Bed bugs are small, flat, reddish-brown insects that feed exclusively on the blood of humans and animals. These pests are infamous for their ability to spread rapidly because they are expert hitchhikers, and the simple answer to whether they can transfer on clothes is definitively yes. They do not live on a host like lice or fleas, but instead use clothing and other personal belongings as a temporary vehicle to move from an infested area to a new one.
The Mechanism of Bed Bug Transfer via Clothing
Bed bugs are passive travelers, meaning they rely on people and objects to move from one location to another, as they do not fly or jump. They are primarily attracted to stationary items, preferring to hide in seams, folds, and crevices that offer protection and proximity to a host. This is why clothing left lying on the floor, on a bed, or in a pile is a far greater vector risk than clothing currently being worn.
Bed bugs are significantly more attracted to soiled or worn clothing compared to clean laundry. The residual human scent, including carbon dioxide and other chemical cues, acts as a powerful attractant, leading them to aggregate in bags or piles of dirty clothes. Once they crawl onto an item, their small, flat body shape allows them to tuck securely into tight spaces found within fabric seams, pockets, and garment linings. Clothing, especially when stored in a bag or left undisturbed near an infested area, becomes an ideal transport mechanism for all life stages, including eggs.
Immediate Action After Potential Exposure
If you suspect you have been exposed to bed bugs, particularly after returning from a trip or visit, the immediate isolation of all potentially contaminated items is the first step. All garments, bags, and fabric items should be placed immediately into sealable plastic bags to prevent any bugs from escaping into your home environment. It is helpful to empty luggage and contaminated bags on a hard, light-colored surface, such as a tiled bathroom floor or inside a bathtub, where any live bugs or dark fecal spots will be easily visible.
Bed bugs and their eggs cannot survive temperatures above approximately 122°F (50°C). All washable clothing should be laundered using the hottest water setting the fabric can tolerate, though the washing cycle alone may not guarantee complete elimination. The drying cycle is the most critical step; items must be tumble-dried on the highest heat setting for a minimum of 30 minutes, or ideally an hour, to ensure the heat penetrates all fabric layers and kills any hidden insects or eggs.
Alternative Treatments for Non-Washable Items
For items that cannot be washed or dried, such as dry-clean-only garments or shoes, alternative heat treatments must be used. Professional dry cleaning or targeted steaming, where temperatures reach between 160°F and 180°F, can be effective. Another option is prolonged isolation: placing the sealed items in a freezer set to 0°F (-18°C) or lower for a minimum of four days will eliminate the pests.
Prevention Strategies for Travel and Visits
Upon entering a hotel or rental unit, immediately place all luggage on a hard surface, such as a metal luggage rack or in the bathroom, keeping it away from the bed, walls, and upholstered furniture. Conduct a thorough inspection of the sleeping area, focusing on mattress seams, box springs, headboards, and nearby furniture for any signs of the pests, such as small, reddish-brown bugs or tiny, dark fecal spots.
Throughout your stay, store all clothing, whether clean or dirty, inside sealed plastic bags within your luggage to prevent bugs from crawling into them. Avoid leaving clothes, shoes, or bags on the floor or on upholstered chairs, as these are common transfer points. Using hard-sided luggage can also reduce the risk of transfer because it offers fewer crevices and fabric folds for the bugs to hide in compared to soft-sided bags.
When returning home, handle your belongings outside of your main living space, such as in a garage or utility room. All travel clothing should be transferred directly from the luggage into the dryer for a high-heat cycle before being put away. Any non-washable items, including the empty luggage itself, should be thoroughly vacuumed and then stored away from bedrooms, perhaps in a sealed plastic bin, to stop any lingering pests from migrating into your home.