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How to Prepare for Bed Bug Treatment: A Room-by-Room Checklist
Family-run, licensed and insured pest control in South Florida.
$50 OFF your first service + FREE inspectionNew customers · No code needed · No expirationHere's how to prepare for bed bug treatment in one breath: wash and dry the bedding and clothes from the affected rooms on high heat and seal them in clean bags, clear the floors and the space under the beds, vacuum and throw the bag away outside, and pull the bed and furniture a few inches off the walls. Don't move anything to another room, and don't throw out the mattress until you've asked us. That's it at the core. The rest of this page goes room by room, because "clear the clutter" means something different in a kid's bedroom than it does in a living room.
Print it, check things off, and call us if something on your list doesn't fit your home.
The short list: how to prepare for bed bug treatment
These are the same steps on our bed bug treatment page. Everything further down just fills in the details.
- Wash bedding, linens and clothing from affected rooms in hot water, dry them on high heat, then seal them in clean plastic bags.
- Clear clutter from floors, under beds and around furniture so the technician can reach the hiding spots.
- Vacuum mattresses, floors and furniture, then seal the vacuum bag and throw it away outside.
- Pull beds and furniture a few inches away from the walls.
- Don't move furniture or belongings to other rooms or homes.
- Don't throw out mattresses or furniture until you ask us.
- Plan for people and pets to stay out of treated rooms for the time your technician recommends.
Bedroom checklist
The bedroom is where most of the work is, since bed bugs stay close to where people sleep.
The bed
- Strip everything: sheets, pillowcases, mattress pad, blankets, bed skirt.
- Wash and dry on high heat, then bag it. Don't put the bags back on the bed or on the floor next to it. A bathtub or a hallway works.
- Pillows, stuffed toys and shoes that can't go in the washer can go in the dryer on high heat for at least 30 minutes if the care label allows.
- Vacuum the mattress and box spring, slowly, along every seam and around the tag.
- Leave the mattress and box spring on the frame. Don't wrap them in plastic yourself, and don't stand them against the wall in another room.
Under the bed
- Empty it completely. Storage bins, shoe boxes, gift wrap, suitcases. Anything that lived under there gets checked before it goes anywhere.
Nightstands, dressers and the closet
- Clear the top of the nightstand.
- Ask before emptying dressers and closets. Your technician will tell you whether drawers need to be emptied in your home.
- Clothes piled on the closet floor or on a chair get washed, dried on high heat and bagged like the bedding.
The edges of the room
- Pull the bed, nightstand and dresser a few inches from the wall.
- Vacuum along the baseboards and under where the bed was.
Living room checklist
If someone has been sleeping or napping on the couch, treat it like a second bedroom.
- Take off the cushions and vacuum the seams, the corners and the crevice where the back meets the seat.
- Wash throws, blankets and any cushion covers that come off, and dry them on high heat.
- Pull the couch and recliner a few inches from the wall.
- Pick up anything on the floor around and under the furniture: magazines, toys, baskets, chargers.
Kitchen, bathroom and the rest of the house
Kitchens and bathrooms usually need little or no prep for a bed bug visit unless your technician says otherwise. What does matter for the whole home:
- Tell us about pets when you book, including fish and birds, so the technician can tell you what to do with them.
- Make sure the technician can get to every room you think is involved, including a guest room that's been closed off.
- If you're not sure a room is affected, leave it as is and ask. It's better than moving things out of it.
What not to do before bed bug treatment
Some of the most common moves people make right before a visit are the ones that make it harder.
- Don't haul things into another room or to a relative's house "to keep them clean." That's how bed bugs end up in two homes.
- Don't throw out the mattress or the couch before you ask. A lot of furniture can be treated, and dragging an infested mattress through the house can drop bugs along the way.
- Don't use foggers or store sprays. They don't reach where bed bugs hide, and they can push them into the walls and next rooms.
- Don't start sleeping on the couch. Keep sleeping where you usually sleep unless your technician says otherwise. Moving to the couch can bring them along.
Day of the visit
Keep a path open to the bed and the furniture, have the bagged laundry out of the room, and plan to be out of the treated rooms for the time your technician recommends. If you have a question about a specific item, a crib, a recliner, a piece of medical equipment, set it aside and ask when the technician arrives.
What to do after bed bug treatment
- Stay out of treated rooms for the time your technician recommends. Keep kids and pets off treated areas until dry, and follow your technician's instructions.
- Can you sleep in your bed? Your technician will tell you when the treated rooms, including your bed, are ready to use again. Ask before they leave so you're not guessing.
- Keep the clean laundry bagged until the room is ready, then put it back.
- Ask before shampooing carpets or mopping treated floors. Regular vacuuming is usually part of the plan, but check first.
- Don't panic if you see a bed bug or two in the days after. Eggs can hatch after the first treatment. That's why a follow-up visit is typical, and we'll tell you how many visits your home needs.
Condos and rentals
If you live in a condo or an apartment, let your association or landlord know. Bed bugs can travel between units along shared walls, so the units next to yours may need an inspection too. Our post on roaches that keep coming back in condos explains how pests move between units, and landlords can find a turnover checklist in our between-tenants guide.
Price, plans and the guarantee
Bed bug treatment is priced after the FREE inspection, because it depends on how many rooms and pieces of furniture are involved. Once it's handled, our general pest plan is $125 per quarter, about $42 a month, and monthly or custom schedules are quoted after the inspection. For plan customers: "If pests come back between visits, so do we, at no extra cost." There are no long-term contracts and no cancellation fees, just a simple service agreement. We're family-run and licensed, with 30+ years in the business, and hablamos español.
Still not sure it's bed bugs? Our post on bed bug bites vs mosquito bites and the bed bug identification page can help, and there are more guides on the blog.
Prep questions
Do I have to leave the house for bed bug treatment?
Do I need to wash all my clothes?
Should I throw out my mattress?
Is it normal to still see bed bugs after one treatment?
Need a bed bug inspection first?
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