Can bed bugs travel on your clothes and shoes?

How do bed bugs get on clothes and shoes?

Bed bugs crawl. If you sit or lie on infested furniture, set a bag on an infested bed, or leave clothes or shoes on the floor near where bed bugs live, they can climb on. They don’t stay on skin for long, but they hide in seams, cuffs, pockets and shoes.

Do people really spread bed bugs?

Yes. We once saw a bed bug crawling on a person’s arm as they were leaving, and a child at a hospital had to have their clothes removed because bed bugs were in their shoes. Cars spread them too: when a customer declined treatment for their car, the bed bugs in it came right back into the home.

What should I do after being somewhere with bed bugs?

1. Change clothes as soon as you can, ideally in a garage, bathroom or other hard-floored area.
2. Bag the clothes, then wash them and dry them on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
3. Check shoes inside and out, especially seams, tongues and insoles. Leave them out of bedrooms.
4. Inspect bags and backpacks before bringing them in, and keep them off beds and couches.

How do I keep bed bugs out of my shoes?

Don’t store shoes under or beside the bed, where bed bugs gather. Keep shoes you rarely wear in a sealed bin. After travel or a visit somewhere with bed bugs, check shoes before you bring them inside.

Does washing clothes kill bed bugs?

A hot dryer cycle is the key step. Washing alone may not do it, but drying on high heat for at least 30 minutes kills bed bugs and eggs in clothing. Items that can’t go in the dryer should stay sealed until you’ve asked us about them.

If bed bugs are already in your home, see how to keep them from coming back after treatment, our short-term rental treatment for hosts, or our bed bug heat treatment.

Clothes and shoes FAQs