PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR BED BUG TREATMENT
Bed bugs can be difficult to control when they infest your home unless you do your part by
cooperating with the pest control company. The following tips will help your pest management
company and YOU get rid of bed bugs quickly:
- Don’t move any of your belongings to another home during or before the
treatment unless you know they are not infested. You might spread bed bugs to
another home or to your car or workplace in a backpack or box and then re‐infest
your home after it has been treated. Move as few items as possible and have
them checked for bed bugs (or heat them) before removing them. - Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and other bedding in hot water. Place the
items in a dryer set on the highest setting that won’t damage the items. Dry the
items thoroughly and then place them in trash bags. Keep them separate from
items that may be infested. - Wash all clothing in hot water and then dry on the highest setting allowed for the
clothing. Clothing that can’t be laundered and dried (including coats and jackets)
can be dry‐cleaned or need to be inspected carefully. Do not place clothing in
infested rooms/areas until treatment has been completed and the bed bugs have
been eliminated. - Place curtains, pillows, towels, stuffed animals, etc. in the dryer set on the highest
setting that won’t damage the items for at least 30 minutes. Double bag these
items immediately after drying. - Carefully inspect all Items that cannot be washed: books, electronics, picture
frames, plastic toys, etc. If insecticides are going to be used, place children’s toys
into plastic bags or storage bins (only if they are bed bug free). If heat is used, the
pest control company may want these items left in place so they are exposed to
the heat treatment. - Store cleaned and dried items in plastic bags until your home has been treated
and the bed bugs eliminated. - Store cleaned and dried items in plastic bags until your home has been treated
and the bed bugs eliminated. - Store cleaned and dried items in plastic bags until your home has been treated
and the bed bugs eliminated. - Vacuum and wash all floors. To prevent bed bugs from escaping, be sure to
place the vacuum bag into a plastic bag before disposing of it. - Vacuum the mattress and box spring to remove live/dead bed bugs. Double‐
bag and discard the vacuum bags in an outdoor trashcan immediately to avoid
re‐introducing or spreading any bed bugs caught in the vacuum. If the
mattress and box spring will be encased, be sure to use one that is bed bug
proof. These encasements are thick enough so that bed bugs cannot bite
through it and have tight zippers that the bugs cannot escape through. - Vacuum couches, chairs and recliners thoroughly before treatment. Bed bugs
are often found in couches and upholstered chairs. If possible, turn the
furniture over or on its side/back and vacuum underneath as well. If there is a
dust cover attached on the underside, pull it back and vacuum areas that will
need to be treated. Double‐bag and discard the vacuum bags in an outdoor
trashcan immediately to avoid re‐introducing or spreading any bed bugs
caught in the vacuum. - A cluttered home is difficult to inspect and more difficult to treat because bed
bugs can find many hiding places. Throw away unneeded items. Pick up and
double bag all loose items in bedrooms (e.g., in the bottom of a closet) and
other rooms that will be treated. Make sure that these items are treated (if
needed) or inspected before returning these items to make sure you are not
also returning bed bugs to the treated room(s). - Provide access to walls, closets, and areas around furniture to allow for a
thorough inspection and treatment.