Preparation Guide
Resident/Tenant Pre-Treatment Checklist
Should you have questions about preparation, please reach out via email at [email protected] or call us at 269-291-0151.
Please ensure all boxes are checked for maximum success in the eradication process:
📝 PRE-TREATMENT CHECKLIST
- All humans and pets (including birds, fish, reptiles, etc.) must vacate the home for the entire treatment and stay away for at least 3 hours after it's completed.
- All laundry must be put away—either hung in closets or stored in drawers or on shelves. Do not leave any piles of clothes or linens, including in hampers.
- If you have clothing stored in bins or chests, leave them open and accessible.
- If you have excess laundry, dry it on high heat for 30 minutes and immediately seal it in new trash bags that are tightly closed.
- ALL CLUTTER MUST BE REDUCED. No excessive piles of clothing, bins, boxes, magazines, piles of paper or junk piled up. Two or three boxes in a room are fine. But a room full of boxes and bins will not allow air flow and will impede access by the tech. For cluttery rooms or any doubt, send us a picture and we'll advise.
- Beds, couches, and chairs should be cleared off. We will flip cushions and mattresses. Bedding may stay on beds. If you have a severe infestation, launder your bedding before treatment.
- All trash must be placed in new, tightly sealed trash bags and taken to the outside dumpster.
- For monitored fire alarm systems (such as ADT), you must notify them to set it to test mode (or whatever they advise) to prevent the heat setting off your fire alarm.
- Condos & apartments must notify management for direction on disabling any heat-related alarms, as well as obtaining permission for our treatment, parking, etc.
❄️ REMOVE OR PLACE IN FRIDGE/OVEN
- Live plants, candles, lipstick, crayons, and deodorants
- Wines, chocolates, fresh fruits, and vegetables
- Vinyl records, VCR tapes, film reels, and cassette tapes
- Combustible items such as oxygen tanks, propane tanks, aerosol sprays, fire extinguishers, and lighters
- Lithium-ion batteries: Inspect items with lithium-ion or rechargeable batteries for swelling, corrosion, or cracks and remove them from the home. Degraded batteries are a known fire risk even without a heat treatment. Items with lithium-ion batteries might include power banks, rechargeable vacuums, power tools, old cellphones in drawers, Bluetooth speakers, ride-on toys, drones, etc. Old laptops or tablets that have not been charged or used for a while should be removed, as the battery may be degraded. E-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards should be removed.
- High-value or irreplaceable items such as heirlooms, oil paintings, family videos, and collectibles
- Horizontal, plastic, or faux-wood window blinds can potentially warp or sag. To prevent this, if it's a concern, draw them all the way open and remove them by the (usually) 2 metal or plastic clips at the top, then place them on a flat surface.
- Store all sensitive medications, gelcap supplements, and vitamins in the fridge to prevent heat damage.
- Ammunition may misfire after heat exposure, so store it in a garage or safe location.
- Sleep Number beds and similar will be permanently damaged. Unzip and remove the bladder, and leave it in the garage or outside. Adjustable bed frames are fine.
- Stringed musical instruments may detune and pianos may be damaged by heat expansion. Contact us beforehand to discuss.
- Items hung with command strips or adhesives should be taken down. Items held together with hot glue may melt—this includes some crafts or inexpensive frames.
- Electronics should be unplugged until they are completely cooled after the treatment (except stove, fridge, and freezers).
- Leave lights turned on in every room.
📆 DAY OF TREATMENT
- Leave as much as possible in the home to be treated. Avoid bringing backpacks, purses, or bags that could contain bedbugs. Use only clean bags if necessary.
- Wash and dry a set of clothes on high heat to wear when leaving the home. Put on clean clothes and do not sit on any furniture before exiting the property.
- Make sure all pets are crated and ready to leave before our team arrives.
- Be prepared to vacate the premises within 15 minutes of our arrival.
- We will be opening closets and drawers, flipping couch cushions, opening recliners, and moving some items. While we'll return some items to their original place, a full reset is not guaranteed.
