Can You Get Bed Bugs from the Laundry Room : Understanding the Risks of Bed Bugs in Laundry Areas

Bed bugs are notorious for their ability to hitchhike and infest new spaces, prompting many to worry about picking them up in communal spaces like laundry rooms. While bed bugs are typically found in sleeping areas, they can survive in laundry rooms if they cling to clothing, bedding, or furniture. Public or shared laundry facilities, such as those in apartment complexes or dormitories, often see increased traffic and a mix of belongings, raising the risk of transferring these pests. Bed bugs are unable to fly or jump; they travel by attaching themselves to materials that people carry in and out.

The greatest risk comes when infested items are brought into the laundry room, especially if left unattended or placed near clean clothing. If you inadvertently place your laundry basket, bag, or folded clothes on a contaminated surface or next to someone else's infested items, bed bugs can easily crawl onto your belongings. However, washing and especially drying clothes at high temperatures is highly effective for killing bed bugs and their eggs. To minimize the risk, it's important to use disposable bags for laundry, avoid placing items on shared surfaces, and promptly transfer clothes from the washer to a hot dryer.

From a designer's perspective, I always recommend incorporating features into communal laundry areas that limit soft surfaces and clutter, making it less hospitable for pests. Using simple storage solutions, easily cleaned surfaces, and clear signage about laundry hygiene helps safeguard the environment for everyone. In fact, before moving into a new apartment or updating laundry spaces, using a reliable room planner can help you design a clean, efficient, and well-organized area that discourages infestations by keeping personal items separate and maximizing visibility for cleaning.

Tips 1:

To further minimize risk, always check the seams of your laundry bags and baskets—these are common hiding places for bed bugs. Consider using light-colored bags to make tiny pests easier to spot. Additionally, avoid lingering in the laundry room after your cycle ends and promptly transfer clothes to reduce the risk of exposure.

FAQ

Q: Can bed bugs actually live in a laundry room?

A: While bed bugs prefer places where people sleep, they can survive short periods in laundry rooms if they hitch a ride on clothing, bedding, or fabric items.

Q: Does washing clothes kill bed bugs?

A: High temperatures, especially in the drying cycle, are effective at killing bed bugs and their eggs. It’s important to use the hottest setting safe for your fabrics.

Q: How can I avoid bringing bed bugs home from a communal laundry room?

A: Use sealed laundry bags, avoid placing items on shared surfaces, and perform quick checks of seams and folds on your clothing and bags.

Q: What are signs of bed bugs in laundry facilities?

A: Look for small reddish-brown spots (fecal stains), shed skins, or live bugs near machines, furniture, or piles of laundry.

Q: What should I do if I suspect I've brought bed bugs home?

A: Immediately place all items directly into a hot wash and dry cycle, vacuum your laundry container, and check your home for signs of infestation to address the problem early.