How do I prepare my home for a bed bug treatment?

Start with the company's prep list

Ask the company, before the visit, which method it will use and for its preparation instructions in writing. Pest managers have their own policies, however, in regards to preparation.^[2] Some firms want beds stripped and furniture moved before they arrive, while others, increasingly, prefer to inspect first and perform these tasks themselves.^[2] Following the list matters: the EPA tells customers to follow guidelines on how to prepare for control,^[4] and very few infestations are controlled with only one treatment, so expect to repeat parts of it.^[4]

Handle bedding, clothes and soft items

Bedding and garments often will need to be laundered (120°F minimum),^[2] because they cannot be treated with insecticides. A faster option is the dryer: place bedding, clothing, toys, shoes, backpacks, etc., in a clothes dryer set at medium-to-high heat for 10 to 20 minutes.^[2]

Bag items in the room where they came from. Placing items in disposable plastic trash bags helps to minimize the risk of bugs falling off in the dwelling during transfer to the washer and/or dryer.^[2] Afterwards, keep clean items sealed in a bag or tub until the company says to return them. For things that cannot go in a washer or dryer, items that cannot be treated should be placed in a sealed plastic bag or storage container and left there for up to a year to ensure any active bugs are dead.^[3]

Do not over-clean

Many people vacuum and rearrange before the technician arrives. That can backfire. Housecleaning activities such as vacuuming floors and surfaces seldom reach areas where bed bugs reside,^[2] and Extension warns that extreme cleaning, and clutter movement right before heat treatment has the potential to scatter the bed bugs into new locations.^[1] Make the areas the company lists reachable, and stop there.

If the company asks for access, pull furniture a few inches from the walls and keep linens off the floor.

If your treatment uses heat

Heat prep is different, and often lighter. All houseplants, pets, candles, lipstick, and combustibles (aerosol cans and cigarette lighters) should be removed from the inside of the home.^[1] Some heat-sensitive items such as aerosol cans, indoor plants, and medications will need to be removed, although televisions, computers, and other electronics usually do not.^[2] It’s also unnecessary to launder bedding and clothing since these items will be heated along with other belongings.^[2] See how heat treatment for bed bugs works for the full picture.

Never try to substitute your own heat: do not try to kill bed bugs by increasing your indoor temperature with a thermostat, propane space heater, or fireplace - this does not work and is dangerous.^[3]

Renters, neighbors and records

Cooperation is important during bed bug treatment.^[2] Notify your landlord if you live in an apartment. The units near yours should be inspected.^[3] Put the request in writing and see whether your landlord is responsible for bed bugs in Virginia.

Keep records through the whole process:^[3] dates, rooms, photos of what you find. They help the technician and any later dispute over whether the treatment worked.

Stop and call a pro if

• You are tempted to use bug bombs, kerosene or heaters to treat things yourself before the visit. Leave treatment to a licensed company.
• You find bugs far from the bed, such as in several rooms or on baseboards. Tell the company before the visit so it can plan.
• The company wants you to do no preparation at all and gives no explanation, or demands extensive work without a written list.
• You cannot lift, move or bag items safely. Ask the company what it can do instead.

Getting help in Virginia

Read how to check a mattress for bed bugs and what treatment costs in Virginia before you compare quotes. Browse pest control services or the other pest control answers.

When you are ready, describe the job on Loclis so licensed pest control businesses can quote it in writing.