Do Bed Bugs Die in the Sun? And the Heat That Really Kills Them
HESHAM MAHMOUD
HESHAM MAHMOUD
10 November 2026

Do bed bugs die in the sun? High heat does kill bed bugs and their eggs, but putting the mattress in the sun is usually not enough. The heat does not reach all parts of the mattress evenly, and the bugs move to the cooler side or hide inside and in the seams.

What temperature kills bed bugs?

  • Bed bugs and their eggs die when the temperature reaches roughly 45 to 50°C and stays there long enough.
  • The higher the temperature, the less time needed, and with steam they die almost instantly.
  • What matters is that the heat reaches where the bugs actually are, not just the fabric surface.

Why the sun is not enough

  • The underside is in shade, and the heat inside the mattress is much lower than on its surface.
  • Bed bugs sense heat and move to cooler spots.
  • Seams, corners and the wooden base do not get hot enough.
  • Eggs glued in bed and wall cracks are never exposed to the sun at all.

So the sun may kill some, but it will not end the infestation.

Heat methods that actually work

  1. Steam cleaner: the most effective method on mattresses, sofas and seams; move the nozzle slowly over every seam and corner.
  2. Washing and drying: clothes and sheets in hot water, then the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Small items: put them in an empty dryer on high heat if they can take it.
  4. Freezing: for items that cannot take heat, in the freezer for at least 4 days in a sealed bag.

Important: heat alone is not enough if bed bugs are in wall cracks and the bed frame. It must be combined with a bed bug insecticide on cracks, and repeated after 10 to 14 days.

Products from Orkida

Bed bugs and heat FAQs

Do bed bugs die in hot water?

Yes, if it is hot enough and reaches them directly, but water is unsuitable for mattresses. Steam is best for mattresses, and hot washing for clothes.

Does a cold air conditioner kill bed bugs?

No. AC cooling does not reach freezing temperatures, and bed bugs live normally in air-conditioned rooms.

Should I throw away a mattress with bed bugs?

Not necessarily. Most mattresses can be treated with steam and insecticide and a sealed encasement. Throw it away only if it is torn or the infestation is very severe.

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