How to prepare for a treatment

[ ] Prior to Removing “Heat Sensitive” items from an Infested Space, be sure to inspect each item thoroughly for any signs of infestation before transferring them to a non-infested space in order to minimize the spread of the infestation. Place them in a tightly secured trash bag before carefully transporting these items from your space. Any Infested Items that need to be treated should remain in the space.
[ ] Please resist the urge to use any Chemical Treatments prior to our Heat Treatment Process. Chemical Treatments can cause Bed Bugs to flee the space and nest within Walls, within Power Outlets, behind Baseboard Moldings, in Heater Ducts, Under Rugs and Floorboards, etc.
[ ] Set aside any Personal Effects needed during the eradiation process including Medication, Medical Devices, Clothing (properly prepared), Shoes, Car Keys, Cell phone, Charger, etc. Remember to Inspect for Infestation and if clear, set aside.
[ ] Please unplug all Appliances (except your Refrigerator or Freezer), Electronics, or any Devices that may consume power, which is needed to run the heaters and fans. Please note, the bulk of these devices can remain in place once disconnected and will be safe during treatment.
[ ] If you have any Specialized or Essential Equipment that may be “heat sensitive” or that is irreplaceable, inspect for infestation, remove and set aside.
[ ] Please remove any Flammable Items such as Liquor, Spirits, Aerosols (Hair Spray, Spray Deodorant, Spray Paint Cans, etc.), Rubbing Alcohol, Ammunition, Carbonated Beverages (Beer/Soda Cans or bottles), Oxygen Tanks/Bottles, Propane Tanks, CO2 Cartridges, Lighter Fluid, Fire Extinguishers, etc.
[ ] Please remove any items that may be particularly “Heat Sensitive”, which can melt or be affected by heat such as Candles, Crayons, Chocolate, Hot-Glued Craft items, Makeup (lipstick), Plants, Wine, Stringed Instruments (including Pianos—if possible), Nail Polish and Remover, expensive Perfume, etc., Antiques, Collectables, etc.
[ ] Please remove any Pets from your space including Fish Tanks (or purchase an Aquarium Chiller) , Terrariums, and any Pens/ Cages with Small Animals or Reptiles in them.
[ ] Please bag any Trash, or unnecessary Clutter, or any heavily infested Bedding, or other Items that you wish to discard rather than treat. Place these Items in Heavy-Duty Black Plastic Bags; seal them tightly (preferably with zip ties), and place them outside in the sun, if possible, before discarding. The bag’s dark color will accentuate the sun’s heat, which may kill any Bed Bugs/Eggs. This may prevent the Bed Bugs from entering the environment once discarded
[ ] Please be mindful of any dense pockets such as Baskets of Laundry, Clothing Closets, or Piles of Laundry on the floor that may act as “cold spots”. Hang as many clothes as possible to be treated but be mindful that they cannot be packed so tightly that heat would be prevented from circulating around
them. You may use Clothing Racks, Shower Rods, Anchored Broom, or Rake handles to hang clothes on. Hang open purses or backpacks on door handles to be treated. Drape Comforters or Delicate Quilts over doors. Any dirty laundry needs to be washed, then dried 90 minutes once dried to kill the Eggs. Eggs are often deposited on clothes with a viscous or sticky substance and are so resilient that it takes 90 minutes at high heat (120 degrees if possible) to kill the Eggs. This is a very important step to ensure success. Then place the dried clothes in a Heavy-duty Bag tightly sealed, and then place these bags on top of your washing machine, dryer, or countertop until after treatment.
[ ] Please be mindful of any Dresser Drawers or Cabinets that may be densely packed with clothes or other items. As suggested above, hang as many clothes as possible. Any items that cannot be hung, please wash, dry, and bag as instructed above. These spaces should be opened to allow for proper air circulation. Empty drawers should be opened and staggered to allow heat to circulate or may be removed from the dresser entirely.
[ ] Please separate Books, if possible, or slide them to the front of the shelf so heat can circulate behind them. Avoid Stacks of Paper (may be placed in a filing cabinet). Please open File Cabinet Drawers and File Folders so that heat can circulate.
[ ] Be mindful of any Plants or Decorations (Vases, Wall Hangings, Pictures on refrigerator, etc.) that may be knocked over or blown off by our heaters or fans. If there are any items on shelves or counters that may fall and become damaged, please lay them on their side to prevent fall damage. Please remove any items that are irreplaceable or are one-of-a-kind items such as Paintings by a Famous Artist, Craft Items from a Loved One, etc.
[ ] In a more heavily infested area, please move any Furniture away from the walls to allow for proper airflow behind these items. If you are unable to move some of the heavier items, that’s perfectly fine; our Team can help move these items for you, if necessary.
[ ] Please place any Couch Cushions in an upright position or against the wall. Open Reclining Chairs to allow airflow and place any other Piece(s) of Furniture that may have a “Cold Spot” in an upright or reclining position so that hot air can circulate in and through these items.
[ ] Please elevate Mattresses and Box Springs on end by laying them across the bed frame or against the wall to ensure maximum airflow around these items.
[ ] Please inspect and consider removing the Corner Tabs on your Box Springs. Bed Bugs commonly nest in these Rounded Tabs, and in some instances may shield the Bugs and their Eggs from complete eradication, if left in place.
[ ] If you have an Inflatable Mattress or a Specialty Bed (e.g. Sleep Number) that has an Adjustable Air Bladder, please deflate just prior to treatment.
[ ] Be Mindful of any Additional Spaces or Items that Bed Bugs may have infested. Think of any other “cold spots” and try to address those such as closed boxes or suitcases. Keep in mind that Bed Bugs can survive for over a year without feeding.
[ ] If you have vacuumed your space, be mindful that live Bed Bugs and their Eggs may have been vacuumed into the tank or bag. We recommend emptying the bag or canister immediately into a small trash bag, and securely tying the bag to make sure that no live Bed Bugs escape, and potentially infest other areas.
[ ] Remove any pictures or wall hangings that may be attached via adhesive based anchors such as Command Strips. These may become softened in the heat and may release from the wall.
[ ] If you do not opt for our vehicle steaming service, it is highly recommended to have your Vehicles professionally vacuumed and cleaned during the Heat Treatment Process and to have any Pets bathed before they re-enter your space. This will help prevent a re-infestation. Please note: You may place many of the items listed above in your refrigerator as to protect them from the heat. For example, candles, soda, beer, wine, perfume, makeup, etc.
Lastly, take a sigh of relief, help is on the way!
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to take advantage of our vehicle treatment and/or Preparation Services!!