Bed Bug Preparation Sheet

Preparing For Your Bed Bug Treatment 3. Remove contents from dressers and night stands so that the interiors may be treated. Items should be Proper preparation is an essential placed in plastic bags and moved to the center of the step for ensuring the most effective living room. results from your upcoming bed bug 4. Remove books from shelving and place in boxes in the treatment. American Pest will provide center of the living room. detailed instructions on what you 5. Remove all pictures, mirrors and hanging items from need to do before your scheduled the walls so that they may be inspected for treatment. treatment in the following document. Preparation 6. Open any sleeper sofas, futons or convertible beds for involves everything from providing adequate access treatment. to your unit or property, to cleaning and post- treatment recommendations. We understand that Please note: All homes or apartment/condo units that appropriate preparation can be difficult to achieve are noted to have excess clutter will NOT be treated. in a short period of time and that senior citizens A thorough and successful treatment cannot be achieved while there is excess clutter and untidiness

or handicapped individuals may need additional Sheet assistance and time considerations. Please note: in the home. Once the clutter has been removed, Americanpest American Pest will not provide treatment to any unit treatment can be rendered. or property that has not met the preparations that follow in this instructional document. Laundering

Packing and Furniture Preparation Everything that can be laundered, should be laundered and placed in All furniture should be pulled away from the walls clean/new plastic bags or plastic and baseboards at least 2 feet. It is common for containers and sealed prior to the items that could potentially provide hiding places for treatment. The list of items that bed bugs, such as book cases and desks, be emptied should be included in laundering of their contents and remain empty for treatment. are listed at the end of this Bed Bug Preparation Items previously stored in sealed containers may document and include such items remain unopened. as drapes, stuffed animals, bed skirts, etc.

1. Lift mattresses and box springs out of the bed frame 1. Launder all items (including linens and bedding) and stand them up against a wall. according to the manufacturers label, however, 2. Empty closets of remaining (unlaundered) items and whenever possible use the highest allowable heat stored items, placing them in plastic bags and moving settings in both the washer and drier. Temperatures them to the center of the living room. reaching 140 degrees (or above) have been proven to kill all stages of bed bug development. 2. Bags used to transport laundry prior to the washing/ drying cycles should never be reused and should be discarded outside of the property after transportation. All clean items should be placed in new bags, sealed

