How to Prepare For Treatment
Adult bed bugs are reddish brown, flattened, oval,
and wingless with microscopic hairs that give them a banded appearance.
A common misconception is that they are not visible to the naked eye,
but adults grow to about a ¼ inch long. Bed bugs particularly like wood
and fabric. They hide in cracks and crevices, narrow spaces and voids
in proximity to where humans sleep or rest such as: beds and bed frames,
nightstands, dressers, desks, recliners and sofas. Heavier infestations
spread behind baseboards, in window and door casings, and other hiding
places further from the bed including items attached to walls and
ceilings, pictures, electrical switch plates, smoke detectors, loose
wallpaper, in the pleats of drapes, and the upholstery of furniture.
Bed Bugs can be tough to eliminate. Depending on
the level of infestation, more than one treatment may be necessary. To
maximize the effectiveness of an ACTION Bed Bug Treatment, it is
important to prepare in advance. The following steps will guide you
through the process.
1.
REDUCE CLUTTER. Now is the time to get rid of things that
have been lying about for years, items you have always intended on
getting rid of but haven’t. Make sure you bag and seal all items you
are removing. This will help seal and protect from bugs or eggs
dropping throughout the house.
2.
All beds must be stripped. All linens must be removed and washed
on the hottest setting and dried on high heat. If you are taking your
clothing/linens to a laundry-mat for cleaning, make sure to use new bags
after you launder. Do not use the same bag you took to the laundry
unless it has been washed/dried on high heat.
3.
All clothing should follow the same procedure as linens. Once
taken from hot dryer , seal cloth in contractor type bags or large
Ziploc bags until further notice. A sealable Rubbermaid container may
also make life a little easier for access to clean clothing throughout
the process. All linens and clothing must remain sealed until after the
follow-up treatment and inspection. If clothing is already clean, just
putting the items through a high heat dryer will be fine. It’s the heat
from the dryer that will kill bed bugs. Don’t over stuff the dryer.
4.
All dresser drawers, night stands, vanity and armoire drawers
must be emptied or cleared for treatment. All items from said drawers
should remain in the same room if possible. Personal items can be
placed in bags or boxes until after the first treatment is complete.
All closets must be emptied for crack and crevice treatments.
5.
Dry Clean/Delicates. Dry cleaning items works, however most dry
clean only items can go through a dryer cycle on high heat as long as
the items were not wet. For all questionable items, we strongly
recommend using a Packtite unit. Go to
www.actionpestcontrol.com/catalog
This unit is a great help with any
questionable items such as pocketbooks, stuffed animals, shoes, books,
etc. Originally intended for treatment of luggage after travelling,
this heating unit will kill all life stages of bed bugs. This is an
excellent investment for the frequent traveler or any items that may
harbor bed bugs. Please follow all directions for proper usage.
Action can rent you a Packtite
unit for an additional fee of $100.00
1.
Vacuum each room including along the edges of the baseboard
molding. A crevice tool is the best option while vacuuming. This is a
very important step for the effectiveness of your treatment. Be sure to
vacuum under beds and furniture. After each time you vacuum, remove the
bag and place it in a sealed trash bag for disposal outside the home.
If using a canister vacuum, empty the debris into the trash for
immediate disposal outdoors and wash canister in very hot water.
2.
All open food must be removed or placed inside of
refrigerator. Place all drinking vessels, plates and eating utensils in
a kitchen cabinet.
3.
No People or pets are allowed to remain in the home during
the treatment process and cannot return until 3 hours after treatment.
Be sure to remove all pet food, water, and toys from the floor. If you
have an aquarium pets, please turn off any air pumps and filters. Place
plastic wrap over the top surface to seal it off.
1.
Open any windows (weather permitting) to allow ventilation
2.
Wipe down any surfaces such as counters, kitchen tables, and bed
side tables.
3.
All furniture should be vacuumed thoroughly.
4.
All floors and along baseboards should be vacuumed thoroughly.
This should be done every other day until your follow up treatment.
5.
Cover your mattress and box spring with approved bed bug
encasement covers.
6.
Pull your bed away from wall. A bed against a wall creates a
perfect harborage site for bed bugs
Please note: It is not uncommon
to be bitten following treatment. You need to allow the treatment time
to work-at least 7-10 days. If all the above instructions were not
followed, you will significantly reduce the chances of eliminating the
bed bug problem. |
