One of the easiest and most effective DIY ways to kill bed bugs is by washing clothes in hot water. Those blood-sucking critters cannot tolerate high temperatures well, and contact with hot water kills them instantly. To make sure that none of them will survive, you might want to consider using bed bug laundry detergent, too.

Just like what the name suggests, the product is specifically made for cleaning clothes that have bed bugs. It’s important to rid your clothes of bed bugs to keep them from going places.

Immediately washing your items in hot water, preferably with bed bug laundry detergent, too, after arriving from your trip is a good idea.

That’s because it is likely for the hotel that you have stayed in to have bed bugs. As a matter of fact, research shows that a little more than 80% of US hotels have undergone bed bug treatment in the past year.

Continue reading if you want to know how to kill bed bugs in clothes by washing them in hot water. Below, you will come across some of the best bed bug laundry detergent options in the market.

However, in case if you need a quick recommendation, then, in my opinion, there is no better and more effective option than Hygea Natural Exterminator Combo Pack (affiliate).

What to Look For in Bed Bug Detergent

Online, there are lots of laundry detergents that can help you in your fight against bed bugs. But just like any other goods, not all bed bug laundry detergents are the same.

If you want to be able to deal with bed bugs effectively, especially via the DIY route, it’s of utmost importance that you choose the right product.

You should look for a few things in a bed bug laundry detergent before placing it in your shopping cart.

All-Natural

Just because you want to make sure that all bed bugs will be killed when you wash your clothes in hot water doesn’t mean that the laundry detergent should contain harsh chemicals.

When it comes to DIY bed bug extermination, it’s important that you take into account your safety as well as the safety of the ones you love.

Making sure that the planet is out of harm’s way is also essential while fighting bed bugs. This is why you should opt for bed bug laundry detergent that does not contain toxic ingredients.

It’s for the same reason why it’s a wonderful idea to opt for DIY bed bug solutions that are all-natural.

Hypo-Allergenic

One of the reasons why most people, if not all, hate bed bugs is that those pesky critters can leave them with red and inflamed bite marks the following day.

Those bite marks can also itch like crazy. If you fail to resist the urge to aggressively scratch them to obtain relief, you may break your skin and wind up with a skin infection.

Using the wrong laundry detergent can also leave you with pretty much the same dilemma.

Because of this, it’s a must that the bed bug laundry detergent that you are about to buy is hypoallergenic. This means that it is free of ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction, especially in those with sensitive skin.

Reasonably Priced

When shopping for anything online and offline, one of the most important considerations is your budget.

Many people prefer to deal with bed bugs with their own two hands to save money.

Is your goal to save yourself from winding up broke in an attempt to rid your home of bed bugs? Then opt for a bed bug laundry detergent with a price tag that won’t leave a gigantic hole in your pocket.

However, avoid opting for a cheap laundry detergent that’s incapable of doing an impressive job.

Positive Feedback

Before placing any laundry detergent for bed bugs in your shopping cart, you must first check out reviews of the products. This will give you a general idea of its effectiveness against bed bugs.

If many customers have a lot of positive things to say about it, then it should be on the top of your list.

On the other hand, be wary of buying something that seems to be getting a lot of negative feedback. It’s true that you should take online reviews with a grain of salt. However, be suspicious if a product is getting mostly bad reviews.

When shopping for bed bug laundry detergent, you may also get the recommendations of family members and friends who battled bed bugs in the past without contacting pest control experts and won!

Here Are The 7 Best Bed Bug Detergents

Now, we have come to the crux of this article: some of the top bed bug detergents in the market.

Below, you will find laundry detergents that are specifically made for clothes that are harboring bed bugs. You will also come across those that are not meant for bed bug elimination but can lend a hand due to some of their ingredients.

Without further ado, here are some of the best laundry detergents that can help you fight bed bugs.

