Treatment Preparation
Proper preparation is an essential step for ensuring the best results from your upcoming bed bug treatment. RK Thermal Remediation provides detailed instructions on what to do before your scheduled treatment in the following document.
Preparation gives us adequate access to your unit or property. We also offer cleaning and post-treatment recommendations. We understand that appropriate preparation can be difficult to achieve in a short period of time and that senior citizens or handicapped individuals may need additional assistance and time considerations.
Please note: RK Thermal Remediation will not provide treatment to any unit or property that has not met the preparations that follow in this instructional document.
Packing & Furniture Preparation
-
All furniture should be pulled away from the walls and baseboards at least 2 feet.
-
Any items that could potentially provide hiding places for bed bugs, such as bookcases and desks, should be emptied of their contents and remain empty for treatment.
-
Items previously stored in sealed containers may remain unopened.
-
Lift mattresses and box springs out of the bed frame and stand them up against a wall.
-
Empty closets of remaining (unlaundered) items and stored items, placing them in plastic bags and moving them to the center of the living room.
-
Remove contents from dressers and nightstands so that the interiors may be treated. Items should be placed in plastic bags and moved to the center of the living room.
-
Remove books from shelving and place in boxes in the center of the living room.
-
Remove all pictures, mirrors, and hanging items from the walls so that they may be inspected for treatment.
-
Open any sleeper sofas, futons or convertible beds for treatment.
-
Please note: All homes or apartment/condo units that are noted to have excess clutter will NOT be treated. A thorough and successful treatment cannot be achieved while there is excess clutter and untidiness in the home. Once the clutter has been removed, treatment can be rendered.
Laundering
-
Everything that can be laundered should be laundered and placed in clean/new plastic bags or plastic containers and sealed prior to the treatment. This includes items such as drapes, stuffed animals, bed skirts, etc.
-
Launder all items (including linens and bedding) according to the manufacturer’s label. However, whenever possible, use the highest allowable heat settings in both the washer and dryer. Temperatures reaching 140 degrees (or above) have been proven to kill all stages of bed bug development.
-
Bags used to transport laundry prior to the washing/drying cycles should never be reused and should be discarded outside of the property after transportation. All clean items should be placed in new bags, sealed tightly, and remain sealed during the treatment process.
-
Items that cannot be washed but that can be dried in the dryer at a high heat temperature should be for a minimum of 30 minutes. Discard debris collected in the lint trap after each cycle.
-
Items that cannot be laundered should be taken to the dry cleaner.
Vacuuming
It’s important to prepare for bed bug control by vacuuming thoroughly. The use of a crevice attachment is imperative to access bed bugs hiding inside mattress seams, furniture interiors, baseboards, and any place that could accommodate them.
-
Vacuum floors, carpets, and area rugs
-
Vacuum mattresses, including all crevices, handles, or buttons
-
Vacuum the baseboards, bed frame, sofas, futons, recliners, and other overstuffed and upholstered furniture
-
Discard all vacuum bags immediately after each use
Disposal of Furniture
-
There are differing opinions as to whether or not it is necessary to dispose of mattresses, box springs, futons, sofas and other furniture. The cost involved in replacement of beds and other furniture is something to consider when deciding what works for you.
-
Replacing these items alone will not solve a bed bug problem. The decision to replace the bed unit and other furniture often depends on the condition of and the level of infestation within the items, the comfort of the owner, and whether or not the owner can afford replacement.
-
We recommend the installation of high-quality bed bug mattress encasements. Any need to discard the mattress and box spring is often eliminated once it has been treated and covered by a high-quality bed bug mattress encasement. It also reduces the likelihood that bed bugs will continue to live upon the mattress and box spring.
If You Decide To Throw Out Furniture
-
Deface, or otherwise damage furniture items so they will not be used by others. Mattresses should be slashed or otherwise damaged to make them unusable and should be wrapped in plastic before being removed from the bedroom.
-
Note: moving beds without completely enclosing the mattress and box spring in plastic may spread the infestation by allowing eggs, bed bug nymphs, and adult bed bugs to drop from the item as it is moved.
Post-Treatment
Once the initial treatment has been completed, we recommend staying out of the treated home or unit for a minimum of four hours. This allows enough time for the materials used to dry completely.
Only after four hours should you, your children, and/or your pets resume residence in the home or apartment. From this point forward, you may carry on with your normal household activities. However, to keep your home ready for the next treatment, we recommend that you not move your furniture and items back into place if you can avoid it.
In most cases, a follow-up bed bug extermination session has already been scheduled for you and generally will fall within 2-3 weeks from the initial treatment. We do understand that thorough preparation may present a considerable hardship for some. Still, we cannot stress the impact that it has on the overall effectiveness of the bed bug treatment.