www.americanpest.net (888)-678-4276 Bed Bug Preparation Sheet Americanpest The mechanicalremovalofbedbugsbyvacuuming Vacuuming 4. 3. Accurate measurements aretakenbyanAmerican by ahigh-quality, bedbugmattressencasement. eliminated onceithasbeentreatedandcovered need todiscardthemattressandboxspringisoften high-quality, bedbugmattressencasements.Any American Pestrecommendstheinstallationof the ownercanaffordreplacement. items, thecomfortofowner, andwhetherornot condition ofandthelevelinfestationwithin the bedunitandotherfurnitureoftendependson the not solveabedbugproblem.Thedecisiontoreplace you. Itisclearthatreplacingtheseitemsalonewill something toconsiderwhendecidingwhatworksfor in replacementofbedsandotherfurnitureis futons, sofasandotherfurniture.Thecostinvolved is necessarytodisposeofmattresses,boxsprings, There aredifferingopinionsastowhetherornotit Disposal ofFurniture 4. 3. 2. 1. dry cleaner. Items thatcannotbelaunderedshouldtakentothe the linttrapaftereachcycle. minimum of30minutes.Discarddebriscollectedin the dryeratahighheattemperatureforshouldbe Items thatcannotbewashedbutcandriedin process. tightly, andremainsealedduringthetreatment Discard allvacuumbagsimmediatelyaftereachuse furniture recliners andotherover-stuffed andupholstered Vacuum thebaseboards,bedframe,sofas, futons, buttons Vacuum mattressesincludingallcrevices, handles,or Vacuum floors,carpetsandarearugs thoroughly isanimportantpartofpreparingfor treatment. Theuseofacreviceattachment is imperativetoaccessbedbugshiding inside mattressseams,furniture interiors, baseboardsandanyplace that couldaccommodatethem. Bed Bug to dropfromtheitemasitismoved. allowing eggs,bedbugnymphs,andadultbugs box springinplasticmayspreadtheinfestationby beds withoutcompletelyenclosingthemattressand being removedfromthebedroom.*Note:moving unusable andshouldbewrappedinplasticbefore damaged tomakethem be slashedorotherwise others. Mattressesshould they willnotbeusedby damage furnitureitemsso Deface, orotherwise If You DecidetoThrowOutYour Furniture live uponthemattressandboxspring. to reducethelikelihoodthatbedbugswillcontinue mattress andboxspringencasementsfurtherserve typically installedduringtheinitialtreatment.The Pest representativeandtheencasementsare please donothesitateto contactus. preparation guidelineorinthechecklistthatfollows, any questionsregardingthecontentincludedinthis overall effectivenessoftreatment.Ifyoushould have cannot stresstheimportancethatithason present aconsiderablehardshipforsome,butwe We dounderstandthatthoroughpreparationmay weeks fromtheinitialtreatment. scheduled foryouandgenerallywillfallwithin2-3 In most cases a follow-up treatment has already been furniture anditemsbackintoplaceifatallpossible. treatment, wedorecommendthatyounotmoveyour of thestepsnecessarytoprepareforyourfollow-up however, in ordertopreventtheneedrepeatmany may carryonwithyournormalhouseholdactivities; the homeorapartment.Fromthispointforwardyou your children,and/orpetsresumeresidencein to drycompletely. Onlyafterfourhoursshouldyou, appropriate amountoftimeforthematerialsused for aminimumoffourhours.Thisallowsan recommend stayingoutofthetreatedhomeorunit Once theinitialtreatmenthasbeencompletedwe Post Treatment Preparation Sheet Bed Bug Preparation Checklist

Account #:______Service Address:______

# Preparation Instructions 1st Treatment 2nd Treatment 1. Wash all linens, bedding materials, clothing, stuffed animals, etc., in the highest allowable water temperature and dry on the hottest allowable heat setting. 2. All laundered items such as linens, clothing, stuffed animals, etc. should be placed in new plastic bags or plastic containers, sealed tightly and relocated to the living room. 3. All clothing items that cannot be laundered must be dry-cleaned. We recommend leaving these items at the cleaners between the initial treatment and follow-up visit

4. Remove all items from closets, including any items on closet shelves. Sheet Follow the procedure above for laundering all clothing. No items should Americanpest remain in the closet. 5. Remove all miscellaneous items from dressers, night stands, chests, etc. and place them in plastic bags or sealed containers in the center of the living room floor. None of these items should remain in the bedroom. 6. Vacuum floors, carpets and area rugs. Use the crack and crevice attachment around baseboards, bed frames, sofas, and other furniture items. Discard vacuum bags or contents after use. 7. All luggage that has been used recently during travel must remain empty so that it may be inspected and treated if necessary. 8. Remove all shelves, picture frames, artwork, wall clocks, and decorative

