How to Prepare for Your Bed Bug Treatment

The one rule that matters most: do NOT move furniture, bedding or belongings to another room or another home before treatment. Moving items spreads bed bugs. Prepare in place.

Why preparation decides whether the treatment works

Bed bug treatments fail for one reason more than any other: hiding places that couldn’t be treated. Every step below removes a hiding place or exposes one to treatment. Homes that complete this list almost always clear in the standard treatment cycle; homes that skip it are the ones that need extra visits.

The day before your treatment

Laundry. Wash all bedding, linens, curtains and clothing from affected rooms in the hottest water the fabric allows, then dry on HIGH heat for at least 30 minutes. The dryer is what kills bed bugs and eggs — heat, not soap. Bag clean items in NEW sealed plastic bags and leave them sealed until after treatment.

Declutter — but keep it in the room. Remove items from under beds and closet floors. Place loose items into plastic bags or bins in the same room. Do not carry clutter to the basement, garage or another home.

Beds and furniture. Strip beds completely. Stand mattresses and box springs on their sides if you’re able (skip this if it’s difficult — we’ll handle it). Empty nightstands and dressers in affected rooms so drawers can be treated.

Vacuum carpets, baseboards, bed frames and sofa seams slowly. When finished, remove the vacuum bag or empty the canister into a sealed bag and put it in an OUTDOOR garbage bin immediately.

The day of treatment

Everyone — including pets — must be out of the home during treatment and for 4 hours after, or until your technician confirms re-entry (aquariums can stay: turn off air pumps and cover the tank). Unlock or clear access to every affected room, closets included.

What NOT to do

Do not use store-bought bed bug sprays or foggers before our visit — they scatter bed bugs deeper into walls and make professional treatment harder. Do not throw out mattresses or furniture before we inspect; most can be treated, and carrying infested items through the house spreads the problem. Do not sleep in a different room after treatment — bed bugs will follow you, and staying put helps draw them across treated surfaces.

After your treatment

Expect to see some bed bugs for 7–14 days — this is normal and means they’re contacting treated surfaces. Full details in After Your Treatment: What’s Normal. Your treatment includes a follow-up as part of the plan your technician confirms with you, and every job carries our guarantee.

Questions before your appointment? Call or text (705) 302-1887 — or read what to expect during the first visit.