Actions to Take Before Receiving Professional Bed Bug Services

Actions to Take Before Receiving Professional Bed Bug Services

Bed bug services are, believe it or not, a team effort. This sector of pest control is most effective when it’s a joint effort between the technician and the client. All of the treatment is handled by the trained professional providing the service, but there is some basic prep work that should be completed before the technician arrives to apply the products. Not to worry: this type of preparation doesn’t require any certifications or training in the intricacies of bed bug control. It’s a simple matter of clearing designated areas of your home to be sure that the treatments will actually reach the bed bugs. 

Let’s discuss the reasons why many pest control companies require clients to prepare before bed bug services, then explain some of our own recommended tasks to complete prior to the service.

Why Do I Need To Prepare?

This is a perfectly reasonable question to ask, seeing as how you are paying for someone else to provide pest treatments for you. But completing a bit of prep work before the service begins is important enough that many companies (including ours) require their clients to complete certain tasks before any treatment can be done. The main reason for this is that the treatments need to reach every bed bug in the infestation, and that can’t happen unless the technician has access to all areas of pest activity. Moving objects out of the way and keeping the room free of clutter are two common requirements for preparing to receive bed bug services.

Some of the most common places that bed bugs are found include:

• Anywhere on a bed (mattress, sheets, boxspring, bed frame, headboard, pillows, etc.)
• Desks
• Chairs
• Couches
• Wall outlets
• Baseboards
• Wallpaper

Bed bugs cannot jump and are immune to most pesticides, so they require targeted treatments from professionals. Trust us: DIY “solutions” will not get you very far in a quest to end the bed bug invasion of your nightmares.

The Best Actions To Take

The number and types of preparatory tasks vary with each pest control company. Some require an extensive list of steps to take prior to the service, while other teams only suggest a couple of ways to prepare for the treatments. Many companies will supply their clients with a “prep sheet” of the tasks to be done before a bed bug service can be done. If those chores aren’t completed before the service, it could compromise the efficiency of the treatments. Communication between the technician and the client is essential throughout the entire process to ensure that everything is taken care of and the bed bugs will be eliminated as soon as possible. 

With all of that being said, it’s time to dive into our own recommendations on how to prepare your home for professional bed bug services!

Clear Clutter

This is easier said than done, hence why it is one of the most popular New Years’ resolutions every year. In this case, we’re not talking about clearing your entire house of every random trinket or piece of clothing. We’re simply referring to the areas of the home that you know will be treated, or where the bed bugs live. Do not take items from the infested room and place them in other rooms, as this will spread the infestation. Any objects that are infested and you don’t care about keeping (i.e. not your grandma’s antique lamp) should be bagged up and thrown away in the outside garbage can. Everything else should be off the floor and organized as best as possible. 

Put Exposed Items Away

Any home decor or objects without a contained home need to be stored before the bed bug treatments are applied. This includes items on top of countertops, appliances, shelves, nightstands, and tables. The objects can be temporarily stored in sealed containers that are away from the areas receiving treatment. Exposed clothing can be bagged up and stored in a closet or container. Food that is usually kept on the kitchen counter can be moved into the cabinets, fridge, or freezer. Do not put anything back in its original place until the technician gives you the “okay” to do so.

Prepare The Beds

It makes sense that bed bugs are most often found in beds, considering their name. If your infestation involves one or more beds in your home, the technician will likely give you specific instructions on how to prepare them before they can treat every inch of the beds. The necessary prep may include taking the sheets off, moving the bed away from the walls, and removing everything under the bed. Make sure to inspect everything you pick up for bed bugs, as they can fit within small folds and crevices.

Move Furniture Away From Walls

Since bed bugs can live in the walls and are capable of fitting into tiny crevices, the technician will need access to the walls of the affected rooms. This is achieved by moving every piece of furniture away from the walls. The standard is one to two feet away, but your technician may give you a different number. If you are unable to move your furniture on your own, ask your technician if they can assist you (many of them would be happy to help!) at the beginning of the service. Remove any wall decor that would get in the way of the technician’s inspection and treatments. 

Clean The Floors

This may sound like an odd thing to do before someone applies a bunch of bed bug treatments to your home, but there is a reason for it. If there is an abundance of dirt and debris on the floor where the technician is working, it could hinder the products they apply and cause them to be less effective against the bed bugs. You don’t have to do a deep clean of the floors — though you may feel the need to do so afterwards — as a simple sweeping or vacuuming should do the trick. Since bed bugs can survive this, put all of the collected dust into a bag and throw it away in the outside garbage can. 

Wash & Dry Affected Clothing

Bed bugs love fabric because they can hide in the folds and creases while they wait for their next meal. This makes our clothing vulnerable to bed bug invasions, so it’s essential to tend to the clothes before the technician treats the house. Any clothing that is in the room with the most bed bug activity should be dried on high heat (if it’s clean) and put into a sealed container. Dirty laundry should be washed on hot water and dried on high to kill any bed bugs that may be hiding within the folds. Don’t leave any clothes on the floor or mix the clothing from this room with items from unaffected parts of the home.

Keep Pets Away

Our furry friends are naturally curious, especially when there is a new person who brings a lot of tools inside. This is why it is crucial to keep all pets away from the impacted areas throughout the treatment process. Many pest control products — including ours — are safe for people and pets, but it is still best to avoid coming in contact with the treatments for several hours after application. Otherwise, any sprays or liquids could be wiped up before they even reach the bed bugs! Before the technician begins applying treatments, create a plan to keep your dogs and cats occupied during the service. 

Protect Belongings Before Heat Treatment 

Last but not least, make sure to prepare your valuables if the technician is using a heat treatment. This is the most common method for bed bug control because it produces consistent results. The technician will give you specific instructions before turning the house into a temporary oven, one of which will likely be to remove anything that will be affected by extreme heat. This includes oil paintings, open food, houseplants, electronics, and anything flammable. As for larger electronics, like the TV and computer monitors, cover them with thick blankets before the service. Also, make sure that the air conditioner, heater, and fans are all turned off before the technician provides the treatments that will keep your home bed bug-free!

Pointe Puts An End To Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are one of the few pests that should always be treated by professionals. Traditional pesticides and DIY methods won’t be enough against bed bugs since they are largely unaffected by these. Your local pest experts at Pointe Pest Control understand the frustrations that come with bed bugs, and we will never leave an infestation unsolved. Our technicians are highly-trained and experienced in solving bed bug issues. We create a customized treatment plan for each service in order to efficiently solve the specific problems at hand. All of our products are tough against every life stage of bed bugs and don’t contain any toxic chemicals. You deserve the best in pest treatments, so contact us today to learn more about the Pointe Difference in bed bug control!

Citations

Bed bug heat treatment cost & considerations. (n.d.). Terminix. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.terminix.com/blog/science-nature/is-heat-treatment-an-effective-way-to-get-rid-of-bed-bugs/ 

How to get your home ready for a bed bug treatment. (n.d.). Manitoba. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/bedbugs/bed_bug_treatment_guide.pdf 

Preparing for treatment against bed bugs. (2023, June 28). United States Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved January 10, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/bedbugs/preparing-treatment-against-bed-bugs