items from the walls and place on the floor in the same room as they were Bed Bug Preparation hanging. These items must be inspected and treated if necessary. 9. All large pieces of furniture must be pulled at least 2 feet away from the baseboards in every room of your home. 10. Birds, cats, dogs, and humans must remain out of the home during treatment and at least a minimum of 4 hours after the treatment is complete. Fish, and reptile tanks must be covered or removed. Air filters and filtration systems for aquatic fish should be turned off during treatment. 11. All mattress and box spring covers must be removed from mattresses & box springs prior to our arrival unless you have previously installed an encasement that was specifically designed to control, prevent, and eliminate bed bugs. 12. Remove and discard the box spring backing (the thin, fibrous material that is stapled to the bottom of the box spring) before the treatment. 13. Cribs, crib mattresses, and other baby furniture will be inspected and treated as needed. 14. Shoes should be placed in new plastic bags or plastic containers, sealed tightly and relocated to the living room. If shoes can tolerate a dryer cycle, first place them in the dryer on hottest cycle for 30 minutes. No shoes should be left in the bedroom or closet. Bed Bug Preparation Sheet Americanpest of time. other publicplaceswherepeopleareatrestforaperiod in hotels,movietheaters,traincars,airplanesandmany gage, onclothingandinsidefurniture.Theyarefound A: Bedbugsareadepthitchhikers.Theytravelinlug Q: HowDidIGetThem? protected area. ters wheretheadults,nymphsandeggsaretogether ina They prefertoliveingroupsandareoftenfoundclus and boxspring,behindheadboards,insidefurniture. to squeezeintotinycracksandcrevicesonthemattress A: BecauseBedbugsaresmallandflat,theyable Q: WhereDoBedBugsHide? are notoftenseenduringtheday. most activeatnightandduetotheircrypticnaturethey A: WhileBedbugsarevisibletothenakedeyethey Q: CanISeeBedBugs? clear ortanincolor. smaller (1millimeter)andmayappear from adultsinthattheyareoftenmuch Bed bugs,knownasnymphs,differ are reddish-brownincolor. Juvenile mately ¼inchlong),ovalinshape,and an appleseed,andaresmall(approxi A: AdultBedbugslooksomethinglike Q: WhatDoBedBugsLookLike? of humans. A: Bedbugsareparasiticinsectsthatfeedontheblood Q: WhatareBedBugs? Bed BugFAQ

Bed Bugs Found In Bed Frame Cracks Frame Bed In Found Bugs Bed - - - rather leavethetreatmenttoprofessionals. to controlaninfestationwithdo-it-yourselfproducts,but for ourwell-trainedtechnicians.You should notattempt A: Bedbugsare“maddeninglydifficult”totreat,even Q: CanITreat forBedBugsMyself? may observenodiscomfortorbitemarksatall. observe mildtoseverediscomfortanditchiness,others an itchingsensation.Whilesomepeoplefindthatthey red bumpsorblemish-likeskinirritation,accompaniedby allergic reaction.Thisreactionmaycauseraised, -so youwon’t feelthebite--mayormaynotcauseavisible A: TheanestheticthataBedbugusestonumbyourskin- Isn’t? Q: WhyAmIBeingBittenandMy“SignificantOther” including theneck,face,armsandhands. skin ofhumanswhiletheyaresleepingoratrest,often skin reactionsarethesame.Bedbugsbiteexposed mosquito bitesbecause(aswithallbitinginsects)not A: Bedbugbitesaredifficulttodistinguishfromfleaor Q: WhatDoBedBugBitesLookLike? contact us. bugs ortreatmentpreparedness, pleasedonothesitateto ment. Ifyoushouldhavefurtherquestionsregarding Bed ensure youreceivethemostoutofyourBedbugtreat A: Thefollowingdocumentandchecklistisdesigned to Q: HowDoIPrepareforaBedBugTreatment? items canbeinspectedandtreatedsuccessfully. you discardmattresses,boxsprings,orfurnitureasthese A: InmostcasesAmericanPestdoesnotrecommend that Q: ShouldIThrowOutMyMattressandFurniture? residue ofthepriortreatments. bug nymphswhichareoftenunaffectedbythepesticide locate, andmaysurvivetreatment,hatchintotinybed because bedbugseggs,whichareverysmall,hardto A: Typically atleasttwotreatmentsareneeded.Thisis Bugs? Q: HowManyTreatments WillItTake To GetRidofBed green alternatives. include traditionalinsecticidetreatmentsandeco-friendly, household, wemayuseacombinationoftechniquesthat While individualcircumstancesvaryfromhouseholdto in thebattleagainsttheseblood-suckingarthropods. A: AmericanPestusesthelatestproductsandtechniques Q: HowDoesAmericanPestTreat forBedBugs? Bed Bug FAQ -