Bed bugs usually hide anywhere inside the house. Basically, they can hide beneath the windows or door, under the carpet or within any furniture. Luckily, pest controllers offer bed bug treatment service that will generally help you to eradicate these pests. However, there are important things that you should know especially on the things that you must do before and during the process. Moreover, what to do after bed bug treatment is the most important thing that you must have to consider.
As we go along, we will share to you some important tips and strategies that you may follow once you subject your house into an extermination procedure.
What to do before, during, and after bed bug treatment by Pest Control Service Provider?
Basically, pest control service providers offer bed bug home process. However, as a homeowner, you must also have to do your part in the bed bug extermination process. In case, you do not have enough idea about the things to do before and during the process and on what to do after bed bug treatment, check the tips below.
What to do BEFORE bed bug treatment inside your home?
Here is the step-by-step guide that you must consider before the pest control service provider performs a bed bug extermination into your home.
- Generally, make sure that you properly and securely cover all the utensils for eating and drinking.
- Basically, take away the plants and pets or animals from the place of bed bug treatment.
- Remove or, at least, cover all the pieces of jewelry and antiques from the area of treatment.
➤ Important Reminder: Initially, on the first-bed bug process, do not try to use a DIY bed bug spray on any bed bug infestation. Basically, this will just worsen the situation in case the bed bugs spread out the house and hide anywhere.
What to do DURING bed bug treatment inside your home?
Furthermore, below are some of the things that you must have to remember during bed bug treatment in your home.
- Basically, you have to leave the house and ensure that there are no family members staying inside during the bed bug extermination process.
- Typically, vacant the house for around 4 to 5 hours after the treatment is over.
- Do not go with the pest control technician around the house as they perform the treatment especially if you do not wear any protective gears.
➤ Important Reminder: Pest control technicians usually wear a proper Personal Protective Equipment or PPE while doing the bed bug extermination. In case you go with them inside the house during the treatment process you may be at risk in breathing harmful chemicals.
What to do AFTER bed bug treatment inside your home?
Generally, here are the important things about what to do after bed bug treatment.
1. Ventilating the area
Basically, once you got home after the process, what to do after bed bug treatment is to open all the windows to ventilate the area. Actually, this is very necessary in order for the smell of the pesticides used by the pest controller to escape out of the house. Moreover, this will help you to prevent inhaling such harsh chemicals.
2. Cleaning the house and laundering the bedsheets, curtains, and clothes.
Usually, do the laundry regularly and as much as possible dry the laundry on a high setting. Moreover, in the case of stuffed toys washing, it must also be subjected to a hot dryer for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, others are following the dry, wash, and dry it again process. Basically, this method would guarantee that the initial hot drying process killed the bed bugs. Moreover, the second drying method would completely eliminate them.
Furthermore, what to do after a bed bug treatment includes the wiping of the floors, furniture, and tabletops. Additionally, wipe all those places and surfaces in which the pesticides have been sprayed on.
Basically, what to do after bed bug treatment in terms of laundering is that this action offers a great impact on the bed bug treatment process. Additionally, in the case of laundered and bagged clothes before the bed bug extermination, there are two options to choose from.
- Opt to take out of those clothes inside the bags until all the bugs are confirmed completely out.
- The option two is to place back the clothes inside the bag if bed bug infestation is still evident inside the closet. Basically, this gives much confidence that bugs may not penetrate your laundry. However, you need to do the laundering process all over again in case bed bugs are back.
3. Vacuuming
Basically, the vacuuming process may not really affect the bed bug extermination process especially if you include this on what to do after bed bug treatment. Moreover, vacuuming the carpet and your house on a weekly basis may not affect the treatment.
However, it may offer a great help on the overall cleanliness of your home. So, it is better to vacuum the treated area on a daily basis. Moreover, store the vacuum in a plastic bag except if the vacuum contains a HEPA filter feature.
4. Mopping
Another thing on what to do after bed bug treatment is the mopping. Actually, regarding this action, it won’t affect any chemicals being used by the pest control technicians during the bed bug extermination process. However, in case they use some powdered chemicals as part of the treatment process, better not to mop the area.
Moreover, some of the conventional bed bug exterminations use liquid pesticides to kill bugs on the boards of the house. Basically, if you mop the area near to these baseboards, you won’t know if that could hinder the effect of the pesticide or not.
Generally, the best thing to do is ask the pest control service provider that performs this process in your house. This is the most practical step based on what to do after bed bug treatment.
5. Placing of mattress encasement
Basically, what to do after bed bug treatment is to cover mattresses and box springs with encasements. Generally, in case there are still bed bugs that survived during the extermination process, encasing the mattress and box spring may not allow them to escape or bite.
Moreover, another purpose of mattress encasement is that it protects the mattress from other bed bugs hiding in other parts of the house to invade into it. This will make the bed a less comfortable place for bed bugs to hide.
