Mattresses and clothing are among the favourite hiding places for bed bugs. Whether the infestation is early or advanced, you need to act quickly and wash all your textiles properly. Temperature, type of wash, mistakes to avoid: here is our practical advice.
➡️ Find our complete bed bug treatment protocol.
What to do
➡️ Wash at a minimum temperature of 60°C
➡️ Use a high-temperature tumble dryer
➡️ Seal in an airtight bag
➡️ For items that cannot be machine washed: freeze at -20°C for 72 hours
➡️ Don’t forget anything: sheets, pillowcases, blankets, clothes, bags, etc.
➡️ Combine with a professional bed bug treatment if the infestation persists
Wash your clothes and bedding: an essential step in combating bed bugs
If you detect bed bugs in your home, washing your clothes and bedding is one of the first things you should do. Unfortunately, these little parasitic insects don’t just hide in mattresses or box springs: they also infiltrate your clothes, sheets, pillowcases, curtains, bags… in short, anywhere they can find a dark, warm place.
Why are textiles attractive to bed bugs?
- Heat and body odour: bedbugs are attracted to human blood and can follow traces of sweat or CO₂ left on fabrics.
- Easy access: they can squeeze into seams, folds and linings of textiles.
- A favourable environment for laying eggs: they often lay their eggs there, which are invisible to the naked eye.
Act quickly to prevent spread
The mere presence of bed bugs in a piece of clothing or a bag is enough to contaminate an entire room. Be very careful when travelling.
➡️ Bed bugs: precautions to take when travelling.
Washing everything at the first sign of infestation will help limit the spread in your home. In the event of chemical or heat treatment, washing will effectively complement the action of the products or heat.
Good to know: don’t be fooled by how clean your clothes or sheets look. Even unworn clothes or clean laundry in a wardrobe can harbour bed bug larvae.
What temperature should you wash at to kill bed bugs and their eggs?
To eliminate bed bugs, their eggs and larvae, you need to use high temperatures, much higher than for a normal wash.
High temperatures: the only truly effective method
✅ 60°C minimum for 30 minutes: this is the reference temperature for effective machine washing against bed bugs.
It kills adult insects as well as eggs.
Below this temperature, the risk of the eggs surviving is high.
➡️ Tip: after washing, store the laundry in clean, airtight bags (such as bed bug laundry bags) until the entire treatment of the home is complete.
Which machines and wash cycles should you use?
Choosing the right washing programme is essential if you want to rid your clothes and bedding of bed bugs, their eggs and their droppings.
Washing machine: choose cotton or intensive cycles
✅ Recommended cycle: ‘Cotton 60°C’ or ‘Hygiene/Anti-allergenic’ if your washing machine has this option.
✅ Minimum duration: 30 to 60 minutes at a constant temperature so that the heat penetrates deep into the fibres.
✅ High spin cycle recommended (1000 to 1400 rpm) to reduce residual moisture, which can help parasites survive.
❌ Avoid “quick” or “eco” cycles: the actual temperature rarely reaches 60°C throughout the entire programme.
As for detergent, you can use a disinfectant detergent as a supplement, or add a few drops of tea tree essential oil, known for its repellent properties.
Tumble dryer: a powerful weapon against eggs
✅ High temperature essential (minimum 60°C).
✅ Duration: minimum 30 minutes for thick fabrics, up to 1 hour for bedding (sheets, pillowcases, mattress covers).
✅ Use immediately after washing to kill any remaining eggs or insects.
Steam cleaner
This type of appliance is useful for delicate fabrics, cushions, curtains and washable or non-washable clothing.
Select a dry steam cleaner (minimum 120°C) and apply it to the surfaces from a distance of 5 cm for several seconds. This will immediately kill insects and eggs. Pay particular attention to seams, folds and pockets.
➡️ Good to know: no need to spend a lot of money, you can rent a steam cleaner.
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How should textiles be handled and stored before and after washing?
Be careful, as improper handling of infested clothing or bedding can spread the infestation. To avoid this problem, follow these precautions before and after each wash.
