Bed Bug Heat Treatment: Your Complete Prep Checklist

One of the biggest advantages of bed bug heat treatment is how little preparation it needs compared to chemical treatments. Most of your furniture, bedding and clothing stays exactly where it is. There are a few important steps, though, and getting them right makes the treatment more effective.

Remove these items before treatment

• Anything flammable or pressurized: aerosol cans, lighters, propane, candles, fire extinguishers
• Items that melt or warp: wax, crayons, lipstick, vinyl records, some plastics
• Medications, vitamins and cosmetics
• Pets, fish tanks and house plants
• Food items that could spoil, like chocolate, butter or fresh produce
• Sensitive electronics you are concerned about, such as laptops, tablets and phones
• Musical instruments and valuable artwork

Leave these in place

• Mattresses, box springs and bed frames
• Couches, chairs and other furniture
• Clothing in closets and dressers (loosen packed drawers and closets)
• Bedding and curtains

The day of the treatment

• Plan to be out for the day. Most homes take six to eight hours.
• Open closet doors and drawers slightly so heat can circulate.
• Do not move items from the treated rooms to other rooms or to a friend’s place. That is how bed bugs spread.
• Let us know about any areas we cannot heat, like a locked room.

After the treatment

• Let the space cool before handling items.
• Install mattress and box spring encasements to make future checks easy.
• Watch for new bites over the next few weeks and tell us right away if you notice any.
• Be careful with travel and second-hand furniture.

Landlords and property managers

We provide a printable tenant prep sheet and written service reports for every treated unit. For buildings, we also recommend inspecting the units beside, above and below. See our property management programs.

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