Bed bugs are like that friend who refuses to leave a party after the last call. They’re stubborn, but heat is their kryptonite. Studies show that temperatures above 120°F (49°C) will cook them, their eggs, and their tiny little dreams.
A standard dryer cycle, especially on high heat, easily hits that mark. It’s like putting them in a hot, dry sauna they didn’t pay for, and the exit is locked. The combination of heat and tumbling forces them to dehydrate and die, usually within 30 minutes.
The “Panic Laundry” Method
We all do it: you spot a suspicious bug, then you strip your bed like you’re in a race. You throw everything—sheets, pillows, your favorite hoodie—into a black trash bag. It’s dramatic, but it works.
Here’s the trick: don’t even bother washing first. Just toss the dry clothes directly into the dryer on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. The water in a wash doesn’t hurt, but the dry heat is the real assassin.
Once the cycle finishes, you’ve basically given them a hot, dusty funeral. You can wash them after, but that’s just for the smell of victory. The bugs are already toast.