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. |
