Key point in one sentence: When returning to Hong Kong after travelling abroad, clothes suspected of having picked up bed bugs should be sealed first and never spread out on the bed; heat-resistant items should be washed in water above 60°C and then tumble-dried at high temperature — only that kills bed bug eggs.
After returning to Hong Kong from a trip, the safe way to handle clothes that may have come into contact with bed bugs (also called “stink bugs” or woodlice) is to seal them first, then wash them in hot water according to the temperature they can withstand, tumble-dry the heat-resistant ones, and keep them sealed until you are sure there is no sign of bugs. The Consumer Council writes not below 80°C; the FEHD and CHP write 60°C or above — the two figures must be listed separately.
Step one: seal them — don’t spread them out on the bed
Clothes and towels worn during the trip, or placed near a bed, should first go into a sealed thick plastic bag or plastic box. Keep luggage away from the bedroom, check the compartment zips, and don’t tip unprocessed clothes onto the sofa or mattress.
Temperatures listed separately: Consumer Council ≥80°C vs FEHD / CHP ≥60°C
The Consumer Council recommends sealing clothes and then soaking or thoroughly washing them in hot water at not below 80°C, and tumble-drying them is even better; the FEHD and CHP say bedding and clothing should be washed in hot water at 60°C or above, then dried or ironed at high temperature. Heat-sensitive items should first be sealed and frozen at about −18°C for 24 hours, or referred for professional assessment.
Tumble-drying: why it is often seen as a bonus step
Tumble-drying after washing helps deal with seams and any remaining eggs, provided the clothing can take the heat. This site does not present “60°C for 30 minutes” as an official requirement; without a tumble dryer, follow the official guidance to dry in the sun or iron at high temperature.
For Hong Kong readers
Wash travel clothes and everyday clothes in separate loads; at a self-service laundromat, check the clothing labels first and avoid spreading suspect clothes on the folding table. In public housing and subdivided flats, where space is tight, keep clothes sealed in plastic bags for a few more days after washing and drying. Foggers are not recommended as a substitute for washing.
Frequently asked questions
Is it 60°C or 80°C? The FEHD and CHP say ≥60°C; the Consumer Council says textiles should be treated at not below 80°C — choose according to how heat-resistant the clothing is.
Is tumble-drying essential? The Consumer Council says tumble-drying is better; the official guidance also accepts drying in the sun or ironing at high temperature.
Sources
Consumer Council: https://www.consumer.org.hk/tc/shopping-guide/features/2020-pest-control-termite
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department: https://www.fehd.gov.hk/tc_chi/pestcontrol/bedbug/index.html
Centre for Health Protection: https://www.chp.gov.hk/tc/healthtopics/content/460/107441.html
Further reading: for how to guard against bed bugs before and after a trip, see Travel Bed Bug Prevention Checklist; for how to handle the whole flat, see How to Treat Bed Bugs Yourself: The Correct Steps (Hong Kong).