Preparing for Bed Bug Control Service

Preparing for Bed Bug Control Service

Please read all BED BUG PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS and complete the items prior to the treatment date and time. The following items MUST be prepared prior to treatment. Without the proper preparations and customer cooperation, All Star Pest Control WILL NOT guarantee control of the infestation.

Proper preparation is a mandatory requirement for control to be effective. All Star Pest Control will outline this in detail and provide detailed instructions on what to do. This is generally done by the resident. Preparation involves providing access for pest control treatment as well as taking measures to ensure that bed bugs are destroyed or contained. If a home is not properly prepared, successful elimination is practically impossible. Although preparation may be difficult for some people (for example, seniors or handicapped individuals), it is essential for effective treatment, and thus in such cases family members, friends or social or charitable agencies may need to provide assistance.

Clothing/Bedding

1.  Remove all comforters, blankets, sheets, and pillow cases from beds and couches PRIOR TO EACH SERVICE and place in dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Linens may be returned to the beds after the treatment that evening.
2.  Remove all clothing and items from nightstands. Place clothing in the dryer on high for at least 30 minutes and store in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers. Clothing must remain in the bags or containers until at least one month after treatment. All other items in the nightstands must be inspected and stored in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers.
3.  Remove all items from under beds and place in sealed plastic containers to be inspected. All clothes, shoes, etc. located under the bed must be placed in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes.
4.  Remove all items from the floor of the closets and place in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers
5.  All stuffed animals and plush toys should be placed in the dryer on high for at least 30 minutes and stored in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers. They must remain in the bags or containers until at least one month after treatment.
6.  Remove and launder all drapes within two feet of the bed, couch, or upholstered chair and place in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers. Do not return laundered items to infested room until Bed Bugs have been completely eliminated other than bedding being place on bed for use.

Everything that can be laundered should be laundered, and laundered in advance of the treatment, then placed in plastic sealed bags. This would include stuffed animals, drapes and so on. The items should be securely tied into plastic bags, and then emptied directly into the machines. The bags should then be immediately disposed of. It is heat, not water that kills any bed bugs residing within the laundered items; therefore items should be washed in hot water, regardless of normal washing directions, and should be dried on high heat for 30 minutes or more. For those who have the ability to measure the temperature of the water in their washing machine, or of the hot air in their dryer, the target heat range is 140°F.  YOU NEED TO PUT ITEMS IN THE DRYER FOR 40 MINUTES ON HIGH HEAT
If a laundering session such as described is financially prohibitive, the items need only be run through the dryer, not the washing machine. However, the extensive water and spinning action associated with washing machines may assist in dislodging bed bugs from where they are residing within clothes and laundered. This remains only “optional,” as the heat of the cycle of drying will effectively kill all stages-eggs, immature stage (nymphs) and adults. For items that require dry cleaning, the dry cleaners should be informed that the items in question are potentially infested, Furniture/Appliances

1.  Remove ALL ITEMS from the tops of dressers, armoires, nightstands, or any other non-upholstered furniture and place the items in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers. These items must be removed so furniture can be turned over and treated. (Do not open any bagged items to infested room until Bed Bugs have been completely eliminated).
2.  All end tables and coffee tables must have all items removed, inspected and placed in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers.
3.  Residence must be free of excess clutter and storage. All items stored in sealed plastic containers or bags must be stored in the middle of the room or in an area where they do not interfere with the service. (Do not store stuff under or on top of beds and couches)
4.  Move all furniture away from walls, including the bed for treatment.
5.  All computers and electronics must be unplugged in the bedrooms and living areas before each service.
6. Luggage
7.  All luggage must be emptied and available for inspection and treatment. Any clothing that was in the luggage must be placed in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes and stored in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers.
8. Clutter
9.  It’s extremely important to eliminate clutter to reduce hiding places for bed bugs. Reduce clutter to the bare necessities to make treatments effective.
10.  All plastic toys must be submerged in the bathtub, in hot water, for a couple of hours, and stored in sealed plastic bags or sealed containers.
11.  Remove and discard all unnecessary boxes, papers, magazines and other similar items by placing them in a sealed Bag for disposal.
12. Vacuuming
13.  Thoroughly vacuum all carpet and fabric for disposal. Vacuum thoroughly mattress and box springs etc. vacuum shoes, vacuum closet shelves and inside drawers of dressers and vacuum any couches that may be infested. Vacuum baseboards. Repeat vacuum procedures.
14.  Be sure after every vacuum procedure that you empty the vacuum contents into a plastic bag, seal, and dispose of properly.

Managing Bedding

There are differing opinions as to whether it is necessary to dispose of mattress, box springs, futons, pillows, and other bedding. There is of course often a heavy cost involved in the complete replacement of such bedding. It is clear, also, that getting rid of infested bedding alone does not solve the problem. The decision to replace bedding or not depends on the condition of and often related level of infestation within the items, the comfort level of the owner, whether the owner can afford replacement. Rule of thumb is that new bedding does not need to be replaced. All Star Pest Control will let you know during inspection if bedding is recommended for replacement. Spread of infestation in apartment buildings is increased by tenants deciding to throw away old bedding. An infested mattress or box spring dragged in a hallway to an elevator will cause bedbugs to fall off or even run off the item, and these may then find their way into other units. As noted here, the use of protective encasements to protect bedding after treatment or to enclose bedbugs when the items are being thrown away are invaluable in preventing spread of infestation. It is also suggested to slash or mark up infested items so that others do not take them back into the building. All Star Pest Control does provide removal of mattress and box springs if needed. Increase cost will apply.
All mattresses and box springs MUST be placed in a certified bed bug free encasement. All Star Pest Control will provide the encasements. Bed bugs like to hide near the host and are commonly found on seams of mattresses, or within the structure of box springs. The mattress and box spring encasement serves to reduce this likelihood and in the case of box springs, it seals any remaining bed bugs inside the encasement. An encasement is a good idea either until the infestation has been totally eliminated, or as a permanent protection for the mattress-and also to enable easier control if infestation recurs. The encasement is a cover for the mattress and should not replace your bed sheets. (Make sure the encasement is kept on mattress and box spring for at least 2 years, But is recommended to be on permanently).
A key to our success is you. Bed Bugs are not like other bugs that travel from one house to another. More than likely you, or someone you know, brought them into your home. Pay close to attention to how these bugs may have entered your home. For example, if you travel frequently, you may have picked them up from a hotel. One of the most common places people pick them up is at their place of work. Next time you’re at work, do a careful inspection of your work environment to see if you can find evidence of Bed Bugs. It is also very possible that someone who frequently visits your home is bringing them in. Please take the necessary precautions to ensure that once we have started our treatments that you do not bring in more Bed Bugs to your home.
Bed Bug infestations are not successfully handled with one treatment alone. All Star Pest Control will schedule 2-3 follow up treatments.