# How to get Bedbugs out of Plush toys **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 4, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303 "2009-05-04T16:44:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/1 "2009-05-04T16:44:53Z")
We had bedbugs a year ago. We have been bite-free for about a year. However, we have some items in quarantine (large thick ziplock bags) that we would like to bring out. They are mostly stuffed animals. Specifically, [our friend’s blog](http://roccolovesnewjersey.blogspot.com/) has been on hiatus for some time. So here’s the question. How do we reliably and safely remove the bedbugs from our stuffed animals? I will list some possible solutions with their pitfalls: 1. **Keep them in quarantine.** Pitfall: there is no proven upper bound on the life span of a bedbug in dormancy that I am aware of. 2. **Freeze them.** Pitfall: How can I be sure that our freezer is cold enough for long enough? 3. **Heat them.** Pitfall: Won’t it melt their eyes or their synthetic fur? Certainly the dryer is too rough, so we would use the oven. But then wouldn’t they smell like oven? Also, note that random websites about bedbugs tend to disagree about various details, especially temps for freezing and life span in dormancy. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/2 "2009-05-04T17:18:13Z")
I’m not an expert, but how about washing them in bleach? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/3 "2009-05-04T17:20:46Z")
[This web site](http://www.howtodothings.com/home-and-garden/a3973-how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs.html) says: > [@](#): > > Removable, washable items can be laundered in very hot water. For those areas or items that cannot be laundered, smaller items can be wrapped in plastic and set in a hot place or in direct sunlight. The key is to raise the temperature to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours to kill the eggs and the bugs. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/4 "2009-05-04T17:47:13Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > [This web site](http://www.howtodothings.com/home-and-garden/a3973-how-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs.html) says: Yes, but many of these websites contradict each other about exactly how hot and for how long. Does anyone have any authoritative sources? I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but this is not the kind of thing that we can try once, and then if it doesn’t work, try again. We need to be 100% sure that what we’ve done has killed the bedbugs. Otherwise, we try the method, bring out the items, and then go through 3 months of absolute hell if we’ve failed. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/5 "2009-05-04T17:53:57Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > I’m not an expert, but how about washing them in bleach? Do you have any reason to think that bleach will kill bedbugs? I generally assume that something doesn’t kill them unless I am proved otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/6 "2009-05-04T17:55:01Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > I’m not an expert, but how about washing them in bleach? Surely that might affect their colour. Probably not a big deal for snowy owls and albino ferrets, but more of a problem for your run-of-the-mill teddy bears. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/7 "2009-05-04T17:57:43Z")
You might consider a technique for electronics and other difficult to deinfest items such. Hose down the inside of a cardboard box with bug spray of choice, and set the item in the box and seal it up. Leave for a few days. Wash gently to remove any pesticide residue. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/8 "2009-05-04T18:02:58Z")
Can you combine the heat and cold methods? Set out for hours in direct sun, then freeze for 2 weeks in a deep freezer. Then launder in very hot water. Then test in a secure area – like maybe not your house. A nuke-able external shed maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/9 "2009-05-04T18:10:44Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Can you combine the heat and cold methods? Set out for hours in direct sun, then freeze for 2 weeks in a deep freezer. Then launder in very hot water. > > Then test in a secure area – like maybe not your house. A nuke-able external shed maybe? I’ve thought about this. However, all we have is our studio apartment. We are in downtown Jersey City. (This is why they should display locations for guests.) ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/10 "2009-05-04T18:21:10Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > You might consider a technique for electronics and other difficult to deinfest items such. Hose down the inside of a cardboard box with bug spray of choice, and set the item in the box and seal it up. Leave for a few days. Wash gently to remove any pesticide residue. Which poisons would kill bedbugs in this manner? Most need to be sprayed directly onto the bedbugs. ---
**Author:** ![Myrrajh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Myrrajh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrrajh)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/11 "2009-05-04T18:22:42Z")
I’ve never had to deal with bedbugs, so I can only imagine the anxiety of wanting to be totally rid of them. Of course I don’t know the circumstances of your plush items, but if it were me…unless they have great sentimental value, I’d be chucking them out. I’m squicked out just by imagining them coming back into my home. (My squickiness comes from a one-time run in with roaches several years ago…_shudder_) Good luck, I hope you find a solution! ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/12 "2009-05-04T18:52:30Z")
> [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](#): > > I’ve thought about this. However, all we have is our studio apartment. We are in downtown Jersey City. > > (This is why they should display locations for guests.) Sounds like a great thing for your friend to blog about. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/13 "2009-05-04T19:10:08Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > Sounds like a great thing for your friend to blog about. [He has.](http://roccolovesnewjersey.blogspot.com/2007/12/jersey-city-nj.html) ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/14 "2009-05-04T19:33:58Z")
How about having them dry cleaned? I understand that the chemicals used for that process are pretty unfriendly to small life forms. Or ask if they have a treatment especially for that. ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/15 "2009-05-04T21:07:10Z")
Sensitive eyes look away now… What about carefully undoing a seam, removing and throwing out the old stuffing, then giving the “skins” a pesticide or temperature-based treatment? It seems to me the greatest risk is leaving unhatched eggs in the animals’ guts. Wouldn’t it be best to restuff them with fresh, uncontaminated stuffing? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-get-bedbugs-out-of-plush-toys/495303/16 "2009-05-04T21:11:09Z")
Nuke them from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. Regards, Shodan