Preparing for Bed Bug Treatment: Prep and Laundry, With Both Dryer Figures

Laundry

Toledo-Lucas County Health Department (2016): “Tumble dry the clothes on high heat for at least 30 minutes (120 °F or above).” OSU Extension (2025): “Tumble dry infested clothing or bedding on high heat (≥130 F) for 30 minutes to kill bed bugs.” The dryer is the kill step; the washer is not. Use high, use 30 minutes, and the discrepancy does not matter.

If we are heating

• Remove what heat damages. Virginia Tech’s list: “All houseplants, pets, candles, lipstick, and combustibles (aerosol cans and cigarette lighters) should be removed,” plus “non-refrigerated produce, medications, stringed instruments, family heirlooms, and photographs.”
• Unplug electronics; televisions “removed or wrapped in blankets.”
• Leave the clutter. “Clutter removal should not be required as part of heat treatment preparation.” Bagging and removing items moves the bugs out of the heat.
• Be out for the day, with pets.

If we are doing a chemical program

• Launder and dry everything washable; bag it clean and keep it sealed until the follow-up.
• Pull furniture a foot from walls; empty nightstands and dressers.
• Vacuum seams and edges; bag the contents and take them outside.
• Encase the mattress and box spring — the health department says keep the covers on “at least one full year.”

Either way

“DON’T throw away furniture” (TLCHD). Beds treat. Carrying an infested mattress down a shared stairwell seeds the building. And OSU on steam: “Steam cleaning of mattresses is generally not recommended because it is difficult to get rid of excess moisture.”