Can Bed Bugs Travel Through Clothes?
WouterBedbugs are not contortionists. They have a long proboscis, and this does not allow them to travel through clothing or skin. They can only drink through a skin-like membrane. The fabric doesn’t trigger their feeding response, so they can’t pierce a piece of fabric to reach blood.
The best way to protect yourself against the infestation is to wash and dry your clothes thoroughly before storing them. You may also want to consider steam cleaning your clothes. However, if this is not an option, you can ask your hotel for laundry services. If they refuse, unpack your suitcase on a floor with ample space, but be sure to keep the suitcase off carpets and other surfaces. If possible, place your suitcases on metal luggage racks to prevent them from being transferred to other areas.
In addition to treating your clothes, you should also inspect your bedding and other items. If you suspect that your bedding is infested, you should discard it as soon as you can. In case your clothes are not heat-treated, you can place them in a plastic bag and freeze them for a few hours. This will kill any bed bugs that might be hiding in them.
Bedbugs can’t physically bite through clothing, but they can crawl underneath them. If you have loose-woven mesh cloth or clothing with holes, they can sneak through.
