How to Prepare Your Home for Bed Bug Treatment

Good preparation is one of the biggest factors in whether a bed bug treatment works. A technician can only treat what they can reach, so the way you get your home ready affects the outcome. Every company has its own checklist, and you should follow theirs first. The steps below cover what most providers ask for.

Before you do anything else

Ask your provider for written instructions, and ask whether they want you to do anything differently for heat versus chemical treatment. Then keep one rule in mind: do not move items from infested rooms into clean ones. It is the most common way people spread bed bugs through their own home.

Laundry and fabrics

Bag clothing, bedding, curtains, and linens in sealed plastic bags right where they are, and carry them directly to the washer.
Wash on the hottest setting the fabric allows, then dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes. The dryer does most of the killing, so drying matters more than washing.
Items that cannot be washed, such as dry-clean-only clothes, can often go into a hot dryer for 30 minutes without water.
After laundering, store the clean items in new sealed bags or bins until the treatment is finished, not back in the infested drawers.

Reduce clutter

Clutter gives bed bugs more places to hide and keeps technicians from reaching baseboards and furniture. Pick up items from floors, clear the area under the bed, and empty closets enough to allow access. Do not throw everything away; discarding items usually is not necessary and can spread bugs. Sealed plastic bins are a better way to store belongings you have already cleaned.

Furniture and the bed

Pull beds a few inches away from the wall and remove anything stored beneath them.
Strip the bed and wash the bedding, then leave the mattress and box spring in place for treatment.
Do not discard your mattress unless your provider says it is necessary. Properly treated mattresses and zippered encasements are usually enough.
Empty drawers and shelves as instructed so every surface is accessible.

Things to avoid

Spraying store-bought pesticides or "bug bombs" before the visit; they scatter bugs and can interfere with professional products.
Vacuuming and then emptying the bag inside your home. If you vacuum, seal the contents in a bag and throw it out immediately outside.
Sleeping on the couch or in another room. That moves the problem with you.
Skipping steps because the room looks clean. Cleanliness is not the issue; access is.

Day of the treatment

You, your family, and your pets will usually need to leave for several hours, and heat treatments can require a full day away. Remove or secure medications, pet food, and dishes if asked. After treatment, wait for the technician to tell you when it is safe to return. Plan to keep encasements on your mattress and box spring for at least a year.

Get matched with local pest control companies that will give you a clear preparation checklist.