The best news is that bed bugs are absolute cowards when it comes to heat. They are like that one friend who faints at the sight of a spicy pepper. Throw your clothes into a dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes, and you’ll send those bugs to bug heaven.
It’s almost satisfying. Imagine them clinging to your favorite hoodie, thinking they’ve found paradise, and then suddenly the temperature shoots up to 120 degrees. They don’t stand a chance. It’s like a tiny apocalypse happening inside your Whirlpool.
Don’t bother with cold water. Bed bugs are surprisingly tough in the cold. I’ve heard stories of people freezing their clothes outside in a Minnesota winter, only to have the bugs wake up like nothing happened, demanding breakfast. Heat is the only way to go.
Can You “Catch” Bed Bugs From a Hug?
This is the million-dollar question. The answer is a hilarious no, usually. Bed bugs don’t jump or fly. They crawl. So unless your friend has an infestation and you rub your entire body against their couch for five minutes, you’re probably safe.
Can Bed Bugs Live In Clothes? Expert Fixes To Save Your Style
But what about clothes in a public place? Say you try on that leather jacket at a vintage store. You might bring one home. But it’s not like the bug is going to leap out of the sleeve and yell “Surprise!” You’d have to wear that jacket for a few hours, or set it on your bed, for the bug to decide to stay.
I have a buddy who once bought a used guitar case. A week later, he found a bed bug in his amp. He still jokes that the bug was a “roadie” for the guitar. True story? Who knows. But it’s the kind of thing you remember forever.
