Does Dry Cleaning Kill Bed Bugs?

Yes! Dry cleaning does kill bed bugs.

Hot water washing and high-temperature drying will also be sufficient to kill the bugs. The temperature in the cleaning process must reach a minimum of 120°F (49º C) for 20 minutes. Heat from steam finishing will also kill the bugs. Toys, backpacks, or other small items can be placed in the home dryer on medium to high temperature.

Cold can kill bed bugs, as well. If the outside temperature is below 25ºF (-3º C) you can place clothing, mattresses and furniture outside for several hours to kill bed bugs. Fragile or delicate items can be placed in a freezer.

You can find more information on bed bugs at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Website).