How to prepare for your bed bug treatment
Preparation is what actually makes a bed bug treatment work, since our technician can only treat what is accessible. Use this checklist in the day or two before your appointment, wash and bag what you can, clear the room, and pull the mattress and furniture away from the wall so every hiding spot can be reached.
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Every visit covers
- Remove all clothing and personal items from dressers, nightstands and storage areas
- Wash and dry bedding, sheets and clothing on high heat for at least 30 minutes
- Bag anything that cannot be laundered in sealed, airtight containers
- Stand the mattress and box spring on end so every side is reachable
- Clear trash, clutter and debris from the affected room
- Pull furniture away from baseboards so they are fully accessible
- Buy a mattress protector ahead of time, we do not supply one, it goes on during the visit
- Do not return any items to the room until treatment is fully complete
What homeowners notice first
- Your appointment is booked and you have not started laundering yet
- Clothing and personal items are still sitting in dressers or on the floor
- The mattress and box spring have not been pulled away from the wall
- Baseboards and furniture are still blocked and hard to reach
- You have not picked up a mattress protector yet
- Clutter or trash is still sitting in the room
- You are unsure which items can be laundered versus bagged
Three steps, no mystery spray
The same method on every bed bug prep checklist job since 2005, with a 30 day guarantee on the end of it.
- 101
Wash and bag
Launder bedding and clothing on high heat for at least 30 minutes, and seal anything that cannot be washed in airtight bags so it stays isolated until it can be treated or discarded.
- 202
Clear and open up
Remove items from dressers and nightstands, clear clutter from the floor, and pull the mattress, box spring and furniture away from the wall so every surface is reachable.
- 303
Hold until treatment is done
Keep laundered and bagged items out of the room, buy a mattress protector ahead of time since we do not supply one, and wait until treatment is fully complete before anything goes back.
What we use, and where
Preparation itself does not involve any products, it is cleaning, laundering and moving furniture so our technician can reach every hiding spot during the actual treatment. High heat laundering, at least 30 minutes of drying, kills bed bugs and eggs on fabric without any chemicals at all, which makes it a safe first step for kids and pets to help with.
Bed bugs by month
Peak months for bed bugs in the Valley, from our own route records.
A prepared room gets treated properly the first time, an unprepared one usually means a second trip. Work through this checklist the day before your appointment and call us if anything on it does not make sense.
Doing it yourself versus calling us
- Finds the sourceTreats what you can seeInspects entry points, nests and moisture you cannot see
- ProductsStore shelf, often over appliedProfessional products applied to label by a licensed tech
- Comes backUsually within weeks30 day guarantee on the problem areas of the problem areas if it returns
- Kids and petsYou read the labelWe plan the treatment around them and tell you what we used
- CostRepeated trips to the storeFree quote, one plan that fits the house
Not sure which you need for bed bug prep checklist? Send a photo and Sam will tell you honestly.
What bed bug prep checklist customers say
They helped us with a protracted roach problem. The owner took the time to talk through the issue with us for a long time. He was the only company that said we didn't need to get on a multi year contract. They ended up coming three times and I haven't seen new roaches for months. Thank you for your excellent customer service and thoroughness.
This review is long overdue. Facility is simply the best local company out there. It took me years to find a reliable, effective and cost efficient company that was easy to deal with any time I needed something extra. Sam, the owner, cares so much about all his clients and makes sure that each is taken care of. Don't look any further for your next pest control company.
Facility Pest Control responded to me quickly, gave me an estimate, and offered a fair price. The technician who came out was great to work with, communicated what he would be doing, and accommodated our requests to focus on certain problem areas. The spraying so far seems very effective.
Bed bug prep checklist questions, answered
How do I check my clothes for bed bugs before laundering?
Shake items out over a white sheet in a bathtub or on a hard floor, then look the sheet over for live bugs, dark spotting or tiny eggs. If you are not sure what you are looking at, bag the item and let our technician take a look during the visit.
Is it safe to vacuum after treatment?
You can typically vacuum as soon as our technician says the room is clear to clean, usually the same day for dust treatment. Spray applications may need three to four hours before you go back in, we will tell you the exact wait time for your treatment.
Can bed bugs travel on my clothes while I am wearing them?
It is unlikely, bed bugs move slowly and are not built to hang onto a moving person. They are far more likely to hide in luggage, backpacks, used furniture or a mattress than to hitch a ride on the clothes you have on.
How do I know if the treatment actually worked?