✅ AFTER TREATMENT
- Do not wipe down or mop baseboards, headboards, door jambs, or window sills for 3–4 weeks. Sweeping is fine.
- Do not go back in the house for 3 hours or more. This is for safety as well as allowing the treatment to continue working the appropriate amount of time.
- You can open windows and/or turn on the AC at that time to cool the house.
- Don't plug your electronics back in until 2 hours after the house has cooled.
A SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT RELIES NOT ONLY ON THE DURATION AND TEMPERATURE OF THE TREATMENT BUT THE PREPARATION OF THE RESIDENT AS WELL!!
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B
Bed Bug Specialist
4.9
★★★★★
Based on 66 Google reviews
★★★★★
My experience with Bed Bug Specialist was positive from beginning to end. Mike provided excellent customer service and kept me informed before my appointment. Technician Steve completed a thorough inspection and recommended a bed bug heat treatment that fit my situation. Everything was handled professionally, and I felt completely comfortable throughout the process.
★★★★★
Professionalism, punctuality, and excellent customer care describe my experience with BBS perfectly. Kendall handled the scheduling efficiently and answered every question with patience. Technician Steve demonstrated why experienced Bed Bug Specialists are so valuable by explaining each step clearly and completing the service carefully. I truly appreciated how organized and respectful the entire team was.
★★★★★
I never expected a small concern to turn into such a frustrating bug problem, but I'm thankful I contacted BBS before it became worse. Dori treated me with kindness from the first phone call and made the scheduling process effortless. Technician Allan arrived promptly, completed a detailed inspection, and carried out the bed bug extermination service with impressive professionalism. Every step was explained clearly, and I felt supported throughout the entire experience.
★★★★★
Bed Bug Specialist delivered outstanding service from my first phone call until the appointment was complete. Mike was helpful and patient while arranging everything. Technician Allan inspected every room thoroughly and recommended practical bed bug solutions that fit my needs. He explained each step clearly and completed the service with professionalism. I would happily recommend BBS to anyone.
★★★★★
A friend recommended Bed Bug Specialist after hearing about my bug problem, and I'm glad I made the call. Kendall was courteous and made scheduling effortless. Technician Allan was respectful of my home, explained the inspection findings clearly, and completed the service with outstanding professionalism. The entire experience was smooth, well organized, and far exceeded my expectations.
★★★★★
I searched for a reliable company after noticing signs of a bug problem throughout my home. BBS responded quickly and scheduled my appointment without delay. Dori was incredibly helpful over the phone, and Technician Sean arrived exactly when promised. The bed bug removal solutions were explained clearly, and every step was completed with professionalism. I truly appreciated the team's dedication and excellent customer care.
★★★★★
Bed Bug Specialist earned my trust with outstanding customer care. Mike was always friendly and responsive whenever I had questions. Technician Allan arrived on time, explained every detail clearly, and performed the service with great attention to detail. I am very happy with the overall experience.
★★★★★
I had a fantastic experience with BBS. Kendall made the booking process quick and easy while providing helpful information. Technician Sean was punctual, respectful, and took the time to explain each step before starting the service. The entire visit was organized, professional, and exceeded my expectations.
★★★★★
We called Bed Bug Specialists late on a Saturday night after discovering what we thought were bed bugs in our son’s room. Mike from BBS called me back on Sunday morning and walked me through a series of questions and provided clear information on their bed bug removal procedure. He asked me to send a photo of the bugs we’d seen and told me it could possibly be bat bugs instead of bed bugs. After his team reviewed the photo themselves and used AI to do an analysis, Mike assured me what we had was bat bugs, not bed bugs. He also provided me a contact person who could help with bat removal and explained the steps needed to ensure all bugs were removed from our house. I would highly recommend using BBS for any concerns re: bed bugs. They were so helpful during a stressful time. Mike was prompt, professional and very knowledgeable. Thank you so much!
Location
Our Main Office In Michigan Is Situated At:
- 15633 16 ½ Mile Rd, Marshall, MI 49068
- (269) 291-0151
- [email protected]