2233 Citygate Drive Columbus, Ohio 43219 (614) 418-7725 tel (614) 418-7720 fax

HOUSE TREATMENT PROTOCOL

LOCATION ADDRESS:______.

Your residence will be treated for bed bugs on ______.

Please follow the guidelines listed below to prepare your entire unit for the bed bug treatments. The exterminator cannot treat your residence if you are not properly prepared. Please follow these guidelines.

BEFORE AND AFTER A BEDBUG TREATMENT

Bed Bugs are tough to control as they typically hide in bedding, bed frames, headboards, footboards, upholstered furniture, closets, dressers, clothes, stuff animals/toys, behind pictures, and in any crack or crevice. The following steps must be completed by the resident before we can begin.

  1. Remove all sheets, pillow cases, mattress covers, shams, blankets, etc from your beds, and wash and dry them in the hottest setting possible (as directed by the label). Place them in sealed plastic bags if returning to the affected resident (use twisty ties or tape). Do not open bags until after treatment. Remove mattress and box spring from bed frame. Set them on end (separately) and rest them against a wall.
  2. Empty all closets, dressers, nightstands, storage cabinets, coffee & end tables, etc. Remove all items from top and shelves of ALL furniture. All dresser drawers need to be removed, and placed in the middle of room. All furniture in areas to be treated need to be moved a minimum of 36” from the walls. Eliminate all clutter. All clothes, linens, towels, stuffed animals; etc… in dressers & closets in the affected area must be washed and dried in the hottest setting possible as allowed per the label, and sealed in plastic bags. Set closed/sealed bags in middle of dining/kitchen areas. Place hygiene items (toothbrushes, towels, soaps, etc) in a sealed bag.
  3. Vacuum baseboard areas, floors, baseboards, closets, inside and underside of dressers and night stands, all upholstered furniture (even underside of furniture) mattress/box spring. Focus on tufts and seam areas. Place vacuum bag in a sealable plastic bag, and discard bag immediately after use. Window coverings, drapes, etc. need to be vacuumed and if possible, washed in hot water. NOTE: AFTER VACCUMING – SUCK UP SOME CORNSTARCH OR POWDER INTO THE VACCUM THIS WILL KILL ANY LIVE BEDBUGS IN THE VACCUM – THAT MAY HAVE ATTACHED THEMSELVES TO HOSES OF VACCUM.
  4. Eliminate all clutter. The more clutter there is the longer it will/may take to eliminate the bed bugs. At least 75% of all floors in each area should be free of any items. Remove pictures, wall hangings, from walls, and thoroughly inspect for activity. All children’s toys, toothbrushes, towels must be sealed in bags.
  5. People and pets must leave the residence for treatment to be started and may return 4 hours (minimum) later.

AFTER INITIAL TREATMENT CONTROL MEASURES

After treatment occupant(s) must continue to monitor and practice the following procedures on a weekly basis.

  1. Vacuum all upholstered furniture, mattress, box springs, head boards, footboards, dressers, chest of drawers, night stands, shelves, tables, etc…carpeting, area/throw rugs, and all baseboards areas. Place vacuum bag in a plastic bag, seal bag and discard bag after each use.
  2. Continue to wash and dry clothing, bedding, linens, and fabric window coverings in the hottest settings allowed per label. Clean out all clothes baskets, and hampers. Keep non-frequently used clothing in sealed bags. Wipe down all children’s beds, dressers, toys, etc. immediately after all treatments.
  3. Reduce/eliminate all clutter/stored items in ALL AREAS of the house. Especially closets, areas of infestation, and around the baseboards.
  4. Be sure to keep items that have been put in plastic bags IN the plastic bags until treatments are completed. Only remove what is necessary. Items such as clothing that have been removed must be re-washed, dried and put back in the plastic bags prior to next treatment.
  5. The above preparation MUST be done prior to each treatment in order to have a successful outcome.

Note: Infested upholstered furniture must be discarded. Bed bugs are often almost impossible to eradicate from upholstered furniture without numerous follow up treatments. If you choose to keep infested mattress and box springs you must seal them in a high quality mattress/box spring encasement, immediately after the initial treatment process. Tape over encasement zippers with good quality tape. If you decide or it is suggested to replace the mattress and box spring, encasements should also be put on the new mattresses and box springs to protect against lingering pest infestation.

Attached find a Bed Bug Compliance/Readiness Checklist. This list will be utilized during fumigation process. Please review to know what the pest control company will be looking for in each room.

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