How to locate bed bugs in laundry? - briefly
Examine each garment and laundry bag for live insects, tiny white eggs, or dark spotting along seams, folds, and stitching. Use a magnifying glass in a well‑lit area to confirm any suspect signs.
How to locate bed bugs in laundry? - in detail
Detecting bed bugs in washed garments requires systematic visual and tactile examination before, during, and after laundering. Begin by isolating any suspect items in a sealed container to prevent accidental spread. Inspect each piece under bright light, focusing on seams, folds, pockets, and hems where insects hide. Use a magnifying lens (10‑20×) to reveal small bodies, shed skins, or dark specks that represent fecal material. Look for the following indicators:
- Live insects: reddish‑brown, oval, 4‑5 mm long, flattened when engorged.
- Exuviae: translucent shells left after molting, typically found near seams.
- Fecal spots: dark, pinprick‑size stains, often on fabric edges.
- Eggs: tiny, white, about 1 mm, adhered to fibers.
If visual clues are ambiguous, apply a gentle vibration or shaking motion; bed bugs may detach and fall onto a white cloth placed beneath the garment. For items that can tolerate extreme temperatures, run a secondary test: expose a small fabric swatch to 120 °F (49 °C) for 30 minutes, then examine for movement. Heat kills all life stages, while cold below 0 °F (‑18 °C) for at least four days also proves lethal.
When detection confirms infestation, handle the laundry as follows:
- Rewash at the highest safe temperature for the fabric, maintaining at least 130 °F (54 °C) for 30 minutes.
- Transfer immediately to a dryer on the highest heat setting for a minimum of 30 minutes; heat penetrates fibers and eliminates hidden pests.
- Store cleaned items in sealed plastic bags until the surrounding area is treated and verified free of bed bugs.
- Dispose of any compromised garments that cannot endure the required heat, placing them in sealed bags before removal.
For ongoing monitoring, place passive interceptors—such as sticky pads or cloth traps—inside the laundry basket. Replace them weekly and inspect for captured insects. Combining meticulous inspection with proper thermal treatment ensures thorough eradication and prevents re‑infestation through clothing.