If it has been about three weeks since treatment with no new bites, live bugs, fresh spotting or shed skins, it is likely under control. Larger infestations or homes with a lot of clutter can take longer to fully confirm, which is why we schedule a follow up inspection.
Full guide: Bed Bug Treatment Preparation Instructions(796 words, tap to expand)
Mandatory Checklist For Successful Bed Bug Treatment
- Remove all clothing and personal items from dressers, nightstands and storage areas.
- Place any items that cannot be laundered in airtight bags or containers
- Mattress and box spring should be separated and stood on end so that frame and all pieces are accessible to be sprayed
- Clean affected area of all trash and debris
- Baseboards should be accessible to be sprayed
- All bedding, sheets and clothing should be washed and or dried on high heat for at least 30 mins. Do not return items to the room until after the treatment is complete. Any items that cannot be laundered should be placed in airtight bags or containers.
**Mattress protectors will need to be installed during the appointment and are not provided by Facility Pest Control. They can be purchased at Wal-Mart or Bed Bath and Beyond and should be purchased prior to the appointment.**
Other Things To Never Overlook Before And After Treatment
- Investigate bed bug infestation right after you see the signs. Locate areas with the highest level of infestations and target those areas first.
- Immediately isolate from the infested room.
- Disinfecting and sanitizing the entire room is another step to preventing infestations.
- Routine cleaning of the carpets and rugs using a vacuum cleaner is highly recommended. After each use, make sure to empty the vacuum. Seal the bag as firmly as possible and discard it promptly in an outdoor garbage can.
- Enclosing the mattress and box springs in a dust mite-proof cover before any treatment can help prevent bed bugs’ movement and spread.
- Monitoring areas like cracks and crevices is quite essential for bed bug treatment.
- Exterminate –choose the proper treatment since they can come in many forms, such as heat, chemical applications, or other methods that your exterminator decides to use, depending on the situation. Be sure to ask many questions so you are fully informed about the techniques used in your facility.
- Discard – Some items cannot be treated and should be discarded immediately after being identified by the pest management professional.
- Inspect for bed bugs at least once every seven days to see whether eggs have survived. Interceptors, traps, and other monitoring devices can be used. Interceptors are placed beneath furniture legs to catch bed bugs and prevent them from climbing the legs.
- Be proactive. Call a professional pest control company to combat and help you with your bed bug problem.
- Make arrangements for follow-up treatment as well as an inspection.
Scheduling a monthly inspection is the first step to successful bed bug treatment. Bed Bugs are growing nationwide at an alarming rate. Their tiny size allows them to hitchhike their way into any establishment, including hotels, hospitals, colleges, apartments, etc. With the increase of bed bugs comes terrible publicity for those who unknowingly provide them with a place to infest. Contact a professional company like Facility Pest Control to inspect your infected room. Our experienced team will work with you to detect bed bugs as soon as they emerge and implement a treatment plan that will control the problem quickly with minimal disruption.
Bed Bug Treatment Preparation Instructions - FAQs
How do I check for bed bugs in my clothes?
Examine the fabric of your clothes in your closet or laundry room for signs of bed bugs. If you suspect a severe infestation, cover the floor with a white sheet. Then shake clothes out of baskets or the closet over the sheet. Examine the sheet for signs of bed bugs, excrement, or eggs. We at Facility Pest Control can assist you in detecting and controlling bed bugs.
How Do I Know If a Bed Bug Treatment Was Effective?
The short answer is that if you had a professional treatment and it has been three weeks since the end of the treatment with no signs of continuing infestation (i.e., bites, live bugs, new fecal matter, or cast skins), your bed bug infestation is likely to be controlled. The problem is that the true answer may be more complicated than this because of a number of complicating factors such as:
- The original infestation’s size
- The treatment’s method and its thoroughness
- The type of house
Is it safe to vacuum after bed bug treatment?
Your home may become too hot and uncomfortable within hours of heat treatment. As a general rule, you can vacuum as soon as you are permitted to clean your home by professionals. Spray treatments may require three to four hours before returning home.
Is it possible for bed bugs to travel with me?
A bed bug is unlikely to travel on you or the clothes you are wearing. You move too quickly to be a good hiding spot. Luggage, backpacks, briefcases, mattresses, and used furniture are more likely to carry bed bugs.
Ready when you are.
Call, text, or send a quote request and Katie or Sam calls you back during office hours. No visit fee, no contract.
