Bed bugs are notorious pests that can be difficult to kill. Bed bug infestations can happen anywhere from hotels, homes, and any place where people sleep, which is why it’s vital to have a bed bug control plan in place in case things get out of hand.
The most important thing for people who have been exposed to bed bugs is to take all of their clothes off immediately and wash them in the hottest water possible.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to properly wash clothes after they have been exposed to bed bugs, so you don’t continue spreading the problem throughout your home!
Step 1: Spray With Rubbing Alcohol
When you first spot a bed bug on your clothes, the best thing to do is spray it right away with rubbing alcohol.
The good news about this solution is that it will kill any bugs or eggs, so they can’t continue multiplying and spreading throughout your home!
You must take note that this step should only be done on colorfast clothing.
Be careful in spraying rubbing alcohol because it is flammable, do not do this in areas such as smoking rooms or other rooms that have an open flame, such as candles and fireplaces.
Step 2: Sort Your Clothes (Depending on Color)
The next step is to sort your clothes depending on color.
It would be best if you started off by washing all white and lighter colored clothing first, then move on to the darker ones, such as black or navy blue.
Doing this will prevent any bleeding of dyes from one item into another, which can cause colors to change or bleed throughout the load during washing.
Do this step in the infested area of your home to avoid spreading them to other rooms.
You must also keep the sorted clothes in a trash bag if it’s not their turn to be washed to prevent bed bugs from escaping and moving into places of your home.
Step 3: Wash Clothes in Hot Water
This is probably the most important step in washing your clothes exposed to bed bugs.
It is known that bed bugs can be eliminated by heat, so you must wash them all together in hot water so you can kill any remaining eggs or bugs that might be hiding on your clothing!
We recommend using a mild detergent instead of one with bleach because it will weaken the fabric and cause pilling, which means tiny balls of fibers get stuck together, causing holes in your clothes.
Step 4: Dry Your Clothes in the Heat
Finally, after washing your clothes in hot water and allowing them to dry, you should then place them directly into the heat.
This will continue killing any bed bugs or eggs that might remain on the clothing!
Do not take them out before they are completely dried because this could cause re-infestation of your home if there are still live bugs remaining.
You can also use a laundry bag for this step, so you don’t have to worry about bed bug infestations when hanging it up outside or inside.
You’ll want to dry the clothes at the hottest temperature the fabric can withstand for at least 30 minutes.
If your dryer is able to reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit, this can kill the bedbugs and their eggs.
The New Understanding
If you have recently been exposed to bed bugs, the last thing on your mind is how to wash clothes.
But it’s important! We recommend using hot water and detergent for at least 30 minutes in order to kill any bed bug eggs or nymphs that may be lurking in your clothing.
If you have more questions in mind, feel free to give us a call!
