Getting your home ready before the treatment team arrives is one of the most important things you can do. The treatment itself will take care of the bed bugs — but if the rooms aren’t properly prepared, it can slow things down, affect the results, or in some cases mean certain areas don’t reach the right temperature.
The good news is that preparation is straightforward. Here’s everything you need to do.
Before the Day of Treatment
Wash all bedding and clothing you can Strip all beds in the property and wash bedding, pillowcases, and any clothing left in the bedroom on the hottest cycle the fabric will allow. Once washed and dried, seal everything in clean plastic bags so it can’t be re-exposed before or during the treatment.
Clear out clutter The more cluttered a room is, the harder it is for heat to circulate properly. Go through the rooms being treated and remove anything that doesn’t need to be there — boxes stored under the bed, piles of books, bags, and anything else that’s built up over time. The clearer the space, the more effectively the heat can reach every corner.
Tell your neighbours if you live in a flat This isn’t essential, but it’s considerate. The process involves industrial heating equipment and there may be some noise. If you live in a block of flats, a quick word with neighbours beforehand avoids any unnecessary concern on the day.
Items to Remove Before Treatment
Some items should be taken out of the rooms being treated beforehand. These aren’t things that will be damaged by modest warmth, but the temperatures involved in heat treatment are high enough to cause problems.
Remove the following from all treatment areas:
- Aerosol cans of any kind — deodorants, hairspray, cleaning products, air fresheners
- Candles and wax-based products
- Lighters and matches
- Musical instruments, particularly stringed instruments which can warp
- Oil paintings or artwork you’re concerned about
- Plants and cut flowers
- Bottled drinks, including wine and spirits
- Medications — check with your treatment provider if you’re unsure about specific items
- Pets, including fish tanks and any other animals
If in doubt about any item, take it out. You can always ask when you book if you’re unsure about something specific.
What to Leave In
A common concern is that heat treatment will damage belongings. In most cases, it won’t. The following can generally stay in place:
- Televisions, computers, and most electronics — unplug them all, but leave them in the room
- Furniture — beds, wardrobes, sofas, and chairs should all remain. The heat needs to penetrate these items, so moving them out would defeat the purpose
- Clothes in wardrobes — leave these in place but open all wardrobe doors and pull drawers out slightly so air can circulate inside
- Books, shoes, and hard belongings stored on shelves
- Mattresses — these should be left on the bed but stood on their side if your technician advises it, to allow heat to reach all surfaces
On the Day
Make sure all rooms are accessible Every room being treated needs to be fully accessible when the team arrives. Locked rooms, blocked doors, or areas that can’t be reached properly will delay the treatment and could leave sections of the property untreated.
Open all internal doors Leave all internal doors open, including wardrobe doors, kitchen cupboards, and any built-in storage. This helps heat circulate freely throughout the property from the start.
Pull furniture slightly away from walls Where you’re able to, move beds, sofas, and larger pieces of furniture a few inches away from the walls. This gives heat better access to the spaces behind them, which are common hiding spots.
Open all drawers and wardrobe doors Don’t just leave wardrobes unlocked — pull drawers out and open cupboard and wardrobe doors fully before the team arrives. Bed bugs hide in furniture joints and the backs of drawers, so heat needs to reach those areas.
Take everyone out of the property All people and pets need to leave before treatment begins and stay out for the full duration. This is non-negotiable for safety reasons. Make sure you’ve arranged somewhere to be for the day, and take anything you’ll need with you — keys, medications, food, and anything else.
Turn off all smoke detectors The heat generated during treatment can set off smoke alarms. Disconnect or remove batteries from all smoke detectors in the property before you leave. Remember to put them back when you return.
Turn off all fans and air conditioning Any fans, air conditioning units, or ventilation systems running during treatment will work against the process by cooling the air down. Switch everything off before you leave.
What Not to Do
Don’t move items out of infested rooms into other rooms It’s tempting to start tidying up by moving things around before the team arrives. Resist this. Moving items from an infested room into other parts of the house risks spreading bed bugs to areas that weren’t previously affected, and can make things significantly worse.
Don’t apply any sprays or DIY treatments beforehand Chemical sprays used before a heat treatment can cause bed bugs to retreat deeper into hiding spots, making them harder to reach. Leave the treatment to the professionals and avoid using any products in the days leading up to the appointment.
Don’t ignore the preparation list It might feel like a lot, but every item on this list is there for a reason. Preparation that isn’t done properly is one of the most common reasons a treatment doesn’t go as planned. If something isn’t clear, call ahead and ask.
When You Return
Once the treatment is complete and your home has cooled down to a comfortable temperature, you can return and use every room as normal. There are no chemicals to allow time for, nothing to air out, and no surfaces to avoid.
Put your smoke detectors back in place, reconnect any electronics you unplugged, and return any items you removed. Your bedding can go straight back on the beds once you’re happy the room has cooled.
Keep an eye on things over the following few weeks. In the vast majority of cases, one treatment is all that’s needed — but catching any sign of activity early is always the sensible approach.
Bug Blitz by Destrodent provides professional bed bug heat treatment across the whole of Surrey, including Guildford, Woking, Farnham, Reigate, Camberley, Weybridge, Dorking, Cobham, Esher, Walton-on-Thames, Hersham, Epsom, and Redhill. Get in touch today to book or to ask any questions about preparation.