At Pest Dominion, we provide comprehensive bed bug treatment services. To ensure success, it’s essential to prepare your home before treatment and follow our aftercare instructions diligently. This guide outlines the steps you need to take before and after treatment to maximize the effectiveness of the bed bug eradication process.

Pre-Treatment Instructions

1. Locating the Infestation

A thorough inspection is required to find all areas affected by bed bugs. Using a good torch and magnifying tool, examine the following areas carefully:

• Tufts, seams, buttons & folds of mattresses
• Box springs, bed frames, and covers
• Couches, chairs, cushions, and curtains
• Cracks in walls or hardwood flooring
• Behind loose wallpaper and pictures
• Under carpets along walls (tack strip)
• Outlets & switch plates
• Luggage, boxes, and other portable items

2. Preparing the Rooms

• All bedding must be stripped from beds, placed in airtight sealed bags, and transported to the washing machine. Wash in **hot water (>49ºC)** and dry on the **highest heat setting (>60ºC)**. (Please read clothing labels for washing and tumble drying instructions, no liabilities accepted).
• Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, curtains, and mattresses with a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter.
• Clear all clutter including toys, books, shoes, and boxes, but do not move them into untreated rooms to avoid spreading the infestation.
• Move furniture away from walls to provide access to baseboards and behind furniture.
• Empty drawers and wardrobes, and launder or dry-clean clothes before returning them to treated rooms.
• Items that cannot be laundered should be placed in a freezer overnight before being returned to the room.
• If any mattresses or other furniture are in poor or ripped condition and infested, they should be discarded.

• Remove all personal items including electronics, mobiles, tablets, laptops, food etc.

• Keep the heating on the day of treatment when weather is cold.

3. During Treatment

• The treatment may take one hour or more depending on the size of the infestation.
• Treatment may take few hours to dry depending on the temperature and humidity levels.
• No humans and pets are allowed in the treated areas during and after the treatment.
• UK health and safety and insecticide labels suggest only enter the treated areas once dry and ventilate thoroughly before hand.
• Our technician will treat the affected areas using **UK Professional Use Approved Insecticides**. 
• Ensure the technician has full access to all rooms and areas as previously mentioned and agreed for the treatment.

Post-Treatment Aftercare

1. Room Access and Cleaning

• To ensure the best results from your bed bug treatment, follow the instructions below:

  1. Must sleep in the treated rooms after the treatment. This encourages bed bugs to leave their hiding spots and move across treated areas, increasing their exposure to the insecticide.

  2. Avoid washing, vacuuming, or cleaning any treated surfaces, carpets, or floors for at least two weeks after the first treatment.

  3. Vacuum carpets thoroughly one day before each follow-up treatment to prepare the area.

  4. Continue to avoid cleaning for a minimum of three weeks or up to two months after the treatment to allow the insecticide to remain effective.

2. Expectation Management

It’s normal to see some bed bugs for up to **two weeks** post-treatment. These bed bugs are likely dying from the insecticide. However, if live bugs persist after this period, a follow-up treatment will tackle this, please score infestation level from 1 to 10 before second spray. For example, before treatment it is considered 10 out of 10, a score out of 10 (3/10) helps to establish the success of the process.

Additional Considerations

• Dispose the vacuum bags in air tight sealed bag.
• Untreated discarded item must be taken to disposal facility immediately. 
• It is advisable to introduce any new furniture just before the treatment or after the infestation has been eradicated completely.
• DIY insecticide may work however, any chemicals which did not work effectively may build resistance.
• Bed bugs can lay 300 eggs and reach maturity from 14 to 29 days depending on the temperature.
• Keep the heating on 22C for few days when temperature are low.