How to Tell if BedBugs Are in Your Clothes (and How to Get Rid of Them Fast)

Last Updated on 30/01/2026 by Tony Abrahams

TL;DR: Bed bugs don’t live in clothes, but they can hide in them temporarily, especially in items left near the bed. The most common signs are tiny dark stains or shed skins on your clothes, or unexplained bites on your skin. Washing and drying clothes on high heat or freezing delicate items will kill any bugs in fabric, but clothing alone is rarely the source of the problem. If bedbugs are in your clothes, it usually means they’re hiding nearby, and isolating the bed is the fastest way to stop bites and eliminate them.

Spotting Bed Bugs in Your Clothes

Stains and Excrement Signs

How to tell if bedbugs are in your clothes? Finding bed bugs in your clothes often starts with noticing stains and excrement. These pests leave behind tiny, dark, rusty dots on fabrics, basically their poop or bloodstains from feeding. You can usually wash these stains out, but it’s smart to pretreat them first to keep hot water and high heat from setting them in.

The main damage from bed bugs isn’t holes in your clothes but these stains. Knowing what to look for helps you take action.

Behavior and Appearance

Understanding how bed bugs behave and what they look like is key to spotting them in your clothes. These sneaky critters can live in lots of places, not just beds. They hide in spots close to their host, like bed frames, nearby furniture, power outlets, and even under carpets.

Bed bugs are small, brownish insects about the size of an apple seed. They don’t bite through fabrics or make holes in laundry, but they can crawl through tiny crevices and holes. Other signs of an infestation include finding tiny, transparent bug skins, empty shells, or a musty smell where you sleep.

How To Quickly Treat Bed Bugs In Your Clothing

Got a bed bug problem? Let’s nip it in the bud before these little pests spread, especially through your clothes. Here’s how you can tackle them using two solid methods: freezing and washing/drying.

Freeze ‘Em Out

Bed bugs hate the cold. If you’ve got delicate fabrics or dry-clean-only clothes, freezing is your best bet. Stick your clothes in the freezer at 0°F (-18°C) or lower for at least four days. This will make sure those bugs are gone for good. Perfect for items that can’t handle the heat of a dryer.

Wash and Dry to Fry

Heat is a bed bug’s worst enemy. Washing and drying your clothes at high temperatures can kill both the bugs and their eggs. Crank up your washer and dryer to the highest settings. One hot wash and dry cycle should do the trick.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Spotting bed bugs early can save you a lot of headaches. These sneaky critters might be hard to catch, but they leave behind clues.

Identifying Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites can pop up anywehere on your body, especially on the face, neck, and hands. They usually show up as small red bumps, often in straight lines or clusters. These bites itch like crazy and can swell up, making you feel pretty miserable.

Want to know how to deal with these bites? Check out our guide on how to get rid of bed bug bites overnight.

Psychological Effects of Bed Bugs

Dealing with bed bugs isn’t just about the bites. They can mess with your head too. Living with these pests can crank up your stress levels, make you anxious, and rob you of sleep. Some folks even feel like bugs are crawling on them when there’s nothing there. And let’s not forget the embarrassment, even though bed bugs have nothing to do with how clean you are.

Knowing these effects helps tackle both the physical and emotional toll of bed bugs. For more on this, read our article on what is biting me at night.

By keeping an eye out for these signs, you can nip a bed bug problem in the bud. For more tips on spotting these pests, visit our section on how to tell if bedbugs are in your clothes.

Effective Non Toxc Bed Bug Treatments

Bed Bug Steamer Benefits

Got a bed bug problem? The Bed Bug Steamer is your new best friend. This gadget zaps bed bugs and their eggs on contact, no nasty chemicals needed. Perfect for mattresses, furniture, and carpets, it’s a lifesaver for homes with kids and pets. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, so you can feel good about using it.

Why You’ll Love It

• No Chemicals: Safe for kids and pets, this steamer uses just water to get rid of bed bugs.
• Instant Kill: Say goodbye to bed bugs and their eggs in seconds.
• Multi-Purpose: Use it on mattresses, furniture, carpets, and even wooden bed slats.
• Safety First: Features like a dry-boiler prevention system, high-sensitivity thermostat, and automatic pressure release keep things safe and sound.

For the best results, pair the Bed Bug Steamer with other treatments to cover all bases. Check out our guide on what is biting me at night for more tips.

Eco-Friendly Bed Bug Killer Powder

Another great option is eco-friendly bed bug killer powder. This stuff dries out bed bugs, leading to their demise. It’s non-toxic, so it’s safe for homes with kids and pets.

How It Works

The powder sticks to the bed bugs’ shells, drying them out and killing them. It’s a slow but sure way to get rid of both adult bed bugs and their eggs. You can sprinkle it on the bed frames and cracks and crevices around the bed.

How to Use It

• Application: Lightly sprinkle the powder on infested areas like bed frames, and carpet edges. Make sure it’s evenly spread.
• Safety Tips: Even though it’s non-toxic, wear gloves and a mask to avoid inhaling or touching it directly.

