Does Freezing Clothes And Other Items Kill Bed Bugs And Their Eggs?

Can bed bugs be killed by cold temperatures as well as hot? Yes! If it gets either too hot or cold, then bed bugs and their eggs will actually die. If you’re wondering how this works, then keep reading.

Can bed bugs be killed by freezing them?

Bed bugs are one of the most studied pests in the world. This is simply because they are so prevalent – and because they create such a nuisance. During their studies, scientists have discovered many interesting ways to kill bed bugs.

For starters, they quickly learned that these bugs cannot live above, or below certain temperatures. For example, bed bugs cannot exist in heat that is above 49°C. If the temperature rises above that for one hour or so, the bugs, as well as their nymphs and eggs, will die. This is why we wash and contain clothes with bed bugs on them.

At the same time, they cannot survive if it gets too cold. Yes, these pests die if it is below
– 20°C. What this means is that freezing clothes and other items is a valid way to kill bed bugs and their eggs.

How to kill these insects by freezing them

Most clothes can be washed at 50 degrees or above. The freezing method can work for more delicate items of clothing that cannot be subjected to this heat. All you have to do is place your clothing and items in a zip lock bag. It’s recommended that you do this in order to protect your items. Then, place these in your freezer for at least a week. Make sure that the temperature is below – 20°C. Eventually, the bed bugs and their eggs will die. Most freezers can be set this cold. Some freezers don’t go this cold, though – so check before using this method. It may be possible to place other items in the freezer as well.

While this technique works, it isn’t always ideal. Many items could be damaged by freezing. Also, you might not have much space in the freezer. Common sense is helpful to determine if this method may be useful. What won’t work, is exposing the bed bug infested items to outdoor UK winter temperatures, as these do not get cold enough.

In this scenario, you have other options. There are a few things that you can do yourself to try to get rid of bed bugs but remember DIY bed bug treatments are a bad idea. They are tenacious and notoriously hard to eradicate from your home. Heat treatments are available if needed.

The freezing method (along with the washing method) could be useful if you have been somewhere that had bed bugs or you suspect could have had bed bugs and you want to use a precaution to stop them spreading from your clothes to the rest of your house.