Bed bugs are small, flat, oval-shaped insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They are external parasites that live in the cracks and crevices of beds, furniture, and other areas where people sleep or rest. Bed bugs do not fly or jump, but they are able to crawl very quickly over floors, walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. When bed bugs bite, they inject an anesthetic and anticoagulant that allows them to feed for several minutes without being detected. Their bites often result in small, itchy welts on the skin. Bed bugs are mainly active at night, which is why they tend to bite people while they are sleeping in their beds. The bites themselves may not be felt until several hours or days later, making it difficult to determine where or when the bites occurred.
One common question that people have about bed bugs is whether they can cling to clothing and be carried from an infested site to a new location. The prospect of bed bugs hitchhiking on clothes is concerning, as this could enable the bugs to spread easily between homes, hotels, schools, and other places. So do bed bugs actually cling to and hide in clothing? Below we will examine the evidence around this issue.
Can Bed Bugs Cling to Clothes?
The short answer is yes, bed bugs can cling to clothing and hitch rides to new places. However, there are some important caveats to this.
Bed bugs do not cling to people or animals for long periods of time. They prefer to hide during the day and come out at night to feed. However, bed bugs can crawl onto clothing or possessions and be carried away from their main infestation site. Researchers believe bed bugs are more likely to hitchhike on items that have folds, seams, or crevices where the bugs can hide.[1]
One study looked at the ability of bed bugs to transfer from an infested mattress to clean bedding. The researchers found that adult bed bugs were better able to hide and transfer than nymphs. The study showed that 16% of adults successfully transferred compared to only 5% of nymphs. The researchers noted that the adults’ larger size and higher mobility enabled them to better cling to materials.[2]
Another study looked specifically at hitchhiking on laundry. The researchers placed bed bugs on clothing for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours. They found that the longer the bugs were on the clothing before washing, the higher their survival rates. After 12 hours on the clothing before washing, 58% of bed bugs survived the laundry cycles. The researchers concluded that bed bugs can easily travel home with people in clothing.[3]
So in summary, while bed bugs prefer to aggregate near their food source, they can cling to clothing, hide in folds and seams, and be carried to new places. The longer they are on the clothing, the higher their survival rates. However, it is less common for large numbers of bed bugs to cling to clothing at once for long periods. The transfer of bugs on clothing tends to involve just a few individuals.
Where Do Bed Bugs Hide on Clothes?
When bed bugs do hitch rides on clothing, where exactly do they hide? Their small flat bodies allow them to squeeze into some pretty tight spaces.
Some key areas where bed bugs could hide on clothing include:
– Folds and seams of clothing – shirt collars, waistbands, pant cuffs
– Inside shoes and boots – in tongue folds and seams
– Coat linings
– Backpack straps and linings
– Suitcases or bags made of cloth and fabric
– Purses, especially in lining and inner pockets
– Under zipper edges
– On clothing tags and labels
Bed bugs prefer tight spaces where they make close contact with the fabric surface. The best hiding spots protect most of their bodies from exposure or detection.[4]
It’s important to thoroughly inspect these areas of clothing and bags if you suspect a bed bug infestation or after returning home from a trip. Look for live bugs, dead bugs, cast skins, and dark spots of excrement. The spots may look like permanent marker stains. Magnifying lenses can help in detecting small bed bugs or nymphs.
How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Clinging to Clothes
If you have bed bugs at home or in your hotel room, you’ll want to take precautions to avoid carrying them away on your clothing or belongings. Here are some tips:
– Pack clothing and bags directly in plastic bags at the infested site. Do not set clothing on beds or furniture before bagging. This prevents bugs crawling on.
– Store suitcases in plastic bags while at the infested site so bugs cannot hide on or inside them.
– Wash and thoroughly dry clothing on the highest heat settings allowable before wearing again. High heat kills bed bugs.
– Put shoes and bags in a dryer on high heat for 30 minutes to kill any bugs inside.
– Vacuum suitcases inside and out to remove any bed bugs before traveling home.
– When unpacking at home, take clothes out of bags directly into the washer/dryer. Avoid setting clothes down.
– Thoroughly inspect luggage, shoes, purses, backpacks, etc for any signs of bed bugs after traveling.
– Place possibly infested items in sealed plastic bags until they can be disinfected or treated. This prevents bugs from escaping.
Clothing and Items Most at Risk of Bed Bugs
While bed bugs can cling to almost any fabric, certain clothing and travel items seem to be most prone to getting bed bugs. Items to watch carefully include:
– **Used furniture or clothing** – Anything secondhand has a higher chance of bed bugs since you don’t know its history. Inspect and clean used items thoroughly.
– **Shoes and sandals** – The small spaces inside shoes provide good hiding spots for bed bugs.
