by Sally Fox-PriceHow To Prepare For Bed Bug Heat Treatment
Bed bug heat treatment is a revolutionary way to get rid of bed bugs that doesn’t require chemicals and can quickly remove all traces of an infestation.
At Mission Pest Control, we specialise in heat treatment for bed bugs, as well as other insects, including fleas, cockroaches, moths, carpet beetles, and more.
Before a bed bug heat treatment, it’s important that you prepare, as you will need to be out of the house while it takes place. Here are some tips on how to prepare for bed bug heat treatment.
How Bed Bug Heat Treatment Works
Bed bugs are tiny insects that are adept at finding hiding places inside bedding, mattresses, bed frames, clothes, carpets and soft furniture. In some cases, bed bugs have even been found behind loose wallpaper or skirting boards.
Eradicating bed bugs can be challenging due to their small size and the fact that they are becoming increasingly resistant to common insecticides and chemicals.
With heat treatment, what look like oversized plastic bags are used to seal in rooms, sections of a house or specific items, such as furniture.
The area is then heated to between 50°C and 60°C (122°F and 140°F), which is the optimum temperature to kill bed bugs.
When the area reaches the required temperature, the insects will be killed while the surrounding building and furniture will remain unharmed and ready for use again shortly.
Your pest control technician will just have to remove the dead bed bugs inside the sealed bag, along with bed bug eggs, droppings and shed skins.
Heat treatment has to be undertaken throughout the infested area, to ensure there are no surviving bed bugs. Once this is done, the bed bug infestation will be gone for good.
There’s no time needed to allow chemicals to dissipate, like with regular bed bug treatments, so you can get back into your home relatively quickly.
For more information, read our guide: What Is Heat Treatment For Pest Control?
What To Do On The Day Of Your Bed Bug Heat Treatment
On the day of the heat treatment, our team will provide you with detailed instruction on what preparation is required. This will vary depending on your circumstances, but below are some general tips.
Remove Heat Sensitive Items
During your heat treatment, you’ll need to make sure any people and pets are removed from the property. If you have pets that are kept in cages or tanks, it is best if these can be dismantled and removed if possible along with their inhabitants. Also remove all electrics, food, cosmetics and other heat-sensitive products.
Cover Any Immovable Items
Items that can’t be moved but will be damaged by high heat, such as large fish tanks, heavy wooden furniture and some pot plants, need to be covered and sealed to avoid damage during the treatment. Make sure your pest controller is aware of them and checks that they are safe.
Place Infested Items In The Centre Of The Room
Make sure infested items, such as beds, mattresses and sofas, are placed in the middle of the room and away from the walls.
Wash Clothing
Before the treatment, you should wash all clothing on a high heat and make sure they are thoroughly dry before rehanging them loosely in your wardrobe or placing them into storage and removing them from the rooms that are going to be treated.
Unplug All Electronics
Any electronics should be unplugged and removed where possible. Larger items should be placed on the outside of the room or in other areas that won’t be treated, and all sockets should be switched off.
What Happens Afterwards
After your bed bug treatment, your pest controller will let you know when it is safe to re-enter your home. They will check your carpets, bed frame, mattress and box springs, as well as any other large furniture, and make sure all the bugs, eggs and debris are removed.
Once inside, you won’t have to wait for chemicals to dry, and can make the most of your home. It’s important that you wash any clothes, bed linen and removable fabrics at a high temperature before their next use.
You should also hoover your property thoroughly, and dispose of the contents of the vacuum cleaner in an outside bin.
Follow-up treatment is not usually required when using heat treatment for bed bugs. However, as part of our pest management service, we will be in touch a few days after our visit to make sure that the infestation is completely gone.
If you need further treatment or additional support, we can discuss this with you to ensure that your property remains pest-free.
Book A Heat Treatment Today
It’s important to remember that every bed bug infestation and property is unique. While these tips offer general advice on how to prepare for a bed bug heat treatment, your pest controller will provide you with bespoke guidance on the day.
Our team will carry out a thorough inspection of the area and tell you what you need to do before we carry out the heat treatment.
At Mission Pest Control, we use cutting-edge heat treatment technology and have regular training to ensure our team give you the best possible service and get rid of all insects.
Once the prep work is completed, we will book your appointment for as soon as possible. The length of time the treatment will take will depend on how many rooms need treatment and how heavily infested they are. That means you can have your home and bedroom ready for your next night’s sleep as soon as possible.
That’s why we’re one of the best choices for homeowners and property managers across Swindon and the surrounding area.
To book your bed bug treatment and get rid of these pesky insects for good, contact us on 01793 379333 or by emailing hello@missionpestcontrol.co.uk.