Can Bed Bugs Eat Through Clothes?

WouterSeptember 16, 2022September 16, 2022

While bedbugs cannot bite through clothes, they are still capable of piercing the fabric. They use a tiny, sharp beak known as a proboscis to feed on the blood of their hosts. They then stay under the host’s body when they are finished feeding. This is why you need to act quickly to avoid bedbug bites.

If you notice an infestation, you should separate clothes before washing. You should first put dry-clean only clothing in plastic bags. After washing, you should run the dryer for at least 30 minutes to kill any surviving bedbugs. Once the clothes are clean, you should fold them and examine them for bedbugs.

In addition to clothing, bedbugs can bite through socks. Because socks are made of elastic material, it is very difficult for them to get under them. But if you leave your socks on the floor, they may find their way onto your clothing. While bedbugs prefer dark and damp areas, they are unlikely to stay on your clothes for long.

To survive, bedbugs must feed on human blood. Unlike other blood-feeders, bedbugs prefer areas of low disturbance. This means that you should wear long clothes when going to bed.