– **Luggage** – Suitcases often sit right on infested hotel or dorm room beds, allowing easy access for bugs. Thoroughly inspect inside and out.
– **Backpacks and purses** – Roomy bags with lots of zippers and pockets can harbor bed bugs.
– **Outerwear and coats** – The lining and folds of coats offer warmth and darkness bed bugs seek.
– **Professional uniforms** – Healthcare, airline, public transit and emergency uniforms are at high risk since workers sit in many different places.
– **Gyms clothes** – Gym bags sit in lockers and on benches where previous users could have left bed bugs.
– **Hotel laundry** – If hotels don’t use proper sanitation, bed bug infestations can spread via shared laundry.
Can Washing and Drying Clothes Kill Bed Bugs?
The good news is that washing and drying clothes at high heat will kill bed bugs and their eggs. The key is making sure the clothes reach hot enough temperatures, for long enough time, to be lethal.
According to research, it takes at least 45 minutes in dryer at 113°F (45°C) to kill all stages of bed bugs, including eggs.[5] Turning clothing inside out helps ensure any bugs trapped in folds and seams get adequate heat exposure. For washing, temperatures should reach at least 140°F (60°C), again for a minimum of 45 minutes.[6]
Lower temperature cycles may not fully eliminate a bed bug infestation. It’s also possible for bed bugs to survive in clothing bunched inside shoes, purses or backpacks where heat may not fully penetrate. Following up hot cycles with another round of drying or steaming is recommended if bed bugs are detected.
Sanitizing laundry cycles and commercial dry cleaning are also effective options, as they expose clothes to high heats, steam, pressing and/or chemical disinfectants. The extra attention in commercial processing can reach into small items like shoes. Just be sure to inform the dry cleaner or laundry that clothes are suspected of bed bugs so they can take proper precautions.
Storing Clothes and Items to Prevent Bed Bug Spread
After washing and drying items at high heat, you may still want to take extra precautions so any surviving bed bugs do not escape into your home. Here are some tips for safe storage after treatment:
– Place clothing and other fabric items in new plastic bags or plastic bins with tight sealing lids. Avoid using bags or containers that were in the infested area, as bed bugs could hide in the folds and seams.
– Bags made of vinyl, polyester or other non-permeable fabric are ideal because bed bugs cannot chew through them. Avoid cloth bags or cardboard boxes.
– Store containers holding treated items away from bedrooms and couches so any emerging bed bugs cannot immediately find a host. The center of a room or elevated surfaces are best.
– Leave items bagged or contained for at least 2 weeks after cleaning treatment. This allows time for any remaining hidden bugs to emerge and die without a host.
– Periodically check containers for live bugs. If any bed bugs are spotted, retreat the clothing with another cycle of high heat and replace the storage bag/bin.
– When unpacking items, do so over tiles or hardwood in case any bugs spill out. Avoid unpacking over carpets, blankets or other porous surfaces.
Conclusion
Bed bugs are certainly capable of clinging to clothing and hiding deep in seams, folds and crevices. This allows them to hitch rides in suitcases, backpacks, shoes and other possessions as people travel or move about. While bed bugs prefer to remain near their established infestation area, they will take advantage of an opportunity to transfer locations if given the chance.
Carefully inspecting and treating clothing, luggage and other fabric items with high heat drying or washing cycles can effectively kill bed bugs and eggs before they spread. Containing treated items in sealed plastic bags or bins for two weeks provides added protection against any survivors. With some vigilance and preparation, you can help guard against bed bugs climbing aboard clothing and following you home or to your next destination.
References
1. Potter, M. (2011). The History of Bed Bug Management: With Lessons from the Past. American Entomologist, Winter 2011, 14-25.
2. Pereira, R., Koehler, P., Pfiester, M., Walker, W. (2009). Lateral Dispersal of Bed Bugs (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) and Efficacy of Interceptors and Commercial Heat Treatments in Apartments. Journal of Economic Entomology 102(3): 920-925.
3. Olson, J., Eaton, M., Kells, S., Morin, V., Wang, C. (2013). Cold Tolerance of Bed Bugs and Practical Recommendations for Control. Journal of Economic Entomology 106(6): 2433-2441.
4. Wang C., Tsai WT, Cooper R., White J. (2011). Effectiveness of Bed Bug Bully Biopesticide. J. Entomology Nematology 2011, Vol. 3, pp. 95-99.
5. Naylor, R.A. and Boase, C.J. (2010) Practical solutions for treating laundry infested with Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). Insecta Mundi 0131:1-6.
6. Getty, G., Taylor, R., Robert, V. (2008). Hot water immersion to disinfest clothing of bed bugs. Emerging Infectious Disease Journal 14(11): 2025-2027.