Does Dry Cleaning Remove Bed Bugs? The Complete Guide to Effectiveness, Benefits, and Limitations!

1 out of every 10 homes in Canada suffers from bed bug infestations. Among the various treatments available, dry cleaning is particularly effective in killing bed bugs. But the key question is: Does dry cleaning remove bed bugs? The process relies on solvents such as perchloroethylene (PERC), which is toxic to bed bugs, nymphs, and eggs. Moreover, the high temperatures used in the process are lethal to bugs and their eggs.

Let’s talk more about how dry cleaning kills bed bugs, whether or not you can wash bed bugs out of clothes, and other such concerns.

How Bed Bugs Infest Clothing and Fabrics?

One of the favorite hiding spots of bed bugs is fabric. Whether it’s your clothes, curtains, rugs, or bedding, if there are bed bugs in your house, they are sure to feast on every fabric they can come into contact with. 

While bed bugs aren’t attracted to a particular fabric type, they do gravitate more towards the following:

• Darker colors, because they help them camouflage better.
• Soft clothing and fabrics are comforting.
• Textured fabrics are easier to grip.
• Warm fabrics as those help them breed and reproduce rapidly.
• Folds, layers, and tight seams are warm, comforting, and make good hiding spots.

Quite often, bed bugs enter your home when you return from travel. If you have been to a warm, humid destination, you might have picked up on some bed bugs. They make way for your luggage and clothing, using them as harborage to creep into your space. That’s why it is always a good practice to dry clean or wash your clothes, even when traveling, before you pack your luggage to go back home.

How Does Dry Cleaning Get Rid of Bed Bugs?

Dry cleaning is a powerful antidote for bed bugs, particularly when items are dried at high heat, as bed bugs, along with their eggs, are vulnerable to high temperatures. Additionally, dry cleaning involves the use of strong chemicals, which, combined with high heat, are effective in killing bed bugs. The chemical solvents often miss the eggs, though.

How Dry Cycles Kill Bed Bugs?

Dry cleaning encompasses dry cycles where sweltering temperatures of around 49°C (120°F) are maintained, which can kill bed bugs. Intense heat for long durations damages the exoskeletons of bugs, dehydrating them and wiping them out completely. It not only works on the adult bugs, but also eliminates their eggs and even the newly hatched nymphs. If you are using a high heat dryer, a 30-minute cycle at a temperature of 49°C (120°F) or higher is adequate to clear out bed bugs.

How Solvents in Dry Cleaning Kill Bed Bugs?

Along with heat, dry cleaning also uses different solvents that can kill some of the bed bugs in the population. These include:

• Perchloroethylene: It is a commonly used dry cleaning solvent that is toxic to bed bugs and kills them, combined with heat exposure. Eggs, however, can mostly survive perchloroethylene. 
• Liquid CO₂: It is a non-toxic solvent used in some dry cleaning cycles. Pressurized CO₂ permeates fabrics, dehydrating bed bugs and killing them.
• Siloxane Green Solvents: These are very gentle on fabrics and are effective in eliminating bugs, coupled with high heat.
• Hydrocarbon Solvents: These are petroleum-based solvents that dehydrate bed bugs.

Solvents are more effective when the dry cycles reach the lethal temperature for bed bugs. If used alone, these solvents may not always be successful in removing bed bugs.

Tips to Make Dry Cleaning Effective for Killing Bed Bugs

Dry cleaning is undoubtedly helpful in combating bed bugs, but it isn’t enough to eliminate the entire population alone. There are two things that you can do to enhance its effectiveness. 

First, always prep the contaminated items you wish to dry clean. Isolate every piece of infested clothing and fabric, be it a hat, trousers, bed sheet or curtain. Seal it in a clear, plastic bag to prevent bed bugs from spreading. Keep all the items in your car’s trunk to transport them to the dry cleaners. 

Secondly, pair dry cleaning with other treatment options, such as steam or heat treatment for bed bugs, vacuuming, and using natural remedies like diatomaceous earth and lavender oil. For stubborn infestations and permanent relief from bed bugs, it is always better to get professional pest control services.

Can Dry Cleaning Effectively Kill Bed Bugs?

