Bed Bug Preperation List

Before you have professionals in to treat your house for bed bugs, here are some preparations you should do.

 

MUST BE OUT OF UNIT FOR 3-4 HOURS AFTER TREATMENT

 

Before treatment:

• All clutter should be removed from the unit.
• Allow access to baseboards, cracks and crevices.
• Vacuum the mattress thoroughly including the crevices, handles and buttons.
• Vacuum bed frame, baseboards and objects/flooring close to bed.
• Discard the vacuum bag (placed in tightly sealed garbage bag before disposal).
• Remove all clothing from dressers and place in clean plastic bags or plastic totes.
• Bookshelves, nightstands or other furniture in the immediate area must be emptied so that the technician can spray the undersides of the furniture.
• Place all items in tightly sealed garbage bags and leave them in the room to be treated.

 

Laundering

• All clothing items should be placed in garbage bags, sealed and emptied directly into the washing machine.
• When the laundering cycles are complete, the clean laundry should be placed in new clear garbage bags and sealed during the treatment process. The garbage bags used for transporting clothing articles to the laundry room should be discarded outside the premise as they may contain bed bugs. For severe infestations, water soluble bags should be used if possible to collect sheets and clothing and put directly into the wash.
• It is important to launder items using hot water as cold water will not kill bed bugs or their eggs.
• All clean clothes should be put in the dryer on high for a minimum of 20 minutes. Some clothing may require dry cleaning.

 

Beds

• All bedding must be removed before the technician arrives. Soiled bedding should be washed in hot water (separate from all other laundry) or dry cleaned before or soon after the treatment to avoid resurgence of bed bugs. Pillows should also be placed in the dryer on high heat for a minimum of 20 minutes. After treatment, bed skirts should be avoided; bedding tucked in tightly; and bed kept a few inches away from the wall.