The duration of heat exposure within a clothes dryer necessary to eradicate bed bugs is a critical factor in effective pest management. The application of high temperatures, specifically within a dryer, is a method often employed to eliminate these pests from infested items. For example, clothing, bedding, and other washable fabrics can be subjected to dryer heat to kill both adult bed bugs and their eggs.
The efficacy of this method stems from the bed bug’s sensitivity to heat. Sustained high temperatures denature essential proteins within the insects’ bodies, leading to their demise. This approach offers a non-chemical alternative to pest control, mitigating concerns related to pesticide exposure and potential resistance development in bed bug populations. Historically, heat treatments have been utilized in various forms to combat infestations, and the clothes dryer represents a readily accessible and convenient application of this principle.