Bed Bug Treatment
Preparation Checklist

Complete these steps before your scheduled service date.

Do you need to leave during treatment?

If your treatment includes fogging

All people and pets must leave during treatment and stay out for at least 4 hours afterward.

If your treatment does not include fogging

No extended wait is required. Stay off and away from treated surfaces until they are fully dry, usually a couple of hours.

Not sure which applies to you? Treatment type can vary by property, especially in dorms, student housing, and apartments. Check with your landlord or property management for clarification, or contact us directly and we can let you know.

Do not use foggers, bug bombs, or any DIY sprays before your service. These scatter insects and significantly reduce treatment effectiveness.

Also handle these before treatment

Food: Store everything in sealed containers, cupboards, or the fridge before we arrive.
Fish tanks: If fogging is part of your treatment, cover the tank and turn off the air pump during treatment. Uncover once you return.
HVAC: If fogging is part of your treatment and you control your own thermostat, turn the heating and cooling system off before treatment. Turn it back on once you return.
Bird cages: Cover the cage and remove birds from the area if possible. Birds are highly sensitive to airborne pesticides.

3 things to do before we arrive

1

Vacuum

  • ✅ Vacuum all carpeted areas, mattresses, box springs, bed frames, upholstered furniture, and drawers. Focus on cracks and crevices.
  • ⚠️ Seal and discard the vacuum bag in an outside trash bin immediately after. For bagless vacuums, empty, rinse, and wipe dry.
2

Laundry

  • ✅ Wash all clothing, bedding, and curtains per label instructions, then dry on the highest heat setting for at least 30 minutes. This kills bed bugs and their eggs. Already-clean items can go straight into the dryer.
  • ✅ For dry-clean-only items, contact a dry cleaner in advance.
  • ✅ Place all dried items immediately into sealed plastic bags or tied trash bags. Keep sealed through treatment. Afterward, items can go back to closets and drawers.
  • ⚠️ Discard empty bags outside right away.
3

Clear access

  • ✅ Strip all linens from mattresses and box springs.
  • ✅ Pull all furniture away from walls.
  • ✅ Empty nightstands, dressers, and shelving so our technician can reach all areas.

Follow-up visits use the same prep

Bed bug treatment usually takes more than one visit to address eggs that hatch after the initial service. If a follow-up or re-treatment is scheduled, complete this entire checklist again beforehand. Repeating the prep at every visit is the single biggest factor in a successful outcome.

No Guarantee

Bed bug treatments are not guaranteed. Bed bugs are often carried in on personal belongings, and in multi-unit buildings they can also spread between units, so reintroduction is always possible. Following this checklist and completing all follow-ups significantly improves results. Regal Pest Control is not responsible for reinfestation after treatment.

Chemical Sensitivity

If any occupants have been advised of pesticide sensitivity by a healthcare provider, notify Regal Pest Control in writing before treatment. Failure to do so assumes risk and waives related claims. We may deny or discontinue service upon notification.

Limitation of Liability

Regal Pest Control is not responsible for damage to or replacement of furniture, mattresses, linens, or personal items, nor for medical costs, personal injury claims, or loss of income related to bed bug activity.

Common questions

No questions match that search. Call or text us at 1-866-453-7221 and we will answer directly.

Not right away. Avoid mopping or wet-cleaning along treated baseboards and floor edges for at least two weeks, or until you are no longer seeing any bed bug activity. The product leaves a residual where bed bugs travel. Water over it will wash it away and reduce its effectiveness.
If your treatment included fogging, wait at least 4 hours. If it did not, you can use the bed once treated surfaces are dry. Strip and launder the bedding first, then put clean linens back on. A mattress encasement is recommended.
Same as the bed. If your treatment included fogging, wait at least 4 hours. If it did not, you can use the furniture once the treated surfaces are dry.
Products are applied according to label directions. Once the treated areas are dry and any re-entry period has passed, they are safe for people and pets. If anyone in the home has been advised of a pesticide sensitivity by a healthcare provider, tell us before treatment so we can plan accordingly.
The products we use can affect other crawling insects, so you may notice a reduction in pests like ants or roaches. The treatment is targeted at bed bugs, though, and is not a substitute for treating another pest. Let us know if you are seeing something else and we can quote that separately.
Bed bug eggs are resistant to pesticide. Newly hatched eggs are not killed by the first treatment. Follow-up visits target them as they hatch. Completing every follow-up is the most important factor in a successful outcome.
Not necessarily. A mattress encasement combined with treatment can often allow you to keep your mattress. Our technician will advise you based on the condition of the mattress and the extent of the infestation.

Questions before your service?

Call, text, or email. We are happy to help.

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