I just got this from my SIL. And if bed bugs are coming into this country on clothing, I'm sure that fabric may have the same problem. So, for safety sake, wash and especially dry fabric.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/bedbugs.asp

I always do!!!!!

I'm not a fabric washer (unless I'm in a row/round robin)--just can't stand to have to wash and starch yards and yards of fabric. I will however, be throwing it in the dryer! Thanks for that tip!!!!!!!!!!

In order to kill these bugs, it was reported you have to get the temperature up to 130 degrees for a long period of time, they are pretty hardy...
So don't pack your dryer, only put a few items in at a time so that the heat penetrates every where :wink:

Oh wow -- good idea!!!
I stayed in a popular casino/hotel in Vegas in the 80s...BEDBUGS!!! I was so freaked out. Thankfully, they didn't come home with us!