Many dry-cleaners in Edmonton are now refusing clothes that have been in contact with the bedbugs.
First-Class Cleaners, Todd Cleaners and Page Cleaning will not accept infested clothing at most locations.
"Most of our stores, we don't accept the bed bug orders over the counter." said Hannes Rudolph, general manager of Page.
Accepting bedbug-infested clothing is too risky, he said.
"Often, a bag can be ruptured and we wouldn't want cross-contamination, because that could be rather troublesome," said Rudolph.
His company will clean infested clothing only if customers seal them in plastic bags and bring them to his company's main plant in the west end, he said.
Bed-bug inspector Jay Harlow said with so many clothes coming in and out — dry cleaners are at high risk and need to take precautions against bed bugs.
"Bed bugs are a non-discriminatory insect," he said.
There is another option though, said Rudolph.
Putting clothes in a dryer for about twenty minutes will kill all stages of the bugs.
A recent survey of Edmonton landlords found eight in ten have dealt with bedbugs in the last five years.
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