The Ultimate Guide to Preparing for a Bedbug Treatment
Bedbugs are a nuisance, and many people won't even know their homes are infested with these pests until they are bitten. Getting rid of the pests can prove extremely challenging because they reproduce quickly, they can hide so well and they are resistant to most of the over-the-counter pesticides. For most people, jumping straight into treatment or control of bedbugs would be the ideal approach. However, preparation is the key to effective control of these pests. Whether you are hiring a professional pest control service or trying to get rid of the bedbugs by yourself, it is essential to prepare your home correctly for bug treatment. Here are a few things to include on your prep list.
Reducing Clutter
Clutter is a great hiding place for bedbugs, making it harder to locate and treat them. Therefore, reduce the clutter in your house to make the treatment successful. Get rid of all the cardboard boxes and replace them will plastic ones instead, if you require the storage. You should also keep clothes off your floors and eliminate excess newspapers and magazines. However, be careful not to spread the infestation around your home. Don't move the items from infested to non-infested areas.
Laundering
Take anything you can launder, especially your bedding, and wash it on your hottest washer setting. This includes pillowcases, sheets, blankets, stuffed animals, towels and curtains. Wash these items in hot soapy water. If you have a household dryer, the typical settings should be hot enough to kill the bugs so remember to dry all the items once they are washed. You can even use the highest heat settings but be mindful of the fabrics that could be damaged by the high heat.
Vacuuming
Vacuuming your house will remove the bedbugs and their eggs from your mattresses, walls and carpeting. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, focus more on the perimeter edges. For your mattresses, the edges, tufts and seams are the key areas to vacuum. Once your vacuuming is complete, dispose of the contents in a plastic bag, and make sure it is sealed properly. You can also steam clean your carpets to kill any remaining bugs and eggs.
Items Away from The Walls
Move items, such as furniture and beds, away from the walls. Doing this makes it easy to access the baseboards and areas behind the furniture. You can also remove the frames of your beds to allow for better access to hiding bugs (bedbugs tend to hind at the corners of the frames).
Remember that the pests can be persistent and you may have to do the treatment repeatedly to eliminate them entirely. Integrated pest management is often recommended, and it involves prevention, sanitation and treatment by chemicals.