Finding bed bugs in your London home is unsettling, but discovering them on your clothes can feel like a personal attack. These sneaky pests can hitch a ride on your favourite shirt or trousers, making you wonder: does washing clothes kill bed bugs? In this guide, we’ll dive into how laundry can help tackle bed bugs, share practical tips for UK households, and explain why professional help from ThermoPest is essential for a complete solution.
Bed bugs are tiny, blood-sucking insects that thrive in warm, human-filled spaces. They don’t live on clothes like fleas do, but they’ll happily hide in seams, folds, or pockets, using your wardrobe as a temporary shelter or a way to travel. In London’s fast-paced environment—think crowded Tube rides or busy hostels—clothes are an easy target for bed bugs looking to spread.
Clothes left near an infested bed, tossed in a suitcase, or worn in a buggy hotel room are prime real estate for bed bugs. They’re drawn to human scent and body heat, crawling onto fabrics when you’re not looking. Once there, they’re hard to spot, blending into dark stitching or piling up in laundry baskets.
Take Sophie, a London nurse who noticed bites after a shift. She found bed bugs in her work scrubs, likely picked up from a patient’s waiting area. Washing her clothes helped, but the bugs in her flat kept coming back until she called in professionals.
So, does washing clothes kill bed bugs? Yes, but it depends on how you do it. Washing can remove or kill some bed bugs, especially when combined with hot water and a proper drying cycle. However, washing alone isn’t enough to tackle an infestation—it’s just one step in the battle.
Hot water (at least 60°C) can kill bed bugs and their eggs by disrupting their biology. The washing machine’s agitation also helps dislodge bugs and debris from fabrics. Here’s how to wash clothes effectively:
Check care labels before washing. Delicate items like silk or wool may not tolerate hot water. For these, consider dry cleaning or rely on the drying step below.
While washing helps, drying is the heavy hitter. Bed bugs and their eggs die at temperatures above 49°C, and a tumble dryer can easily reach 60°C or more. Follow these steps:
No dryer at home? Use a local launderette’s high-heat dryers, but transport clothes in sealed bags to avoid spreading bugs. For more on bed bugs, the NHS bedbug guide is a great resource.
Washing and drying can save your clothes, but they won’t eliminate a bed bug infestation. Bugs hiding in mattresses, furniture, or walls will keep coming back, re-infecting your clean wardrobe. Sophie’s story shows this—her scrubs were bug-free, but her flat remained a hotspot until treated professionally.
Bed bugs are masters of survival. Their eggs stick to surfaces, and adults can hide in places no washing machine can reach. Without treating your entire home, you’re only managing the problem, not solving it.
DIY laundry efforts can give a false sense of control, delaying the comprehensive treatment needed to wipe out bed bugs for good.
For a complete fix, turn to ThermoPest. Our advanced heat treatment eradicates bed bugs at every life stage—eggs, nymphs, and adults—in a single visit. It’s safe, eco-friendly, and lets you return home the same day. Learn more at our bed bug treatment page.
Our heat treatment raises room temperatures to 49°C–60°C, penetrating deep into hiding spots like mattresses and furniture. Unlike washing, which only tackles clothes, heat treatment addresses the entire infestation, ensuring no bug survives.
With years of experience in London, we use state-of-the-art equipment and offer a 60-day warranty. Whether you’re in a flat or a house, our tailored approach guarantees results. Say goodbye to bed bugs and hello to peace of mind.
So, does washing clothes kill bed bugs? Yes, when done right with hot water and high-heat drying, but it’s only part of the solution. To fully eliminate bed bugs from your London home, professional treatment is a must. Contact ThermoPest today for a free consultation and take the first step towards a bug-free life.
For more information, visit the NHS bedbug guide. To explore our services, check out our bed bug treatment page or the ThermoPest main website.
