Preparing an apartment for professional bed bug treatment

How to Prepare Your Home Before a Bed Bug Treatment

A step-by-step guide to maximising the effectiveness of your professional treatment — and protecting your belongings.

Proper preparation is not optional — it directly determines how effective your treatment will be. Poor preparation is the most common reason bed bug treatments need to be repeated.

Why Preparation Matters

Professional bed bug treatments — whether chemical or thermal — work by exposing every insect, nymph and egg to an active agent or temperature. Any area that is blocked off, cluttered or sealed can create refuge zones where bed bugs survive and then recolonise the room once the treatment is complete.

At the same time, careless preparation can spread the infestation. Carrying bags of untreated laundry from room to room, or placing infested items in a storage unit before the treatment, are common mistakes that allow bed bugs to survive and spread to previously unaffected areas.

Follow these steps carefully on the day before your scheduled treatment. If you are unsure about anything, call us — we would rather answer questions in advance than have to schedule a repeat visit.

Step-by-Step Preparation Guide

Wash and heat-dry all bedding and clothing

Wash all sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, blankets, throws and clothing on the highest temperature the fabric permits (at least 60 °C where possible). Immediately dry on high heat in the tumble dryer for at least 30 minutes. Place dried items directly into sealed plastic bags and store them in a room that will not be treated (e.g. the bathroom or kitchen) until treatment is complete. Do not re-enter the bedroom with these bags until given the all-clear.

Declutter the bedroom and nearby areas

Remove all items from the floor, from under the bed and from bedside tables. Books, magazines, boxes and personal items should be bagged in sealed plastic bags before moving. Do not move bags to other rooms without sealing them first — this is how infestations spread. Your aim is to give the treatment maximum access to walls, skirting boards, and furniture surfaces.

Pull furniture away from walls

Move beds, wardrobes, bedside tables and sofas at least 30–50 cm away from walls so our technicians can access all surfaces. Do not empty wardrobes unless instructed to do so — this is only necessary for chemical treatments in some cases. Ask your technician what is required for your specific treatment type.

Vacuum thoroughly

Vacuum all floors, mattresses, upholstered furniture, skirting boards and behind electrical outlets. After vacuuming, immediately remove the vacuum bag or empty the canister into a sealed plastic bag, and dispose of it outside your home. Vacuuming reduces the number of insects and eggs present, but is not a substitute for professional treatment.

Remove or protect heat-sensitive items (heat treatment only)

If you are having a heat treatment, remove candles, aerosols, plants, pets, fish tanks, certain medications and heat-sensitive artworks before the technicians arrive. See our dedicated heat treatment page for the full list. Everything else should remain in the room to be treated.

On the day — leave your home

You and all occupants (including pets) must vacate the premises for the duration of the treatment. For a chemical treatment, this is typically 4–6 hours. For heat treatment, you may be able to return the same evening once the rooms have cooled. Your technician will give you a precise return time.

After the Treatment: What to Expect

For chemical treatments, it is normal to see some live or dead bed bugs in the days following the treatment as they contact the residual insecticide. This does not mean the treatment has failed. The process can take 7–14 days to complete its effect. Do not vacuum intensively during this period as you would remove the residual product.

For heat treatments, any surviving insects will be dead within a few hours. There is no residual effect, so thorough vacuuming after the treatment is complete is actually recommended to remove dead insects.

We recommend a follow-up canine detection visit approximately 3 weeks after treatment to confirm complete elimination before you resume normal sleeping arrangements.

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