5 Steps to Prepare You for Your Pest Control Treatments

 

5 Steps to Prepare You for Your Pest Control Treatments

Preparing for pest control treatments is generally very easy, but for some pests that require specialized treatments, the preparations can be a bit different. We cover both of these preparations in today’s blog:  

1. Make Sure the Yard is Tidy

Dead or dying foliage and leaves collected on the ground of your property is not only a prime spot for pests to hide but it can also block out pest control treatments and prevent them for working as effectively. By raking up leaves and removing this natural clutter, you provide a clean area for treatments as well as reducing areas that pests can inhabit. In addition to this, it is important to remove any items that are alongside the house such as outdoor toys, bikes, small piles of firewood, trash cans, outdoor furniture, etc. These items block access to the home’s exterior for treatments and moving them provides the space for your technician to properly form a barrier around your home to protect you from pests.

2. Be Sure to be Home if You Want Treatments Inside

Most pest control treatments are conducted outdoors, but treatments inside can always be done upon request. When that’s the case, you need to be home to allow your technician access inside.

3. Preparations for Roach Treatments

Roaches are particularly difficult pests to treat and require more extensive measures than typical pest control treatments. With the treatments being so much more involved, there are some steps to prepare for your treatments and ensure their effectiveness moving forward. There guidelines include:

• Emptying out drawers, cabinets and anywhere else roaches have been observed
• Ensure there’s access to plumbing areas beneath and around sinks (as roaches often hide in these areas)
• Degrease and sanitize surfaces – not only does this remove food sources for roaches, but it provides a fresh surface for treatments
• Move appliances out and clean beneath them
• Declutter and excess storage items, boxes, etc. that can interfere with treatments and provide places for the roaches to hide
• Prepare to exit the premises for a short while as the services are being performed
• Be aware that you cannot wipe down surfaces just after treatment and that no chemicals or other pest control products should be added to the surfaces for a while as this can cause unwanted and potentially dangerous results.

 4. Preparations for Bed Bug Treatments

Just like roaches, bed bugs require stronger and unique control treatments. Depending on the type of bed bug treatments you decide on with your pest control company, there will typically be a series of steps that you must complete prior to treatments. These preparations will help your technician, protect your items, and set up ideal conditions for the most effective treatments. For example, our preferred method of choice to combat bed bugs is heat. While this treatment is highly effective and ecofriendly, it can be problematic for other things in your home. Suggestions prior to such treatments include:

• Remove any pets (including fish) and plants from the home
• Either remove meltable items from the home or place them in your fridge to preserve them. Examples include candles, crayons, cosmetics, etc.
• Remove aerosol cans and other combustible items
• Foods and beverages should be placed in the fridge to preserve them

5. Be Prepared for Pest Activity

After a pest control treatment, it’s easy to assume that pests will immediately start to disappear and, while this can be the case, it will often briefly get worse before it gets better. This is because treatments upset the spaces that the pests have been occupying and they will begin to move about to vacate the area to avoid the treatments. This means that the activity you see will briefly spike as the pests are uprooted from all their hiding spots before quickly dropping off as the effects of the treatments drive off and eliminate them. Of course, if bug activity extends over a week past the treatment, we will always return asap for free to investigate the ongoing problem and treat accordingly.