Bed bugs are resilient, hard-to-detect pests. They are notorious for surviving in hidden areas like mattress seams, baseboards, and furniture joints, often going unnoticed until the infestation spreads. Not addressing a bed bug infestation immediately can lead to painful bed bug bites, rapid reproduction and widespread infestation, making them harder to get rid of.
One way to effectively eliminate bed bugs is through freezing or heat. In this blog, we’ll break down the exact temperatures that kill bed bugs, how long heat or freezing must be applied, and why professional bed bug heat treatment is considered the gold standard for bed bug control in Toronto.
What Temperatures Kill Bed Bugs?
While bed bugs are hard to eliminate through traditional cleaning, they are actually very sensitive to heat and freezing temperatures. Targeting them with the right temperature can be an effective way to kill bed bugs hidden in furniture, mattresses, and walls.
However, in order to eliminate bed bugs effectively, it’s crucial to know the right temperature range and exposure time. There are two temperature-based methods to kill them—heating them up or freezing them out.
Does Freezing Kill Bed Bugs? How Cold Is Cold Enough?
Freezing can kill bed bugs, but it takes more than just cold weather or an ordinary freezer. To actually kill bed bugs this way, they need to be exposed to 0°F (-18°C) or colder for at least four full days. At this temperature, the cold can destroy the bugs and their eggs.
However, this method is only effective for small items that can fit inside a freezer, such as clothing, bedding, or toys. It’s not practical for larger objects like mattresses or furniture, and certainly not for treating entire rooms or homes.
While it won’t solve a larger infestation, it can be a good option for disinfecting individual belongings like clothes, linens, or stuffed animals.
Using Heat to Kill Bed Bugs: Why It’s the Preferred Method
Heat treatment is one of the most reliable ways to get rid of bed bugs. Bed bugs can’t survive temperatures of 118°F (48°C) or higher for more than 90 minutes, and their eggs start to die at around the same temperature.
Here are some at-home heat methods that may help manage small infestations or reduce their spread:
- Washing machine method: Wash infested bedding and clothing on the hottest setting, ideally above 130°F (54°C), then dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
- Clothes dryer method: Use your dryer’s high heat setting to kill bed bugs on clothing, pillows, or fabrics. Run the cycle for 30–60 minutes, making sure items tumble freely for even heat distribution.
- Portable heater method: Products like the PacTite® can heat small items (luggage, shoes, bedding) to around 120°F (49°C) for several hours, killing bed bugs in contained spaces.
- Steam method: A household steam cleaner that reaches 130°F (54°C) or higher can help treat seams, cracks, and crevices. Move slowly to allow heat to penetrate—though professional steamers typically reach higher, more effective temperatures.
While these DIY bed bug heat treatment methods can help manage small infestations, they often miss hidden bugs. For guaranteed results, professional heat treatment remains the preferred solution. Professional exterminators use specialized heaters to raise the temperature of your home to about 120–140°F (49–60°C) and keep it there for several hours.
One of the main benefits of using heat to kill bed bugs is its ability to wipe out bed bugs at all life stages, including eggs, nymphs, and adults, without any chemicals involved.
Unlike spot treatments, heat fills every space evenly, reaching hidden bugs that no pesticide spray can touch. This method is also fast, and most treatments are completed in one day, making it ideal for severe infestations or situations where quick results are needed.
Trusted Bed Bug Control in Toronto
At Bed Bug Exterminator Pro, we provide a complete range of bed bug treatment options tailored to meet the needs of every home or business. From our effective, budget-friendly conventional bed bug treatment using Health Canada-approved insecticides, to our multi-step process combining heat, chemical, and vacuum methods, we offer solutions for any infestation size or severity.
However, for clients seeking the most powerful and chemical-free solution, our bed bug heat treatment stands out as the premium choice. By raising the temperature of affected areas to approximately 45°C (113°F), heat treatment penetrates deep into cracks, furniture, and walls, killing bed bugs and their eggs without harmful chemicals.
