Do bed bugs live on clothes you are wearing? The simple answer
While the thought is unsettling, the simple answer is no, bed bugs do not typically live on the clothes you are actively wearing in the same way that lice or fleas do. They prefer a stationary and protected environment, like a mattress seam or behind a headboard, where they can emerge to feed on a still human host. The constant motion of a person's body makes wearing apparel an unappealing habitat for these pests. However, this does not mean they can't travel on you. A bed bug can cling to your clothes temporarily and be transported from an infested location, such as a hotel, public transport, or a theater, to your home.
Why bed bugs prefer stationary clothes
Bed bugs are drawn to the warmth, carbon dioxide, and scent associated with humans, but they are wary of movement. This means clothes left lying on the floor, on a bed, or packed in a suitcase near an infested area are far more vulnerable to becoming a transport vehicle for these pests than the clothes currently on your body. In particular, research has shown that bed bugs are attracted to dirty laundry, as the scent of worn clothes suggests a nearby food source. This makes luggage and unwashed laundry baskets prime targets for a bed bug to crawl into and hide, allowing them to hitch a ride and start a new infestation.
How bed bugs use clothing to travel
- Crawling and clinging: Bed bugs don't jump or fly. Instead, they crawl and cling to fabric, seeking out dark, secluded spots like seams, cuffs, and folds.
- Opportunistic movement: If you sit down in an infested armchair or theater seat, a bed bug might crawl onto your loose-fitting clothes or into a bag resting on the floor.
- Dispersal from infested items: An infestation can also spread from a single infested item, such as a secondhand piece of furniture or an unclean suitcase. A stray bed bug can drop off the item as it is moved and find its way into your closet, luggage, or other belongings.
Signs of bed bugs on clothing and personal items
Finding a live, apple-seed-sized bed bug is the most definitive sign, but they are excellent hiders. You should also look for these telltale signs on clothes, luggage, and surrounding areas like closets:
- Rusty or dark spots: This is bed bug excrement, which can look like tiny black or reddish-brown spots or smears on fabric.
- Shed skins: As bed bugs mature, they shed their exoskeletons, leaving behind translucent, yellow-tinged casings.
- White, sticky eggs: Bed bug eggs are about 1mm long and can be found glued to fabric seams or other crevices.
- Musty odor: A heavy infestation can produce a strong, offensive, sweet, or musty smell, often compared to the scent of soda syrup or coriander.
How to get bed bugs out of your clothes
If you suspect that bed bugs have infested your clothing, taking prompt action is crucial to prevent a full-blown infestation in your home. The most effective method is using high heat, which kills bed bugs at all life stages.
The laundry treatment process
- Isolate and contain: Collect all potentially infested clothes, bedding, and other washable items from the area and immediately place them into sealable plastic bags to prevent any bugs from escaping during transport.
- Wash on the hottest setting: Transfer the contents of the plastic bags directly into the washing machine. Wash the items on the highest heat setting that the fabric can tolerate. While the water temperature helps, the key is the subsequent heat.
- Dry on high heat: After the wash cycle, immediately place the items in the dryer. Tumble dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes to ensure all bed bugs and eggs are killed.
- Use new bags for storage: Once the items are dry, fold them and place them into new, clean, sealable plastic bags or containers. This prevents them from being re-infested while the rest of your home is being treated.
- Properly dispose of old bags: Immediately seal and dispose of the used plastic bags in an outdoor trash bin.
Prevention is key: a comparison
Being proactive is the best way to prevent bed bugs from hitchhiking on your clothes and bags. Here is a comparison of preventative measures, especially when traveling.
| Location | Effective Prevention Tactics | Less Effective/Risky Tactics |
|---|---|---|
| During Travel | Inspect hotel beds, particularly mattress seams and behind headboards, before settling in. Keep luggage and other personal belongings elevated on a metal rack or in the bathtub, away from beds and upholstered furniture. Keep clothes in sealed plastic bags within your suitcase. Forgo loose, baggy pants that offer easy hiding spots and opt for tighter clothing. |
Placing bags on the floor or on upholstered furniture in a hotel room. Leaving worn clothes in an open, unzipped suitcase. * Assuming a hotel is clean based on its price or appearance. |
| At Home | Unpack luggage outside or in the garage immediately upon return. Wash and dry all travel clothes and linens on high heat right away. Store luggage in sealed containers. Reduce clutter in your bedroom to eliminate hiding spots. * Use mattress and box spring encasements. |
Leaving unpacked suitcases and clothes in your bedroom for a prolonged period. Bringing in secondhand furniture or clothes without proper inspection and cleaning. * Attempting to eliminate a large infestation with DIY methods alone. |
Additional treatment methods for non-washable items
For items like shoes, bags, or other delicate items that cannot be washed or dried on high heat, other methods can be effective.
- Freezing: Place the items in a sealed plastic bag and put them in a freezer set to 0°F (-18°C) for at least four days. Use a thermometer to verify the temperature, as many home freezers may not reach this point.
- Portable heating devices: For items like luggage, some devices, such as the PackTite® portable bed bug heater, are specifically designed to heat items to a temperature (above 120°F) lethal to bed bugs.
- Dry cleaning: Take infested dry-clean-only items to a professional dry cleaner, informing them of the potential bed bug issue. The heat used in the process is effective at killing the pests.
What to do if you have a full infestation
If you find bed bug activity in your clothes, it is highly likely that they have also infested your home's furniture and other areas. The DIY laundry steps are a good starting point for containing the spread, but they are not a cure-all. Due to their resilience and ability to hide in nearly any crevice, bed bug eradication typically requires the expertise of a licensed pest control professional. A technician can perform a thorough inspection and apply targeted treatments to eliminate the pests at all life stages. The sooner you act, the more manageable the infestation will be.
Conclusion
It is technically possible for a bed bug to hitch a ride on the clothes you are wearing, especially if you remain stationary in an infested environment, but they do not live on a moving host long-term. Instead, bed bugs are more likely to infest items that are left still for a period of time, such as dirty laundry in a suitcase or a coat draped over a public chair. Recognizing the signs of bed bugs and taking simple precautions, especially when traveling, is the best way to prevent them from entering your home. Should an infestation occur, isolating infested clothes and treating them with high heat, followed by professional pest control for the home, offers the highest chance of complete eradication. You can find more information on protecting your home at Protecting Your Home from Bed Bugs | US EPA.
