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Sensitivity to bites by the bedbug, Cimex lectularius.

Medical and veterinary entomology·2009
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

A Method for Evaluating Insecticide Efficacy against Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Eggs and First Instars
06:04

A Method for Evaluating Insecticide Efficacy against Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Eggs and First Instars

Published on: March 15, 2017

Practical solutions for treating laundry infested with Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

R A Naylor1, C J Boase

  • 1Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S10 2TN, United Kingdom. r.naylor@sheffield.ac.uk

Journal of Economic Entomology
|March 11, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Washing clothes at 60°C effectively kills all bed bug (Cimex lectularius) life stages. Tumble drying on hot, dry cleaning, or freezing also eliminate bed bugs, preventing their spread.

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Area of Science:

  • Entomology
  • Public Health
  • Textile Science

Background:

  • The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) can infest clothing and linens, evading insecticide treatments and facilitating dispersal.
  • Understanding effective laundry and cleaning methods is crucial for bed bug control and preventing reinfestation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of various laundering and cleaning methods in eliminating all life stages of the common bed bug.
  • To determine minimum temperature and time parameters for effective heat-based treatments.

Main Methods:

  • Bed bugs (adults, nymphs, eggs) were sealed in permeable pouches within clothing items.
  • Pouches were subjected to washing (60°C), tumble drying (hot cycle), dry cleaning (perchloroethylene), freezing (-17°C), and cold soaking (24h).
  • Data loggers confirmed temperature and time parameters during treatments.

Main Results:

  • Washing at 60°C eradicated all bed bug life stages.
  • Tumble drying on a hot cycle (>40°C) for at least 30 minutes was effective.
  • Dry cleaning with perchloroethylene and freezing at -17°C for at least 2 hours also proved lethal.
  • Cold soaking for 24 hours eliminated active stages but not eggs.

Conclusions:

  • Standard laundering at 60°C is a highly effective method for killing all bed bug life stages on clothing.
  • Alternative methods like hot tumble drying, dry cleaning, and freezing offer viable options for treating infested items, especially delicate ones.
  • These methods can significantly aid in preventing bed bug reinfestation and limiting their geographic dispersion.