holding it. Our machines maintain the target range long enough to kill eggs, nymphs and adults.
- Sensors and monitoring: Technicians place multiple probes across the room and inside furnishings to verify temperatures, adjust airflow and confirm success.
- All life stages killed: Properly delivered heat penetrates seams, frames and belongings, so you don’t chase survivors from one room to another.
If you’re considering professional help, see our our bed bug heat treatment process for a step-by-step overview, or explore professional bed bug heat treatment for homes. For businesses, we provide commercial heat treatment for hotels and landlords. After any intervention, it’s smart to monitor your property after treatment to confirm eradication and catch any re-introduction early.
ThermoPest heat expertise
ThermoPest are dedicated heat-treatment specialists. We use calibrated heaters, high-accuracy sensors and managed airflow to ensure even temperatures and verified results. Whether it’s a single flat, a family home or a complex multi-room commercial site, the approach is the same: eliminate cold spots, prove temperatures and protect against re-infestation with sensible preparation and post-treatment monitoring.
FAQ’S
Question: Do bed bugs drown in the washing machine?
Answer: Sometimes, but not reliably unless heat is high enough and drying is thorough. A cool or short wash may leave many bugs and eggs intact, as eggs are particularly resilient. Use a 60°C wash where fabrics permit, followed by at least 30 minutes on a hot tumble dry. Bag items before and after laundering to avoid spreading them; in professional practice we treat laundry as a supportive step, not the sole solution.
Question: Can I soak a mattress or furniture to kill bed bugs?
Answer: Soaking doesn’t reach every hidden void, and eggs glued deep in seams often survive. Water also risks damaging materials and encouraging mould, creating a bigger problem. Instead, rely on controlled heat and precise monitoring to reach lethal temperatures throughout the item. As a safe interim step, vacuum seams and joints thoroughly; in professional practice we verify temperatures with probes inside furniture to ensure eggs are killed.
Question: How long can bed bugs survive under water?
Answer: They can survive submersion for several hours and sometimes longer, especially in cooler water where metabolism slows. This is why drowning is unreliable as a control method. If you’re laundering, it’s the heat component (wash and dry) that does the real work. In professional practice, we avoid water-based attempts and use whole-room heat to remove survival refuges.
Question: Why did bites return after I washed bedding?
Answer: Washing alone may miss eggs or bugs in the bed frame, skirtings or nearby furniture, so activity can resume as they emerge. It may also be a re-introduction—from luggage or untreated rooms—rather than a failure of the wash itself. Add high-heat drying and inspect surrounding areas, using guidance like how to check for live signs; then consider room-wide heat to remove cold spots. In professional practice, we pair treatment with follow-up monitoring to confirm eradication.
Question: Is heat treatment safe for homes and businesses?
Answer: Yes, when delivered by trained technicians using sensors and controlled airflow, it is both effective and safe for domestic and commercial settings. The key is holding verified lethal temperatures uniformly, so eggs and hidden bugs cannot escape in cold spots. Prepare rooms in advance to protect heat-sensitive items and improve airflow. In professional practice, we follow a documented process and confirm success with temperature data and post-treatment checks.