The short answer
Yes, if the wash is hot enough. A University of Sheffield study found a 30 minute wash at 60C killed bed bugs at every stage, including eggs, while a 40C wash left most eggs alive. The NHS advises a 60C wash followed by at least 30 minutes in a hot tumble dryer, and dry cleaning also works.
When you find bed bugs, the washing basket is often the first place you can actually do something. Laundry is one of the few self-help steps that UK health and pest bodies agree on.
But the details matter. The temperature, how long things spend in the dryer and how you carry them to the machine all make a difference. This guide goes through what the research found, what the NHS and BPCA advise, and where the sources disagree.
Does washing clothes kill bed bugs?
Yes, at the right temperature. The clearest evidence comes from a study at the University of Sheffield by Richard Naylor and Clive Boase, summarised in PCT magazine in March 2012. They tested different wash temperatures and dryer settings on bed bugs at every stage of life.
What the Sheffield study found
- 60C wash for 30 minutes: killed all life stages, including eggs.
- 40C wash: killed all the adults and young bed bugs (nymphs), but only about a quarter of the eggs.
- Cold soak for 24 hours: killed adults and nymphs, but none of the eggs.
The eggs are the sticking point. A cooler wash can make it look as though the job is done, because the live bugs are gone, but surviving eggs can hatch about a week later and start the cycle again.
Does tumble drying kill bed bugs?
A hot tumble dryer is very effective, but only if you leave things in long enough. The Sheffield researchers found:
- At least 30 minutes on a hot setting was needed to be sure.
- 10 minutes on hot killed only about 85% of adults.
- The cool cycle killed almost none.
Where the sources disagree
The University of Kentucky says a dryer on medium to high heat for 10 to 20 minutes kills all stages. That is shorter than the Sheffield finding and shorter than the NHS advice. Dryers vary a lot, and a full drum takes longer to heat through than a half-empty one. The safer choice is to follow the NHS and the Sheffield study: at least 30 minutes on hot.
Does dry cleaning kill bed bugs?
Yes. Both NHS 111 Wales and the BPCA list dry cleaning as an option for things that cannot go in a hot wash, such as wool coats, suits and delicate fabrics. If you take items to a dry cleaner, keep them sealed in a plastic bag and tell the shop why, so they can handle the bag carefully.
What about freezing?
Freezing is another option for things that cannot be washed or dried, but it needs time. The sources give slightly different figures:
- NHS 111 Wales: seal items in a bag and freeze for three to four days.
- BPCA: at least three days in a deep freezer.
A small freezer compartment may not get cold enough, so a proper chest or upright freezer is best. Leave the items sealed in their bag while they come back up to room temperature.
Method by method
| Method | What it kills | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 60C wash, 30 minutes | All stages, including eggs | Sheffield study |
| 40C wash | Adults and nymphs; only about a quarter of eggs | Sheffield study |
| Cold soak, 24 hours | Adults and nymphs; no eggs | Sheffield study |
| Hot tumble dry, 30+ minutes | All stages | Sheffield study; NHS 111 Wales |
| Hot tumble dry, 10 minutes | About 85% of adults | Sheffield study |
| Cool tumble dry | Almost none | Sheffield study |
| Dry cleaning | Recommended as effective | NHS 111 Wales; BPCA |
| Freezing, sealed | Recommended: 3 to 4 days (NHS), 3+ days in a deep freezer (BPCA) | NHS 111 Wales; BPCA |
How to do your laundry safely
Moving things around the house without spreading bugs takes a bit of care.
Bag it in the room
Put clothes and bedding into bin bags or sealed laundry bags while you are still in the bedroom. Tie them shut before you carry them anywhere.
Straight into the machine
Take the bag to the washing machine and tip the contents straight in. Throw the empty bag away in an outside bin.
Wash, dry, then seal
Wash at 60C if the label allows, then tumble dry on hot for at least 30 minutes. Put clean, dry items straight into fresh sealed bags, and keep them sealed until treatment is finished, so they do not pick up bugs again.
Things you cannot wash
For shoes, soft toys, cushions and delicate clothes, you have three choices: dry cleaning, freezing in a sealed bag, or a hot tumble dry on its own if the care label allows it.
For more on which clothes are most at risk, see our guide on whether bed bugs can live in clothes.
Washing helps, but it will not clear your home
Clean laundry is a real help, and most exterminators will ask you to do it before a treatment visit. It does not reach the bugs in the mattress, the bed frame, the skirting boards or the sofa, which is where most of them live.
The BPCA says self-treatment is unlikely to succeed, and the NHS says bed bugs are very difficult to get rid of yourself. Avoid shop sprays and foggers, which can scatter bugs into new hiding places. A professional will treat the room itself, sometimes using methods such as fumigation for items that are hard to treat any other way.
Our cost calculator gives a rough price for treatment, and we can help you find a bed bug exterminator near you. If bites are bothering you while you wait, a pharmacist can advise.
If you have found signs at home, tell us where you are and we will find an exterminator who covers your area.