On the safer side, what to do after bed bug treatment, you can maintain the coverage of mattresses and box springs for a period of 4 to 5 months.
6. Utilizing the bed bug interceptors
Basically, bed bug interceptors are tools to monitor the bed bug. It is usually made of plastic material and generally looks like a small tray. Typically, the placement of this tool is underneath the legs of the bed.
What to do after bed bug treatment using these bed bug interceptors is to evaluate the result of the bed bug extermination performed by the pest controller. Generally, the use of bed bug interceptors is highly applicable to detect the early signs of bed bug infestations inside your home.
➤ Important Reminder: What to do after bed bug treatment and the most important of all is your cooperation. Basically, it is very necessary to fully cooperate with the pest control provider which you assign the bug infestation project of your home. Moreover, it is very crucial to strictly follow all the steps that this provider may specify.
Furthermore, based on studies, the eradication period becomes shorter the moment homeowners cooperate in the said process. Additionally, what to do after bed bug treatment is not to walk barefoot inside your home especially in treated areas. Better do this during the first 48 hours after bed bug extermination.
DO’S AND DON’TS AFTER THE BED BUG TREATMENT
Basically, for additional measures to consider based on what to do after bed bug treatment, here are some do’s and don’ts that you must know.
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DO’s
✔ Generally, put all the washed clothes inside a plastic bag or transparent box.
✔ Immediately place all used bags into the trash.
✔ Basically, cover all the switches and outlets.
✔ Most importantly, ensure that you have some knowledge about the rules of the bed bug treatment. It is recommendable to check and verify the agreement and contract between the pest control service provider. Generally, once you fail to comply on any of the steps stipulated in the contract will make the warranty void.
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DON’Ts
⤫ Basically, do not re-use any bags that had been used to contain bed bugs during the treatment. This will generally prevent bed bug re-infestation.
⤫ Generally, do not utilize wash of harsh chemicals.
⤫ Ideally, do not take used beds or any furniture back inside the house immediately.
⤫ Moreover, it is better not to bring back the personal items inside the closets as soon as possible. Wait for the confirmation of the pest control service provider that it is already okay to do so. Or, if you are already sure that bed bugs are completely gone.
⤫ Do not vacuum the area where powdered pesticides are applied. Basically, it is good to let those powder stay there in place as long as the pest controller said so.
What to do after a DIY bed bug treatment?
Initially, it is not ideal to make a DIY bed bug treatment during the first-bed bug eradication process. But, when you regularly do this thing with a pest controller, it is already good for you to make your own bed bug treatment.
Honestly, among other pests, bed bugs are really hard to exterminate. Generally, they could hide almost anywhere inside the house. From the walls, cracks, and even to the creeps, these pests can live in any place they want.
In case, you can’t wait for the next bed bug treatment schedule of the pest controller, there is another option to choose. You could want to implement your own bed bug extermination process anyway provided that you follow these important steps and tips.
You may also read Best Pesticide for Bed Bugs to Buy 2020
1. Re-inspection
Basically, right after the bed bug extermination process, it is highly recommendable to search and check the affected places inside your house. Initially, check the cracks, crevices, and small places where they may possibly hide.
2. Checking the nearby areas
Generally, during the bed bug treatment process, some bed bugs may look for places where they can escape and hide. Basically, bed bugs can immediately go into another room or hide into the baseboards, wallpapers or sockets.
What to do after bed bug treatment using your DIY method is to scrutinize the rooms and areas near to the treated area. However, you cannot check every single corner yet, always remember to check those possible areas around the treated one.
3. Blocking the bed bugs entry
Basically, what to do after bed bug treatment is to prevent the bed bugs from entering your premises again. Ideally, do not transfer the following items inside your home without checking for any presence of bugs as they are a possible carrier of bed bugs:
- Bags
- Luggage
- Shoes
- Overcoats
- Parcels
- Bulky items
Generally, clear plastic boxes are on the rescue here. Initially, that would be highly needed during the bed bug process. Basically, during the bed bug process implementation, better to store dry or washed items free of bugs inside there.
Moreover, what to do after bed bug treatment is to keep those items in a plastic box and store them immediately on the furniture corner. Additionally, you can make use of tightly closed storage bins.
Basically, it is a great help but not really a must, a plastic box will generally do the job of preventing bed bugs from entering into those items. Furthermore, you can also sprinkle some Diatomaceous Earth or other bed bug powder killer on the box of shoes.
Final Words
Bed bugs are really stubborn compared to other pests. They can hide in any place or areas inside the house. Basically, in order to eradicate them, you will have to undergo a bed bug treatment. Whether it is conducted by a pest control service provider or do it yourself, you must have to follow important measures after bed bug treatment. Doing this and strictly following all the steps and tips may give you a bedbug-free house.
