After Bed Bug Treatment Instructions

Proper after-care is essential to the success of any bed bug treatment. Following these instructions helps prevent re-infestation, protects the treatment applied by your technician, and ensures bed bugs are eliminated as quickly and effectively as possible.

Re-Entering Treated Areas

After a bed bug treatment, wait a minimum of four hours before re-entering any treated areas unless your technician provides a different time frame. Always follow the specific instructions given by your technician, as treatment methods and products may vary.

Preventing Re-Introduction of Bed Bugs

It is important to take steps to prevent bed bugs from being reintroduced into the home. If you believe the infestation originated from a particular location or person, use caution before returning to that environment. This does not mean you need to be paranoid—simply be mindful of where guests sit and how personal items such as bags, clothing, and shoes enter your home.

Drying Clothing, Bedding, and Fabrics

Drying is one of the most critical steps after treatment. Drying kills bed bugs, while washing alone does not. All bedding, loose clothing, clothing on the floor, and dirty laundry should be dried on high heat for at least thirty minutes. Sanitizing cycles may also be used. In most cases, clothing hanging in closets and items inside dressers do not need to be dried unless the infestation is severe. Your technician will advise if additional items require treatment.

Avoid Sabotaging the Treatment

Do not use foggers, sprays, or store-bought bed bug products after professional treatment. These products can dilute or neutralize the residual treatments applied by the technician. Avoid using cleaning or disinfecting products on beds, furniture, couches, recliners, or within a twelve-inch perimeter around treated furniture, as this can remove the product that continues killing bed bugs over time.

Cleaning and Vacuuming Guidelines

Vacuuming carpet is allowed after treatment, but wait at least forty-eight hours before doing so. If your home has wood or tile floors, wait thirty to sixty days before mopping, especially under furniture, around furniture legs, and along baseboards. Residual products may be invisible and can be neutralized by water or cleaning solutions.

Furniture Movement and Disposal

Do not move, remove, or rearrange furniture after treatment. Moving furniture can cause bed bugs to relocate to untreated hiding spots. Removing furniture can eliminate surfaces that are actively killing bed bugs. Improper disposal of furniture may spread the infestation to other rooms or locations.

Bringing in New Furniture

Avoid bringing new furniture into treated rooms until the infestation has been completely eliminated. Bed bugs may move to untreated items and restart the infestation. Similarly, do not move clothing, blankets, or bedding from affected rooms into unaffected areas, as this can spread bed bugs throughout the home.

Sleeping and Normal Use of Furniture

Continue sleeping in your bed and using furniture as you normally would. Although it may feel uncomfortable, your presence helps draw bed bugs out of hiding so they come into contact with the treatment. When remaking the bed, use only one fitted sheet on the mattress and avoid multiple mattress pads or layers. Bed skirts should not be used for at least thirty days after treatment.

Items Stored Under Beds

Avoid placing items under bed frames until the infestation has fully died out. Items stored under beds can provide additional hiding places and prolong the treatment process.

Treatment Timeline and Expectations

It may take twenty-one to thirty days for the infestation to completely die out, depending on the severity. In many cases, significant improvement is seen within two weeks. Furniture such as recliners, couches, and mechanical beds may require longer treatment times due to the number of hiding places they provide.

Avoid Excessive Inspection and Handling

After treatment, it is common to want to inspect furniture or repeatedly wash and dry bedding to confirm bed bugs are gone. Avoid excessive inspection or moving furniture, as disturbing treated areas can cause bed bugs to scatter into walls or structural voids. If additional washing and drying is needed, wait at least fourteen days between cycles.

Medical Devices and Personal Items

If CPAP machines or other medical devices were not removed before treatment, clean them thoroughly, paying special attention to tubing and mouthpieces. Be cautious with shoes, purses, backpacks, and personal bags, as these items commonly transport bed bugs. In severe cases, your technician may recommend storing these items in isolated areas such as garages, vehicles, or porches.

Pet Bedding and Final Guidance

All pet bedding should be dried on high heat. If you have questions about pet areas or any instructions not covered here, always consult your technician. Following professional guidance and allowing the treatment time to work is the best way to ensure complete and lasting bed bug elimination.