Bed bugs are tough. They can survive months without food, which is frankly rude. But they are terrible at handling extreme heat.
Think of your dryer as a desert sauna from hell. For bed bugs, that is. The magic temperature is 120°F (49°C) or higher. Once things get that toasty, they start to cook.
But here’s the kicker: you can’t just toss things in for five minutes. That’s a rookie mistake. You need to give the heat time to penetrate every fold and seam.
How long in the dryer? The honest answer
The minimum is 30 minutes on a high heat cycle. But don’t set your timer and walk away just yet. I always add an extra 15 minutes for good luck (and science).
Why the extra time? Because a dryer cycle isn’t a uniform blast of heat. Cold spots exist. And a single surviving bug means you’re back to square one.
So, let’s say 45 minutes is your sweet spot. Sixty is even safer. Yes, your shirt might shrink a little—but bed bug-free shirts are a worthy sacrifice.