Before washing: limit the movement of insects
- Immediately place your infested clothing in a sealed plastic bag without shaking or folding the fabrics throughout the house.
- Use one bag per room (bedding, clothing, curtains, etc.) and label them clearly.
- If possible, transfer the bags directly to the washing machine without opening them elsewhere.
- Wear clean clothes and isolate any clothes you take off before washing them to avoid recontamination.
Please note: if you suspect that there are bedbugs, store the bags in the freezer at -20°C for 72 hours before washing, or expose them to heat (> 50°C) if possible.
After washing: safe storage of clean textiles
- Use airtight bags or plastic boxes to store clean laundry until the infestation is completely under control.
- Avoid fabric wardrobes or cardboard boxes, where the insects can hide again.
- If you use a tumble dryer, transfer the hot laundry immediately to a clean container.
- Also remember to disinfect the washing machine drum and the tumble dryer filter, especially in the event of a severe infestation.
⚠️ Until the treatment of your home is complete, do not put sheets or clothing back in a potentially infested environment (untreated mattresses, unprotected bed bases, etc.).
To ensure that there are no more bedbugs in your home after treatment, you can call in a professional dog detector, which is a very reliable method.
The special case of mattresses, pillows and duvets
Mattresses, pillows and duvets are among bed bugs’ favourite places to hide. Warm, quiet and rarely cleaned thoroughly, these hiding places are ideal for adult insects, their eggs and even their droppings. But unlike clothing, these bulky items are difficult to wash in a machine. Here’s how to treat them effectively.
Mattresses: protect, treat or replace?
✅ Use a bed bug cover: designed to trap bed bugs inside the mattress, it prevents them from escaping or spreading. This is an essential solution during the entire bed bug treatment process.
✅ Vacuum thoroughly all sides of the mattress, paying particular attention to the seams, then dispose of the bag in a sealed bag.
✅ In the event of a severe infestation, call in a professional who can apply a heat or chemical treatment directly to the mattress. High temperatures kill bedbugs and their eggs and reduce the risk of recurrence.
In some extreme cases, if the mattress is too infested or beyond repair, it is best to dispose of it by wrapping it in a sealed bag and labelling it ‘Infested mattress’.
➡️ For more information: Bed bugs in a mattress: what to do
Pillows, duvets and bed linen: what to do?
- Machine wash at 60°C for at least 30 minutes. This is sufficient to kill bed bugs, their eggs and parasitic insects.
- If your pillows or duvets are too large, take them to a dry cleaner with professional machines or use a steam cleaner at home.
- After washing, dry at a high temperature in a tumble dryer (60°C or above) for at least 30 minutes.
- Store clean textiles in airtight bags until the entire property has been treated.
Mistakes to avoid
❌ Thinking that a simple cold wash is enough
A standard wash cycle at 30 or 40°C will not kill bedbugs or their eggs. These parasites are particularly resistant, especially in the egg stage. It is essential to wash your laundry at 60°C for at least 30 minutes, or opt for other methods such as steam cleaning or prolonged freezing for delicate fabrics.
❌ Mix infested laundry with the rest of your laundry
Never mix clothes infested with bed bugs with clean clothes. Use airtight bags to store and transport them, especially to the washing machine.
❌ Reusing a contaminated plastic bag
After storing or transporting infested clothing, never reuse the same plastic bag. It could contain eggs or live bedbugs. Throw it away immediately in a tightly closed outdoor bin, or opt for specific disposable bags.
❌ Leaving textiles in a corner of the room
Bed bugs like dark, quiet places. Leaving a pile of infested laundry on the floor or in a corner is like offering them the perfect refuge. Before washing, isolate the laundry in a bathtub, a smooth container or a closed bag, away from furniture or bedding.
❌ Neglecting to dry
Even after a thorough wash, drying at a low temperature can leave eggs viable. A tumble dryer at a high temperature (60°C or above) is essential to complete the treatment and eliminate bed bugs permanently.
➡️ See also: Home remedies for bed bugs
