What to Do While Waiting for Your Bed Bug Treatment

Finding out you have bed bugs is stressful. While you wait for our team to arrive for your heat treatment, there are steps you can take to minimize bites and prevent the infestation from spreading. These actions will not only make you more comfortable but also prepare your home for the most effective treatment possible.

Here are the most important things you can do to control bed bugs and prepare your home for a successful treatment:

1. Isolate and Clean Laundry:

• Wash all bedding, clothing, and linens in the hottest water possible.
• Transfer them immediately to a hot tumble dryer and run it on the highest setting for at least 40-60 minutes. The high heat is what kills bed bugs at every stage of their life cycle.

2. Reduce Clutter & Hideouts:

• Go through your belongings and discard clutter, especially around beds and couches. Clutter provides bed bugs with countless hiding spots near their food source (you).
• Seal any items you throw away in plastic bags before taking them to the trash to prevent spreading the infestation to other parts of your home or to your neighbours.

3. Inspect & Vacuum Key Areas:

• Carefully inspect mattresses, box springs, bed frames, furniture, and baseboards. Look for tiny insects, eggs, or dark spots (fecal matter).
• Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any visible bed bugs and eggs you find. Be sure to immediately dispose of the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag outside of your home.

4. Handle Bedding with Care:

• When changing sheets, carefully roll them off the bed instead of pulling or yanking. This prevents bed bugs and eggs from being flung into the air and spreading.
• Use clean, white or light-colored sheets, which makes it much easier to spot bed bugs.

5. Avoid Spreading the Problem:

• Do not sell or give away furniture or mattresses from an infested area. Even if they appear clear, bed bugs may be hiding, and you could unknowingly spread the problem to others.
• Avoid setting personal items like coats, bags, or purses on beds, floors, or against walls to prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride and traveling with you.

What to AVOID While Waiting for Treatment

This section is crucial for preventing the problem from getting worse.

• Avoid Diatomaceous Earth (or use with caution): While marketed as a natural product, if improperly applied, it can become airborne and be harmful to your lungs. It’s intended only for sealed cracks and crevices, not for dusting entire rooms. We’ve seen it make homes unhealthy and difficult to clean.
• Do NOT Use Bug Bombs or Sprays: Over-the-counter pesticides and bug bombs are almost always ineffective against bed bugs and can cause them to scatter and spread into new areas, making your professional treatment more difficult.