Guidelines For Killing Bed Bugs In Laundry

You can have a hard time dealing with bed bugs. It can be irritating, particularly when they invade your clothing and bedding. A laundry room with a bed bug infestation requires thorough cleaning and upkeep. It stops pests from moving to different parts of your house.

We've got all the info you need about washing and maintaining bed bug-infested clothes right here.

Sorting and Handling Infested Laundry

Before washing infested clothes and bedding, handle them carefully. This prevents bed bugs from spreading in your home. Start by sorting infested laundry into separate piles. Sort based on fabric type, colour, and washing temperature. For transferring contaminated laundry to the laundry area, use plastic bags or airtight containers. Avoid shaking or tossing items. This can knock loose bed bugs and their eggs, leading to more infestations.

Also, wear gloves and protective clothing. This will help you when handling infested laundry. It will minimise direct contact with bed bugs and their faeces. Wash infested clothing and bedding soon. This prevents bed bugs from spreading to other items or areas of your home.

Properly sorting infested laundry is crucial. It prevents cross-contamination and ensures effective treatment. Sort items based on fabric type and colour to prevent bleeding or damage during washing. Also, keep heavily infested items apart from lightly infested or clean items. This is to avoid spreading bed bugs.

Washing Infested Laundry

Washing infested laundry in hot water is very effective. It kills bed bugs and their eggs. Set your washing machine to the highest temperature for the fabric type. It's usually around 140°F (60°C) and use a strong detergent. Run a full cycle with an extra rinse. This will ensure thorough cleaning and removal of bed bugs and their debris.

Wash items that can't go in hot water, like delicate fabrics or items with special care instructions, at the highest temperature recommended for the fabric. Alternatively, you can put infested items in the dryer. Use the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. This kills bed bugs and their eggs.

Also, use a bed bug-specific laundry additive in addition to hot water washing. Add it to your wash cycle. These additives contain effective ingredients. They work against bed bugs and can improve your laundry treatment.

Dry and Handle the Clean Laundry

After washing infested laundry, put the clean items in the dryer right away. This stops bed bugs from infesting them again. Use the highest heat setting for the fabric type. Run a full cycle for at least 30 minutes. This ensures that all bed bugs and their eggs are killed. Avoid overloading the dryer to allow for proper airflow and heat distribution.

Once dry, take clean laundry from the dryer. Fold or hang it right away to prevent wrinkles and the chance of re-infestation. Don't put clean laundry on surfaces that bed bugs may infest. This includes countertops and floors. Keep clean clothes in a sealed plastic bag. If you can, leave it in place until you are able to transfer it to a bed bug-free area within your house.

Check the dryer lint trap. Clean it well after drying the infested laundry. Bed bugs and their eggs can get stuck in the lint trap during drying. So, clean it often to stop re-infestation.

Prevent Bed Bugs

To avoid future infestations, you must act. Get rid of bed bugs in your household and prevent them from returning. Frequently check sleeping areas, furniture, and hiding places for signs of infestation.

Look for signs of bed bugs. Take quick action to fix any issues. Also, consider using bedbug-proof covers on mattresses and box springs. They stop bed bugs from infesting these areas.

If bed bugs keep returning despite your efforts, consider hiring licensed exterminators. They have experience in bed bug eradication. Professionals may use insecticides, heat, and other methods. They tailor the methods to your infestation.

Consider using preventive measures. These include bed bug interceptors or traps. Place them under the legs of beds and furniture to monitor for bed bug activity and catch any stray bugs. These devices can help find infestations early. They can stop them from spreading to other parts of your home.

How to Eliminate Bed Bugs Using the Freezing Method

If you cannot wash or dry clean delicate fabrics or dry-clean-only clothes due to heat sensitivity, place them in the freezer for storage. Bed bugs are unable to survive in freezing temperatures. The freezer must be set to 0 degrees or lower.

Cold treatment works on silk garments, suede boots or shoes, lingerie, and stuffed animals. Keep them in the freezer for at least 4 days. You want the centre of the item to be zero degrees. Bulky items can take longer.

Vacuum the items after they're removed from freezer storage to get rid of any debris, and throw away the vacuum bag or dust cup contents.

In Conclusion

Washing and treating with heat bed bug-infested laundry is key. It gets rid of the bugs and stops them from spreading to other parts of your home. Follow the steps in this guide. They will let you kill bed bugs and their eggs. They will also reduce the risk of more bugs. Also, taking proactive steps. Getting professional bed bug control help can ensure long-term protection from bed bugs. It will also keep your home free of pests.