Formula 4 Bed Bug Laundry Detergent

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 5 pounds (pack of 2)

A massive container is concentrated and, according to the maker, good for up to 50 loads.

Clearly, the product is what you need if you want to get rid of a massive bed bug infestation without the help of the pros. By pairing its use with other effective home remedies for bed bugs, you may attain your goal in no time.

Unfortunately, not all clothes that bed bugs may hide in can be washed in hot water. Some examples are those that are out of fabrics such as wool, rayon, silk, and cotton/polyester blend.

If you wash them in hot water, they will shrink or lose their shape. The good news is that Formula 4 Bed Bug Laundry Detergent allows you to kill bed bugs in them without washing them in hot water.

And other than bed bugs, the maker says that its laundry detergent can also kill dust mites, fleas, and a bunch of other crawling pests.

Hygea Natural Exterminator

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 32 ounces (combo pack)

There is a reason why the product is more expensive than most: it comes with a bed bug spray (24 ounces) and refill (128 ounces).

If you want to see results, you should pair washing your clothes in hot water with other solutions, such as the spray that comes with Hygea Natural Exterminator Laundry Treatment.

Any doubt that you have with the product can be eliminated by the fact that it has won two awards. They are Exporter of the Year award and Most Innovative Product of the Year award.

It doesn’t come as a surprise since it’s tough on bed bugs but gentle on humans (especially kids) and animals (especially pets).

Items that you cannot wash in hot water may be sprayed with the solution that comes bundled with Hygea Natural Exterminator Laundry Treatment.

It’s odor-free and won’t leave stains.

Stop Bugging Me! Laundry Additive Concentrate

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 16 ounces

Do you have a favorite laundry detergent because you love the way it smells or you like that it’s gentle on clothes?

You can turn it from ordinary laundry detergent to bed bug-fighting laundry detergent. All you have to do is add generous amounts of Stop Bugging Me! Laundry Additive Concentrate to the load.

What’s so nice about the product is that it’s odor-free. This means that you can rest assured that your clothes won’t smell like chemicals. And speaking of which, this laundry additive is free of toxic chemicals.

Due to this, you can use it even if there are kids or pets around. It’s also because of this why the product is environmentally-friendly.

The 16-ounce bottle is good for up to 32 loads. It can be used on all types of fabrics, including colorfast ones.

By the way, aside from bed bugs, the Stop Bugging Me! Laundry Additive Concentrate is also good for dust mites and head lice.

Gain Lavender Liquid Laundry Detergent

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 50 ounces

When you take a good look at the packaging, it’s plain to see that Gain Lavender Liquid Detergent is not meant for killing bed bugs in clothes.

However, there is something about the product that makes it ideal for anyone who wishes to eliminate bed bugs on their own. It’s none other than the fact that it smells like lavender.

There are many essential oils that can kill or repel bed bugs. Something that can exterminate and drive them away at the same time is lavender essential oil.

Needless to say, this lavender-scented laundry detergent, especially when paired with hot water, can rid clothes of bed bugs as well as protect them from harboring more of those critters.

The manufacturer says that it can make your clothes smell like lavender for up to a couple of weeks. Available in a 50-ounce bottle, Gain Lavender Liquid Detergent is good for up to 32 loads.

It’s ideal for use with both top load and front load washing machines.

Love Home and Planet Laundry Detergent

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 40 ounces (pack of 2)

One look at the packaging and it’s clear what Love Home and Planet Concentrated Laundry Detergent is infused with: lavender.

When you log online to look for all-natural remedies for bed bugs, it’s for certain that you will come across lavender essential oil several times. That’s how effective it is against bed bugs.

A purchase allows you to get your hands on two bottles of the laundry detergent. Each 40-ounce bottle is good for up to 53 loads.

According to the maker, its formulation allows it to detect the type of stain so that it can remove it without damaging the fabric. However, it’s definitely harsh on bed bugs due to its lavender content.

Do you care about the planet?