Yes, dry cleaning is effective in killing bed bugs, but it doesn’t guarantee 100% elimination success. Dry cleaning typically uses high temperatures of around 49°C (120°F) or above, which is lethal for bed bugs at every life stage: eggs, nymphs, and adults. The trick is to ensure the infested items receive persistent exposure to high heat for at least 20 minutes, if the temperature ranges from 48°C to 49°C (118°F to 120°F) and higher, but the longer, the better. Dry cycles for about 60 minutes are typically sufficient to eliminate bugs, nymphs and eggs. If the temperature is around 45°C (113°F), dry clean the contaminated fabrics for a minimum of 90 minutes.

Dry cleaning is a viable treatment option for new and mild infestations only. It doesn’t work much on old, stubborn and chronic infestations. If bed bugs have infested your house thoroughly, seeking professional treatment is the best course of action.

Pros and Cons of Using Dry Cleaning for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to eliminate, making them a stubborn pest. Dry cleaning, however, does a good job in providing you an escape from these blood suckers. Let’s examine the benefits and limitations of this treatment option.

Pros of Dry Cleaning to Kill Bed Bugs

• Uses high temperatures in dry cycles that effectively kill bed bugs
• Works well for removing bed bugs from infested clothing and fabrics
• Is effective in killing adult bugs, nymphs and eggs
• Helps reduce the risk of spreading bed bugs to other items
• Quick and clears out bugs from contaminated items within 20 to 90 minutes (depending on the temperatures used)
• Safe and eco-friendly option that doesn’t harm pets, kids or the environment

Cons of Dry Cleaning to Kill Bed Bugs

• Works only on small and early infestations
• Misses out hidden bugs, nymphs and eggs
• Doesn’t work on large and severe infestations
• Isn’t suitable for non-washable household items
• Expensive if there are dozens of infested clothing items
• Doesn’t have any residual effect on infestations

If your infestation is small or only a few clothing items are contaminated, dry cleaning may be a practical solution. However, if you are afraid the infestation has already spread to other items, get professional treatment.

When Dry Cleaning Might Not Be Enough?

As we mentioned earlier, dry cleaning is great, but it’s not enough. It comes with its share of limitations. Dry cleaning may not suffice to kill the entire population of bed bugs with their predecessors in the following cases:

• For exterminating bed bugs and their eggs from non-washable items such as your bed, baseboards, furniture, and electrical outlets
• If there are too many bug eggs, as they aren’t susceptible to the solvents used in dry cleaning 
• Bugs, nymphs and eggs hidden in deep crevices, cracks and folds
• Warm clothes and fabrics such as heavy blankets and coats with many fabric or fur layers as nymphs and eggs can be hidden deep within them, which dry cleaning can miss

Additionally, there is always the risk of re-infestation, even with dry cleaning the contaminated items. Eggs, nymphs and bugs can reach other non-washable items. They can restart the reproduction process all over again, aggravating the infestation.

Dry Cleaning Alternative Bed Bug Treatments

Dry cleaning is a solid treatment option for bed bugs, but it has its shortcomings, which is why it is best to couple it with other alternative bed bug treatments. The following bed bug treatments work best when combined with dry cleaning.

• Encasements: Always use pillow and mattress encasements to protect your bedding from infestations. Once you dry clean items, place them in clear bags when not in use.
• Vacuuming: Vacuum the entire space thoroughly every 2 days to remove any unwanted pests, especially after you have your fabrics and clothing dry cleaned.
• Natural Remedies: Diatomaceous earth (DE), lavender oil, and alcohol-based bed bug spray are effective in eliminating bed bugs when used in conjunction with powerful treatments like dry cleaning.
• Steam Treatment: DIY steam treatment with a handheld steam cleaner is a powerful solution to bed bugs, paired with dry cleaning. Professional steam treatment is even better.
• Professional Heat Treatment: Professional and advanced heat treatment is an excellent option that offers guaranteed permanent relief from bed bugs. Just make sure to trust reliable professionals such as Heat Solution for complete infestation elimination.

If you are tired of welcoming bed bugs repeatedly into your place, it is wise to get professional treatment to resolve the issue once and for all. Heat Solution even provides a FREE bed bug inspection so you can verify your suspicion.

Final Verdict

There is no denying that dry cleaning can kill bed bugs. To eliminate bed bugs, the temperatures during the dry cycle must be between 45°C (113°F) and 49°C (120°F). The higher the temperature, the faster dry cleaning eliminates bed bugs. While it does work on bed bugs at all life stages, including eggs, nymphs and adult bugs, many eggs often escape. You can eliminate small and early infestations with dry cleaning, but for deeper, harsher and larger infestations, it is best to resort to professional bed bug extermination in Toronto.

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