This month, bed bug infestations have been making headlines, with warnings issued across the UK urging people to remain vigilant when travelling on trains and planes, as well as when staying in hotels.

Recent reports have suggested that bed bug cases are rising by around 20% a year in London and other major European cities*.

With this in mind, UK retailer M&S has spoken exclusively with Dr Gareth Nye, Biomedical Sciences lecturer at the University of Salford, about how often city residents and commuters should be washing their bedding, the correct way to wash it, and the potential risks of not doing so.

City residents and commuters should be washing their bedding every four to five days

Dr Nye comments:

“For the general population, washing bedding once a week is recommended. But for individuals living and working in densely populated cities, I suggest increasing this frequency to every 4 to 5 days due to significantly higher concentrations of airborne pollutants, exhaust particulates, and general dust.

“Poorer air quality means people living or working in cities can be exposed to higher levels of environmental pollutants. These can then make their way into the home and settle on bedding, adding to the build-up of house dust mites, fungi, mould and bacteria already found in unwashed sheets.

“Additionally, cities retain more heat than rural areas, often making urban bedrooms warmer, which accelerates bacterial growth and dust mite reproduction.”

Expert reveals the 60°C rule for washing bedding to help tackle bed bugs

Dr Nye continues:

​“Wash your bedding on a hot cycle of at least 60°C (140°F) for at least 30 minutes to ensure the heat penetrates the fabric entirely and kills bed bugs and eggs.

“After washing, consider using a tumble dryer, as the heat of a tumble dryer is actually very useful for eradication, more so than the washing machine.

“For both of these, don’t overload the drum to allow the heat to penetrate the sheets.

“Remember bed bugs don’t just live in the sheets so regularly vacuum the seams of your mattress, the crevices of your bed frame, and the floor underneath the bed to physically remove any hiding pests or eggs.”