Then going for Love Home and Planet Concentrated Laundry Detergent allows you to do your share while dealing with bed bugs.

That’s because aside from containing plant-based ingredients, the plastic container that it comes in is out of 100% recycled plastic.

And it can be recycled furthermore, too.

Solimo Liquid Laundry Detergent

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 96 ounces

What’s impressive about this laundry detergent that you can use in your quest to eliminate bed bugs is that a massive bottle that’s almost 100 ounces costs less than $20 only.

Good for up to 128 loads, running out of lavender-scented laundry detergent anytime soon should be the least of your worries.

There is something about Solimo Liquid Laundry Detergent that can give you an idea that it won’t fail you.

It’s none other than the fact that the maker is willing to give you your hard-earned money back if you are not happy with the product within a year of purchase.

By the way, the liquid laundry detergent is available in other variants, too. One has a fresh scent, and the other is scent-free for people who want nothing but the most hypoallergenic laundry detergent.

But since the goal is to assist hot water in ridding clothes of bed bugs, this variant that smells like lavender is the right one for the job.

ECOS Laundry Detergent w/ Built-In Fabric Softener

Form: Liquid
Size/weight: 100 ounces (pack of 2)

Many of the laundry detergents that we have talked about so far contain lavender, which is why they can be used for killing bed bugs present in clothes.

ECOS Laundry Detergent With Built-In Fabric Softener is different. That’s because it’s lemongrass-scented, which is what makes it very good for killing bed bugs in clothes being washed in hot water.

Lemongrass essential oil is one of the top home remedies for bed bugs. On contact, it can kill those nocturnal creatures by increasing the acidic conditions of their tiny bodies.

Aside from being an insecticide, lemongrass essential oil is also a repellent — it can drive away bed bugs and a bunch of other insects, too.

When you order ECOS Laundry Detergent With Built-In Fabric Softener, two 100-ounce bottles will get to your doorstep. Each one of them is good for up to 100 loads.

And just like what the name suggests, it has fabric conditioner. As it rids your clothes of bed bugs, the product also softens them.

Quick Tips to Remember

Unfortunately, washing infested clothes in hot water and using bed bug laundry detergent is not enough to completely rid your home of those blood-sucking nocturnal pests.

It’s a must that you also carry out other home remedies if you prefer the DIY approach and refuse to get in touch with a reliable pest control company in your area.

Keep in mind the following things when washing your clothes in hot water:

  • Place everything in a large garbage bag, seal, and head straight to the washing machine.
  • Empty the large garbage bag directly into the washing machine.
  • Immediately place the empty garbage bag in another garbage bag and seal right away.
  • Wash clothes in the highest allowable temperature (check the label for details) for 30 minutes.
  • Dry-clean-only clothes may be disinfested in the dryer in the highest allowable setting for 30 minutes.
  • Place clean clothes in a large garbage bag and seal, or place them in a plastic container with an airtight seal.
  • Refrain from removing clothes in the garbage bag or plastic container while the infestation is active.

It’s true that washing clothes in hot water and using laundry detergent for bed bugs can yield results.

However, it’s a must that you do it properly to prevent bed bugs from escaping and starting an infestation somewhere else in your home.

Allowing bed bugs to spread can make it more challenging to deal with them on your own.

Just Before You Wash Your Clothes

Washing clothes in hot water is one of the most effective ways to kill bed bugs through the DIY approach.

This is best done for at least 30 minutes to make sure that every bed bug present will die. If you want to enhance the effects of hot-water washing, you may wash your clothes in bed bug laundry detergent.

In the market, some laundry detergents for the job are specifically formulated to kill bed bugs.

But then there are also those that contain ingredients, such as lavender and lemongrass, that make them excellent bed bug killers, too.

If you are still undecided, give Hygea Natural Exterminator Combo Pack a try. In my opinion, there is no better and more effective detergent when dealing with bed bugs.