Can Cimex lectularius (bed bugs) be eradicated by sealing clothing in airtight bags, specifically ziplock (zip locking) bags?

Yes, bed bugs can be killed by sealing clothing in ziplock bags, but it requires specific conditions to be effective. The most reliable method is to place infested clothing in ziplock bags and expose them to high temperatures (at least 120°F/49°C) for a minimum of 30 minutes, such as by leaving the sealed bags in a hot car on a sunny day. Alternatively, you can freeze the sealed clothing at 0°F (-18°C) or below for at least four days. Simply sealing clothing in ziplock bags at room temperature will eventually kill bed bugs through starvation, but this takes an extremely long time—typically 12-18 months—making it impractical as a primary treatment method. For more immediate results, washing clothes in hot water (130°F/54°C) and then drying on high heat for at least 30 minutes before sealing them in ziplock bags is most effective. This approach works because bed bugs and their eggs cannot survive extreme temperatures, and the sealed bags prevent any survivors from escaping or new bugs from infesting the clean items.