For more tips on keeping bed bugs at bay, read our articles on what smell do bed bugs hate and how to get rid of bed bug bites overnight.

Using Bed Bug Killer Powder

How It Works

Bed Bug Killer Powder is your go-to for getting rid of bed bugs without using harsh chemicals. This powder messes with the bugs’ waxy outer layer, making them dry out and die. The best part? Bed bugs can’t build up a resistance to it.

Think of the powder like a field of tiny, sharp rocks. Bed bugs crawling through it get cut up and dehydrated, leading to a 100% kill rate on all tested strains. It also slows them down, forcing them to keep crawling through the powder and sealing their fate.

How to Use It Safely

Using Bed Bug Killer Powder is pretty straightforward, but you gotta do it right to make sure it works and stays safe.

1. Get Ready: Clean up the area first. Vacuum everything and get rid of clutter so the bugs have fewer places to hide.
2. Spread It Around: Put a thin layer of the DE powder where bed bugs like to hang out. Think bed frames and in bed leg barrier traps. If your bed has slats, use a combo of steaming and powder for quick results.
3. Stay Safe: Even though the powder is organic and approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), you should still be careful.
4. Keep an Eye Out: After you’ve applied the powder, watch the treated areas for any signs of bed bugs.

Bed Bug Habits and Hiding Places

Getting rid of bed bugs starts with knowing their sneaky habits and favorite hiding spots. These little pests are experts at staying out of sight, so let’s uncover where they like to hang out.

Where They Love to Hide

Bed bugs are usually found where people sleep or relax for long periods. Here are some common places they like to hide:

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs DIY: Isolation Method

The fastest and most reliable way to get rid of bed bugs yourself is the Isolation Method. Instead of spraying the whole room or chasing bugs into walls and other rooms, this method cuts off access to the bed, forces every bed bug to cross a lethal barrier, and eliminates them naturally over time. It’s simple, proven, and doesn’t rely on repeated chemical treatments.

If you think you have bed bugs, don’t panic. Just follow these easy 3 steps to get rid of bed bugs fast and forever.

Step 1: Secure the Mattress

Start by covering your sleeping mattress with a bed bug mattress cover, ensuring it’s zipped up and the tab is closed. This traps bed bugs inside, eventually killing them through starvation. It also helps spot bed bugs because the covers remove hiding spots on the mattress.

Step 2: Treat the Bed Frame or Ensemble Base

– Ensemble Beds:

Stand the base on its end, remove all the wheels and cover it with a bed bug mattress cover, and zip it up completely. Screw the wheels back into the base, piercing the cover with the bed leg screws.

– Bed Frames with Slats:

Use a Bed Bug Steamer to steam the entire bed frame, paying special attention to cracks and crevices. Remove the slats and steam on both the top and bottom surfaces of the slats.

Before replacing bed slats, apply Bed Bug Killer powder to the bed frame and slats using a Bed Bug Killer Duster. Ensure the powder covers every inch, including the undersides.

Step 3: Set Up Barriers or Tape

To protect yourself from bed bugs in the room, use Bed Bug Barriers:

1. Screw-in Barriers: Attach these to the legs of the ensemble beds. Apply powder inside and outside the barriers and on the wheels.
2. Floor Barriers: Place bed legs in the Floor Barrier, dusting powder inside the tray and barrier.
3. Bed Bug Barrier Tape: For square bed legs or those larger than 65mm, use the tape at the bottom of the legs, dusting powder around the leg and floor.

Final Tips:

– Keep your bed at least 30cm away from walls, bedside tables, and other furniture to prevent bed bugs from climbing on your bed.

– Isolate the bed so the only access points are the bed legs. This setup will kill bed bugs in the room within a few weeks to a month, regardless of their hiding places.

Are You Looking for an Organic DIY Treatment?

DIY Treatment Video For An Ensemble Bed

DIY Treatment Video For A Bed with Slats

Frequently Asked Questions: Bedbugs Are in Your Clothes

• Can bed bugs live in your clothes?
  Yes, bed bugs can live in your clothes, especially if they’re left in dark, undisturbed places like closets or drawers.
• What kills bed bugs on clothes?
  Heat: Wash clothes in hot water (at least 60°C / 140°F) and dry on high heat for 30 minutes.
  Freezing: Place clothes in a plastic bag and freeze at −17°C (0°F) for at least 4 days.
  Chemical treatments: Use bed bug sprays that are safe for fabrics.
  Dry cleaning: The high temperatures used during dry cleaning can kill bed bugs.
• Do bed bugs go away when you wash your clothes?
  Washing in cold water alone won’t kill bed bugs. Always follow up with a high-heat drying cycle to make sure they’re eliminated.

If you enjoyed our blog about Bedbugs In Clothes, then you might like to read our instructuons or watch our DIY Videos.

Sources: Bedbugs Are in Your Clothes

U.S. EPA – Bed bug treatment and high heat drying
U.S. EPA – Bed bug control and freezing methods
Health Canada – How to get rid of bed bugs