Cold can kill bed bugs, but only at a sustained temperature around 0°F (-18°C) held for several days in a deep freezer. A cold room, a fridge, or a chilly garage will not do it, which is why heat is usually the more reliable choice.
Key Takeaways
- 0°F for days — bed bugs die only at sustained freezing near 0°F (-18°C) for several days.
- A cold room won’t work — ordinary cool spaces and refrigerators don’t get cold enough.
- Bag and freeze — seal items first, then give the freezer enough time to do the job.
- Heat is more reliable — a 30-minute hot dryer cycle kills bugs and eggs much faster.
Does freezing actually kill bed bugs?
Yes, but the conditions are strict. Bed bugs can survive cool temperatures and even brief freezes, so a quick chill won’t kill them. They die only when held at a sustained temperature around 0°F (-18°C) for several days. The colder it is, the faster they succumb, but you need both genuinely low temperature and enough time for the cold to penetrate to the center of an item.
This is an important reality check. A cold spare room, a winter garage, or a refrigerator does not reach the sustained sub-zero range needed, so leaving items in those places does not solve the problem. The University of Minnesota Extension and other sources emphasize that only a proper deep freezer, held long enough, reliably kills bed bugs and their eggs by cold.
How do you freeze items correctly?
First, seal the items. Place clothing, books, small soft goods, or other freezable belongings into sealed plastic bags to prevent any bugs from escaping into the freezer and to keep moisture under control. Don’t overpack the bags, because the cold needs to reach the middle of each item.
Then set the freezer to around 0°F (-18°C) and leave the items in for several days. Bulky or dense items need extra time so the core actually reaches the lethal temperature. A freezer thermometer helps you confirm you’re truly at 0°F, since many home freezers run warmer than expected. After the cycle, the items can be removed; there is no residual protection, so freezing only treats what you put in. Our how to get rid of bed bugs guide explains where freezing fits in a full plan.
Why is heat usually a better option?
Heat is faster and easier to achieve. Bed bugs die when items are held at a sustained temperature around 118 to 120°F, and a hot dryer cycle of about 30 minutes kills bugs and eggs at every stage. Most households already own a dryer, making heat the practical default for laundry and many fabrics. Freezing, by contrast, ties up freezer space for days and is limited to items that fit.
Cold still has a place for items you can’t wash or heat safely and that fit in a freezer. But for clothing, bedding, and similar goods, heat wins on speed and reliability. See how to kill bed bugs with your washing machine and dryer for the laundry method, and best heat box for bedbugs for larger items. The EPA’s DIY control guidance covers both temperature approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will leaving items in a cold garage kill bed bugs?
Usually not. A garage rarely stays at the sustained 0°F needed for several days, and bed bugs tolerate cool conditions well. Without genuine deep-freeze temperatures held long enough, the bugs survive, so a cold garage is not a dependable treatment.
How long do items need to stay in the freezer?
Plan on several days at around 0°F (-18°C), with extra time for bulky or dense items so the cold reaches the core. A freezer thermometer helps confirm the temperature. Shorter stints risk leaving bugs or eggs alive.
Can I use my refrigerator instead of a freezer?
No. A refrigerator runs far too warm to kill bed bugs, even over a long period. Only a freezer reaching sustained sub-zero Fahrenheit temperatures will work, and even then it requires several days.
Does freezing kill bed bug eggs too?
Yes, when done correctly. Sustained temperatures near 0°F for several days kill bed bugs at every life stage, including eggs, as long as the cold fully penetrates the item. That’s why sealing and allowing enough time both matter.