If you have scheduled a bed bug treatment, you probably want to do everything you can to ensure that the process goes smoothly and that all of the bed bugs are eradicated. To do that, you’ll need to make sure that your home or business is prepared well for the treatment. With the right bed bug extermination preparation, you can help pest management technicians in Roswell reach every bed bug hiding place, giving you the fastest path to a bed bug-free home.
Key Takeaways
- Preparing your home before treatment helps technicians reach every hiding spot and bed bug egg, making the process faster and more effective.
- Decluttering, washing bedding and clothes, sealing items, and moving furniture reduces the chance of reinfestation and makes heat, steam, or chemical treatments work better.
- After treatment, follow your pest control company’s directions for re-entry, cleaning, and follow-up visits to stay safe and keep bed bugs from coming back.
Why Bed Bug Prep Is So Important
When it comes to pests, bed bugs are among the hardest to get rid of. It’s not that the bugs themselves are hard to kill, but they are notoriously good at hiding in hard-to-reach areas like seams, crevices, box springs, furniture frames, and electrical outlets, and without the right equipment, it is easy to leave some behind.
The most effective bed bug treatments must reach deep into all the hiding spots to make sure that bed bugs at all life stages are eradicated. For that to happen, it is good to reduce clutter, move furniture when necessary, and empty drawers in affected areas. It’s also good to launder as many items as possible to prevent reinfestations.
Bed Bug Extermination Preparation: What To Do
Here is a quick reference table with some simple steps to get your home or business ready for a bed bug treatment. For more detailed information, please continue reading.
| Step | What to Do | Why It Helps |
| Clear the Clutter | Pick up books, clothes, toys, and anything on the floor or under furniture. Put everything in bags or bins with tight lids. | Fewer hiding places mean the treatment works better. |
| Wash and Dry Items | Wash bedding, clothes, curtains, and other soft items in hot water and dry them on high for at least 30 minutes. | High heat kills bed bugs at every stage, even the eggs. |
| Prepare Beds and Furniture | Strip all bedding off the mattress. Move the bed at least a foot and a half away from walls and other furniture. Empty drawers and clear off nightstands and dressers. | Makes it easier for technicians to reach every hiding spot. |
| Protect Special Items | Ask what type of treatment will be used (chemical, heat, or freezing). Make sure delicate items are stored safely. | Keeps your belongings from being damaged during treatment. |
Step 1: Reduce Clutter
Something to keep in mind when preparing your space for a bed bug treatment is that the fewer places there are for bed bugs to hide, the more effective the treatment will be.
To reduce clutter, remove books, clothes, toys, and floor items from bedrooms and common living areas. Also check under beds and couches, and make sure there is nothing left in those areas that could serve as a hiding spot.
All of the items you collect should be organized into bins with tightly-fitting lids. You do this to prevent reinfestation, and to give yourself more control of the situation if bed bugs are hiding on any of the items you collected. To make things easier for yourself, consider labeling the bins (or plastic bags) with ‘To Wash,’ or ‘Treated.’ If any of the items cannot be treated, they should be trown away or removed from the home or business.
Step 2: Launder Everything Possible
One of the easiest ways to kill bed bugs without industrial treatments and equipment is to launder affected items on high heat settings in both the washer and the dryer. If you are able to reach temperatures that are high enough, you will effectively kill all of the bed bug life stages, including eggs.
When washing things like beddings, clothing, curtains, and other soft items, try to get the water temperature up to at least 120°F. If you are unsure about the temperatures that your washing machine is capable of, it is recommended to check the manufacturer’s documentation on the subject. If you find that your washer doesn’t get that hot, consider using a professional laundering service that will accommodate your request to focus on high heat sterilization.
When it is drying your items, most dryers will easily get hot enough to kill bed bugs at every stage of the lifecycle. The general guideline is to dry items on high for at least 30 minutes. Once the laundry is finished, immediately seal the clean items into bins or bags and label them as ‘Treated.’ Store the bins in rooms that are not getting treated until your bed bug treatment is finished.
Step 3: Prepare Furniture and Sleeping Areas
Preparing your furniture and sleeping areas properly helps your technicians reach all of the possible bed bug hiding spots.
The first thing you should do is strip your bed completely. Remove sheets, comforters, pillow shams, bed skirts, and anything else that may be on the bed. With everything removed, the next step is to create space between the bed and any other furniture or walls nearby. You want the bed bug removal team to have access to every part of your bed, so make sure there is at least 18 inches of clearance on every side.
In addition to the bed, you also want to clear out any nearby furniture like nightstands and dressers. Empty drawers and clear everything from the top surface, placing all of the items into sealable bins like you did during the decluttering phase. There is a good chance of bed bug eggs in items near your bed, so be a bit more cautious with these items to avoid spreading the bugs into new areas.
Step 4: Isolate and Protect Items
The final step involves protecting your items from damage. Depending on the type of treatment that is being recommended, there are some details to consider. Your bed bug removal team might be using a chemical-based treatment, a heat treatment, or even a cold treatment using carbon dioxide ‘snow.’ Make sure that any delicate items you have in the area can withstand whatever treatment will be used.
What to Expect During and After Treatment
Preparing your home or business properly before a bed bug control goes a long way in making sure the treatment will be successful. Not only does it help technicians reach every part of the impacted areas, but it also helps you understand how and where bed bugs hide. This is especially important in Florida and Georgia where the warm climate encourages bed bug population growth all year round.
To minimize your chances of getting a reinfestation, ask your bed bug removal team what you should do during and after the treatment is finished. In most cases, you’ll be told to stay out of the treated area for up to 8 hours, avoid deep cleaning for up to 10 days, and keep your bed and furniture away from walls for a few days to make follow-up inspections easier. You may also be instructed to use a mattress encasement which can halt any attempts made by bed bugs to reinfest your bed. For more details on how we handle bed bug removal and follow-up care, contact us today.
FAQs
How soon can I sleep in my bed after treatment?
How soon you can sleep in your bed after treatment depends on the type of treatment that was used. However, in most cases, you can sleep in your bed the same night.
Do I need to buy a new mattress or furniture?
Your mattresses and furniture can be saved if the treatments are applied correctly. When infestations are severe, however, replacement may still be recommended.
When can I start cleaning again after treatment?
Light cleaning in usually fine, but if chemical treatments were used it’s best to avoid heavy cleaning.
What if I see bed bugs after treatment?
It is normal to continue seeing bed bugs for a few days after the treatment. It doesn’t mean that the treatment didn’t work because they may still emerge from hiding places, but it is good to schedule follow-up visits if you see them just to be sure.
