How to Prepare for Bed Bug Treatment: Pre-Treatment Checklist
Discovering bed bugs in your home is stressful enough without worrying about whether your professional treatment will be effective. What many homeowners don’t realize is that the success of your bed bug treatment largely depends on how well you prepare your home beforehand.
Professional exterminators can only do so much if your home isn’t properly prepared for treatment. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly what you need to do before the professionals arrive to ensure the most effective bed bug elimination possible.
Why Proper Preparation Is Critical for Treatment Success
Professional bed bug treatments—whether chemical treatments, or a combination—require specific preparation steps to:
- Allow the treatment to reach bed bugs in all hiding places
- Prevent bed bugs from escaping to untreated areas
- Protect your valuable belongings from damage
- Ensure the safety of household members and pets
- Maximize the effectiveness of the treatment
According to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, bed bug treatments with comprehensive preparation were shown to be 2.7 times more effective than treatments performed in inadequately prepared environments, with researchers citing proper preparation as “the most significant controllable factor in treatment success rates” (Potter et al., 2018).
General Preparation Instructions (For All Treatment Types)
1. Declutter Your Home
Bed bugs thrive in cluttered environments where they can hide undisturbed. Before treatment:
- Remove all unnecessary items from floors and surfaces
- Clear out items stored under beds and furniture
- Dispose of unnecessary paper piles, magazines, and boxes
- Empty and organize closet floors
- Remove items from nightstands and dressers
Pro Tip: This is an excellent opportunity to donate or discard items you no longer need. The less clutter, the fewer hiding places for bed bugs.
2. Laundry Preparation
Items requiring laundering include:
- All clothing in affected and adjacent rooms
- Bedding (sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers)
- Curtains and draperies
- Fabric shower curtains
- Throw rugs and washable area rugs
- Stuffed animals and fabric toys
3. Furniture and Bed Preparation
- Remove all bedding and mattress covers
- Do NOT remove mattresses or box springs unless specifically instructed
- Stand mattresses and box springs on edge if required by your exterminator
- Move furniture 12-18 inches away from walls
- Remove drawers from dressers or empty them completely (follow exterminator’s specific instructions)
- Unscrew outlet and light switch covers if requested
Room-by-Room Preparation Checklist
Bedrooms:
- Strip all beds completely
- Launder and bag all bedding
- Empty all closets if required (follow technician instructions)
- Clear all items from under beds
- Empty nightstands and dressers if required
- Vacuum thoroughly, including cracks and crevices
- Remove pictures and decorations from walls if required
Living Areas:
- Remove all items from floors
- Empty bookshelves if required
- Move furniture away from walls
- Vacuum upholstered furniture thoroughly
- Remove cushions and vacuum underneath
- Check and prepare inside furniture for treatment
Kitchen and Dining Areas:
- Clear countertops of small appliances
- Store all exposed food items
- Cover dishes and cooking utensils
- Empty under-sink cabinets if required
- Move dining furniture away from walls
What NOT to Do Before Treatment
Avoid these common mistakes that can compromise treatment effectiveness:
- Don’t use retail pesticides or bug bombs – These can scatter bed bugs further into hiding
- Don’t move infested items to non-infested areas – This spreads the infestation
- Don’t dispose of furniture without consulting your exterminator – Many items can be treated effectively
- Don’t sleep in a different room – This can spread bed bugs to previously uninfected areas
- Don’t re-enter the treated areas until the specified safe re-entry time – Usually 2-4 hours for chemical treatments and immediately after cooling for heat treatments
After Preparation: What to Expect
Once your home is properly prepared, the exterminator will:
- Inspect to ensure adequate preparation
- Apply treatment according to the agreed-upon method
- Provide specific post-treatment instructions
- Schedule follow-up treatments if needed (most comprehensive bed bug elimination requires 2-3 treatments)
Special Considerations
For Seniors and Those with Mobility Issues:
If you cannot complete the preparation yourself, many pest control companies offer preparation assistance services for an additional fee. Some nonprofit organizations may also provide assistance to qualifying individuals.
For Apartment Dwellers:
Coordinate with your property management, as adjacent units may also require inspection and treatment. Most professional exterminators recommend treating neighboring units to prevent re-infestation.
Conclusion
Thorough preparation is the foundation of successful bed bug elimination. By following this comprehensive checklist, you’re giving your professional exterminator the best possible conditions to completely eliminate your bed bug problem. Remember that cutting corners on preparation almost always leads to treatment failure and continued infestation.
If you have any questions about specific preparation steps for your situation, contact your pest control professional directly. They can provide customized instructions based on your home’s layout, the severity of the infestation, and the specific treatment method being used.
Always keep all preparation instructions provided by your specific exterminator, as they may have additional requirements based on their treatment protocols and local regulations.