Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are notorious pests that can cause allergic reactions and itchy welts. These parasites use humans as a blood meal.
Bed bug bites are itchy and incredibly annoying. Bed bugs can fit in mattress seams, box springs, and even bed frames. Their tiny reddish-brown flat bodies are remarkably resilient, so a bed bug infestation can last through many attempts to kill them.
There are many ways to bring a bed bug into your home. Bedbugs, unfortunately, are common in hotel rooms and can hide in your clothing and hitch a ride back to your house, where they make themselves completely comfortable.
Nobody likes dealing with a bedbug infestation. Not only do you have to deal with the reality of bed bug bites, but you probably have an unpleasant and foreboding feeling whenever you’re at home. The only good way to get rid of bedbugs is with the help of a professional pest control company like Termites and Pest Control.
Most pest control companies will ask that you do a lot of preparation before the treatment. While we professionals could do this ourselves, it would mean that the treatment would take longer to complete (and therefore be more expensive). Also, many people don’t really like the idea of pest control technicians digging through their stuff.
Our team at Termites and Pest Control provides these tips for preparing your home for treatment.
Is Preparation Necessary?
Yes. Preparation helps clear the area and ensure that all places where bed bugs hide—like cracks, crevices, and even clothing–have exposure to the treatment. Your pest control company will issue a checklist of stuff to do before the treatment day. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the company and clarify what you don’t understand.
Be sure only to do what’s on the checklist and nothing else. It may be tempting to move all your clothes and belongings, but bedbugs love to hide in these areas. When you bring your items back into your home, you’re leaving yourself open to a reinfestation.
What to Do Before the Bedbug Treatment
We strongly recommend following the checklist that your pest control company gives. Different treatments need different prep lists, and following the wrong checklist can impact the effectiveness of the treatment.
That said, in most cases, and with Termites and Pest Control, you can expect to follow the following prep steps:
- Take everything off the floor, including stuff on your closet floor.
- Remove all books from bookshelves, and store them in containers in the middle of the room
- Move all the furniture two feet away from the wall
- Secure any private or valuable items
- Remove any pets from the premises. If you have fish, seal the fish tank, turn off the filter and air supply and wrap the entire tank in plastic wrap.
- Declutter your home, and make sure that you dispose of all your trash responsibly.
Try to prepare for the bedbug treatment properly. You’ll have to leave your home on the day of the treatment, and it’s only safe to return four to six hours after the treatment. Make arrangements for you and your pets accordingly.
What to Do After the Bedbug Treatment
You may be uncertain about what to do after a bedbug treatment. Are you allowed to sleep on your bed? Are your clothes safe to wear? Rather than make assumptions, ask your pest control company for advice. Following their rules will ensure that the first treatment is the only treatment you’ll need.
Some crucial tips after the treatment include:
- Don’t remove bed casements
- Don’t hang clothing on head or foot-boards
- Don’t remove, or move, any insect traps that you come across
- Don’t store any items adjacent to the bed or close to any upholstered furniture
If the pest control company used a mattress encasement, then the best thing you can do is sleep on the bed after a treatment. The encasement will prevent any remaining bugs from biting you. Your presence will also draw the bedbugs out of hiding, which exposes them to the bedbug treatment pesticides.
What About No-Prep Heat Bedbug Treatments?
Heat treatments are an alternative to standard pesticide-based bed bug treatments. Heat treatments require less preparation from the homeowners since all you need to do is to remove any heat-sensitive items like:
- Cosmetics
- Fire extinguishers
- Candles
- Firearms and ammunition
- Paint
- Pressurized cans
- Oil paintings
- Houseplants
- Lamp oil
Conclusion
Bedbug infestations are unfortunately quite widespread in the United States, and they can persist for a very long time. Preparing well can ensure that your first treatment will be the only one you need.
Getting rid of heavily infested areas is a job for the experts. Termites and Pest Control has been in the bug-busting business for decades, and we can get your home bedbug-free. Give us a call today and find out how we can help you!
Getting rid of heavily infested areas is a job for the experts. Termites and Pest Control has been in the bug-busting business for decades in Nashville, TN, Clarksville, TN, and Huntsville, AL—at 931-645-0382, and we can get your home bedbug-free. Give us a call today and find out how we can help you!
