Treatment Preparation Guides

If you are unable or do not wish to perform the below, ask us for a quote.  We can prepare, treat and unpack, clean your home for you.  Or we can assist you with any or all of the work.

Preparation of a room for treatment is essential to the successful management of bed bugs.

Most pest managers prefer to conduct an inspection BEFORE any cleaning or rearranging has occurred. This gives the pest manager a sense of the full extent of the problem and prevents the disturbance and spread of bed bugs before treatment. However, once bed bugs are located and the size of the problem has been estimated, room preparation must be done, and usually by the resident. Some clients may need help and the pest control professional or building management must be sensitive to this.

Suggested room preparation steps when using chemicals include:

• Remove all blankets, sheets, covers, pillows, bath towels, and drapes/curtains from the bed and room and place them into bags for transport to the laundry.
• Empty drawers and closets and place belongings into plastic bags. Place all clothing and coats into bags for transport to the laundry. Shoes, pillows, and children’s plush toys should be bagged for the laundry.
• Plastic toys, books, electronics, and anything that cannot be washed should be bagged separately for inspection.
• The room should be empty of all cloth and plush items, except plush furniture. If possible, the pillows of plush furniture should be removed and laundered.
• Move furniture at least 18 inches away from the walls. People may need help with this.
• Remove outlet covers and switch plates on all walls.
• Picture frames should be removed from the walls and cleaned or treated.
• People and pets must leave the area during treatment and wait the stated amount of time before reentering, usually 4 hours.
• If there is a fish tank in the household, it should be covered with a towel or plastic, because fish are very sensitive to many pesticides.
• All clothing, linens and other items must be cleaned (free of bed bugs) and kept isolated until the client is moved to a new room or location, or until the bed bug problem is eliminated.
• Make sure the pest control professional can get to all furniture, closets, beds, and baseboards to inspect and treat.

CLEANING AND LAUNDRY CHECKLIST FOR CHEMICAL TREATMENTS (see list 1 if using heat)

Adapted from Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Bed Bugs in Shelters and Group Living Facilities by J. Gangloff-Kauffman, J. and C. Pilcher. 2008.

Pesticides, alone, will not eliminate a bed bug infestation. Inspecting and cleaning the living area and all personal belongings are critical for bed bug control and elimination. Cleaning should occur before pesticides are used. Follow all the recommended steps as they apply to the individual situation:

• Seal all clothing and linens in large clear plastic bags. Clear bags are good because bed bugs can be seen inside them.
• Seal shoes, coats, pillows, children’s plush toys, and small rugs and mats in large clear plastic bags.
• Personal belongings should be inspected carefully, cleaned, and sealed in plastic bags or bins. Do not use cardboard boxes, bed bugs can hide in folds and will deposit eggs there.
• Newly laundered items should be placed in fresh bags to prevent reinfestation. Commercially available dissolvable laundry bags will limit the possibility of bed bug escapes.
• All clothes, linens, pillows, shoes, coats, and children’s plush toys should be treated by placing them into a HOT dryer for 30 minutes. Do not overstuff the dryer, heat must reach all items.
• Keep cleaned items separate from items that have not been checked or cleaned. Unless you are sure that there are no bed bugs on personal belongings, these should remain in the sealed bag or bin until they can be carefully inspected or washed.
• The room should be emptied of all personal belongings and floors thoroughly vacuumed with a brush attachment (which should later be washed in hot water and detergent).
• The mattress and box spring should be vacuumed to remove any live bugs and debris and immediately encased or prepared for treatment.
• Hard furniture, floors, and walls should be washed liberally with soapy water.
• Outlets and electrical switch plates should be opened and inspected for signs of bed bugs, but not washed!
• Wash in and around any non-electric heating units (such as steam pipes or radiators).

Please contact us if you have questions or would like a quote.