Finding bed bugs in your home can be stressful, especially if you recently visited a laundromat. While laundromats aren’t the most common source of a bed bug infestation, these pests can still hitchhike on clothes and other items.
Below, we’ll break down how you might encounter bed bugs in a public laundromat and what you can do to prevent bringing them home.
Key Takeaways
- Bed bugs travel on clothes and linens if laundry items are placed too close together.
- Washing machines and dryers on low heat may not kill bed bugs or their eggs, risking survival.
- Bed bugs hide in machine crevices, shared baskets, and dirty clothes at laundromats.
- Professional pest control is recommended if bed bugs are brought home to prevent a full-blown infestation.
Bed Bugs Can Hitchhike on Infested Clothes
Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers, often traveling on infested clothes and linens. In a public laundromat, they can crawl from one person’s laundry to another’s if items are placed too close together.
To minimize the risk, avoid placing your belongings directly on shared surfaces and use sealed plastic bags when transporting your clothes.
Washing Machines May Not Always Kill Bed Bugs
Using a washing machine is essential for removing bed bugs from clothes, but not all wash cycles are effective. Adults and their eggs can survive washing in cold water or low-heat settings.
To kill bed bugs effectively, wash infested items in hot water and use the highest temperature setting available. Most of them die when exposed to water temperatures of at least 120°F.
Dryers on Low Heat Settings Won’t Kill Bed Bug Eggs
While washing clothes in hot water is important, drying them on high heat is crucial for killing bed bugs and their eggs.
These pests are sensitive to high temperatures, and exposing them to the highest heat setting in a dryer for at least 30 minutes can eliminate adults and eggs.
However, if you use a low heat setting or remove clothes before they’re fully dry, some pests may survive.
Bed Bugs Can Hide in the Crevices of Washers and Dryers
Public washing machines and dryers often have small crevices where bed bugs can hide, especially if someone has recently washed infested clothes.
Before using any machine, inspect the door seals and other crevices for signs of bed bugs, such as dark spots or shed skins.
If possible, run an empty cycle on the highest heat setting to eliminate any lingering pests before placing your laundry inside.
Bed Bugs Can Spread Through Shared Laundry Baskets
Laundry baskets used in public laundromats can also be a source of bed bug infestations. If someone places infested items in a basket, the pests can hide in the fabric or plastic and transfer to your clean laundry.
To reduce the risk, bring your laundry baskets or bags from home and avoid using shared baskets whenever possible.
After washing clothes, place them directly into sealed plastic bags to prevent any pests from crawling inside.
Dirty Clothes Attract Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are attracted to the warmth and carbon dioxide produced by humans, which is why they’re often found in dirty clothes. If someone leaves infested clothes in a laundromat, they can crawl onto nearby items or hide in the surrounding area.
To prevent exposure, avoid leaving your laundry unattended and start your wash cycle as soon as you arrive.
If you must wait, keep your dirty clothes in sealed plastic bags until you’re ready to load them into the washer.
Transporting Laundry Home Can Lead to Re-infestation
Even if you successfully kill bed bugs during the washing and drying process, transporting your laundry home can lead to re-infestation. They can crawl into laundry bags or attach themselves to clean clothes during transit.
To prevent this, use sealed plastic bags to transport both dirty and clean laundry. After drying, place your clean clothes directly into a fresh, sealed bag and avoid placing them on any public surfaces.
Bed Bugs Can Transfer From Other Public Places
Public laundromats are not the only places where you might encounter bed bugs.
These pests are often found in hotel rooms, public transportation, and other crowded areas. If bed bugs hitchhike on your clothes or belongings, they can easily transfer to the items you bring to the laundromat.
To reduce the risk, inspect your belongings after traveling and store luggage away from bedrooms and laundry areas when you return home.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU BRING BED BUGS HOME
If you suspect that you’ve brought bed bugs home from a laundromat, act quickly to prevent a full-blown infestation. Wash all potentially infested items in hot water and dry them on the highest heat setting. For items that can’t be washed, consider using heat treatment or contacting a pest control company for professional bed bug treatment.
At LaJaunie’s Pest Control, we specialize in eliminating bed bug infestations using proven methods that kill bed bugs and prevent re-infestation.
And if you ever face a bed bug infestation, contact us now!