Corrective Bed Bug Control
Inspection
Every job starts with a conversation. The technician asks where you have been bitten or seen bugs, how long it has been going on, and whether anyone has traveled or brought home used furniture. Then comes a close inspection of the mattress seams, tufts and buttons, the box spring, bed frame and headboard, nightstands, baseboards near the bed, and the backs of pictures on the wall. You are welcome to walk through it with the technician. Findings are written down and sketched on a simple room map, which guides the treatment plan.
Customer Prep
Stripping and bagging the bed. Take off all sheets, pillowcases, mattress pads, blankets, comforters and bed skirts. Put them straight into a plastic bag and tie it shut while still in the room, then carry it to the laundry.
- Wash anything washable in hot water, then dry it on the highest heat the fabric can handle for at least 30 minutes.
- Items that need dry cleaning, such as drapes, comforters and bed skirts, should go to the cleaner in sealed bags. Tell the cleaner what is inside so bugs do not spread through their shop.
- If you would rather not take down drapes, ask the technician about treating them in place. A signed release may be needed.
Emptying closets and furniture. As you clear out closets, dressers and nightstands, look over each item for bugs and eggs. Pack items in plastic bags or lidded bins, seal them, and leave them where they are for the technician. Papers, cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, magazines and other clutter give bed bugs places to hide, so throw them out or seal them up too.
Action Plan
Vacuuming. This step matters more than most people expect. Vacuum every affected room thoroughly, with close attention to the edge where carpet or flooring meets the baseboard. Go over mattresses, box springs, upholstered furniture, closet floors and shelves, working the nozzle into seams, cracks and tufts. When you finish, seal the vacuum bag or the canister contents inside a plastic bag and put it in an outdoor trash can right away.
Treatment and prevention. The technician first checks that each room has been prepared. Treatment follows Integrated Pest Management (IPM), combining several methods so bed bugs have nowhere left to hide.
Setting up. The bed is pulled away from the wall and the mattress is lifted off the box spring so every surface can be reached.
Treating the bed and furniture. Using a low-flow application suited to fabric, the technician treats the mattress, the box spring (including under its fabric cover) and the bed frame. Cracks and joints in the headboard, nightstands, dressers, luggage racks and upholstered furniture are treated next.
Treating the edges of the room. A crack and crevice application goes along baseboards, inside closets, around door frames and along crown molding, where bed bugs tuck themselves away during the day.
Wall voids. When bugs are living inside a wall, usually the one behind the headboard, the technician drills a few small holes just above the baseboard, treats the hollow space inside, and seals the holes with white caulk.
Sensitive items. Books, picture frames, clocks and small electronics cannot take a liquid treatment. These are bagged and given a brief, targeted aerosol application inside the bag.
Encasements. After treatment, Florida Bug Control recommends zippered encasements on every mattress and box spring. They seal in any bugs left inside and take away the seams and folds where new ones would hide.
Monitoring. At least one monitor is placed near the spots where activity was heaviest, so any bugs that survive are caught early.
Follow-up. Bed bug eggs can survive a single treatment, so the room is checked again on a scheduled follow-up visit. If bed bugs come back between scheduled visits, Florida Bug Control re-treats at no extra charge. You can read more about the pest itself on our bed bugs page.
Our customers say it best
“Our representative is Craig and he is in good communication when he does his rounds at our company. He will regularly check in with me or other staff if I am not available to inquire if there are any trouble areas that need attention. He goes about completing his job without interruption of our workers. Always dependable and takes an interest.”
