Does high heat kill bed bugs?

High heat kills bed bugs. They die when their body temperature reaches 113 degrees Fahrenheit, but the eggs may survive in higher temperatures. To kill them, the area must be heated for longer and at a higher temperature.

If bed bugs are living in luggage, the owner can try covering it with a black trash bag and put it in the sun. If bed bugs are on clothing or blankets, the heat from a clothes dryer is enough to kill them, providing the temperature is at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Placing infested items in a dryer on high heat for a minimum of 30 minutes kills bed bugs and their eggs.