Yes, you can pick up bed bugs at a laundromat, but not from the wash and dry cycles — those actually kill bed bugs. The risk comes from the folding tables, baskets, carts, and seating where infested laundry from other customers sits. Used well, a laundromat’s hot dryer is one of the best bed bug weapons you have.
Key Takeaways
- The machines are your ally, not the threat — a hot dryer kills bed bugs and eggs.
- The real risk is shared surfaces — folding tables, carts, baskets, and chairs.
- Transport laundry in sealed plastic bags, and toss the bag after loading.
- Dry on high heat for 30+ minutes to kill any hitchhikers.
- Fold at home, not on shared tables, and don’t set clean laundry on communal surfaces.
Can you get bed bugs from a laundromat?
You can, but it helps to know exactly where the risk is. The washing and especially the drying cycle are lethal to bed bugs — sustained high heat kills all life stages, which is why laundering is a core part of every treatment plan (University of Minnesota Extension: Bed Bugs). So the danger isn’t the laundry process itself.
The danger is everything around it. Other customers bring in laundry from infested homes, and bed bugs can crawl out onto the folding tables, into the wheeled carts, or into the seats while that laundry waits. From there, a bug can hitchhike into your basket or your clean clothes.
How to avoid bringing bed bugs home from the laundromat
A short routine removes nearly all of the risk:
- Bag your dirty laundry in sealed plastic bags for the trip in. This contains anything you might unknowingly be carrying, and keeps your clothes off shared surfaces.
- Load directly from the bag into the machine, then immediately throw the bag away (or seal it separately). Don’t reuse it for clean clothes.
- Dry everything on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Heat, not water, is what kills bed bugs, so the dryer is the critical step.
- Don’t use the communal folding tables. This is the highest-risk surface. Put dried laundry into a fresh, clean bag and fold at home.
- Skip the shared carts and baskets if you can, or line them with your own clean bag.
- Avoid setting clean clothes on chairs or counters while you wait.
What if I think the laundromat has bed bugs?
If you spot bugs or droppings on a table or in a machine, tell the staff and use a different location. At home, since you’ve already dried everything on high heat, your clothes are safe — just be careful not to have set them on a contaminated surface afterward. If you’re worried something hitchhiked in, run it through your home dryer again and inspect your bags.
For broader prevention habits, see our bed bug prevention tips, and if you suspect an infestation at home, follow the complete plan to get rid of bed bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does washing clothes kill bed bugs?
Hot water helps, but the dryer does the real work. A 30-minute cycle on high heat kills bed bugs and their eggs. If something can’t be washed hot, a dryer cycle alone (on items that tolerate it) is still effective.
Can bed bugs survive the dryer?
No. Sustained high dryer heat kills all bed bug life stages, including eggs. The key is enough time at high heat — at least 30 minutes — and not overloading the drum so heat reaches everything.
Where do bed bugs hide in a laundromat?
In the shared, undisturbed surfaces: folding tables, the cloth seats, wheeled carts, and baskets, where infested laundry sits long enough for bugs to crawl off. Not in the running machines.
Should I avoid the laundromat if I’m worried about bed bugs?
You don’t have to. Bagging your laundry, drying on high heat, and folding at home rather than on shared tables make the laundromat very safe — and the dryer is genuinely useful if you’re trying to kill bed bugs on your belongings.