Yes. Washing linens, sheets, clothing, and other items in hot water has proven effective in killing bed bugs. Although it’s not a reliable way to eliminate the entire bed bug infestation, we recommend this tactic to lessen its severity.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs on Your Sheets in Your Washing Machine
Here’s how to wash bed bug sheets, bedding, clothes, and other items:
- Strip the linens off your bed and sort with other items to be washed.
- Place each sorted pile into plastic bags and seal. Transport the bag carefully to your laundry room and tip the bag into your machine.
- Insert a normal amount of your typical detergent.
- Wash the load at a high temperature (at least 140°F) for 90 minutes.
- Carefully transfer washed clothes to the dryer and dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
How to Wash Away Bed Bugs in Illinois
If you’re dealing with bed bugs, the “bed bug washing machine” trick can be a great help – but it’s not the best way to get rid of bed bugs entirely. To completely eliminate a bed bug infestation and get back your peace of mind, you should get in touch with a professional bed bug control specialist.
Let Anderson Wash Away Bed Bugs For Good
If you’re looking to wash bed bugs off your blankets and sheets, the washing machine is a great help. If you want to wash them away for good, give us a call.
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FAQs
Yes. Anything that’s washable and fits inside your washer/dryer can benefit. You can use the “bed bugs washing machine” trick on any of these items and more:
- Sheets
- Clothes
- Pillowcases
- Blankets
- Comforters
- Pet bedding
- Small throw rugs
- Bags
While washing and drying your bedding and clothes in high temperatures helps, obviously this method will not work for all infested items or areas of the home. Complete control of a bed bug infestation requires treating the entire infected area, not just items.
Even after you’re done disinfecting sheets and bedding, we still highly recommend calling a professional bed bug control expert. It’s highly likely that there are still many more bed bugs hiding in crevices, wall outlets, furniture, and other nooks and cavities throughout the house. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about cleaning your washing machine after using it to kill bed bugs. The bed bugs are all dead by this point, and most were drained with the water. There is no risk.
