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House Preparation for Eliminating Bed Bug Infestations in Toronto

At Bed Bug Authority Canada, we use a heat treatment method to eliminate bed bug infestations in Toronto and the surrounding areas of Ontario. This process requires us to increase the temperatures in your home to extreme levels, and it's important that you take some precautions to ensure that your property and belongings are not damaged during this process.

Temperatures inside your home will reach 145°F (62°C) during the heat treatment process for bed bug removal. For the sake of comparison, here are a few temperatures with which you are likely familiar:

• Body temperature: 98°F (37°C)
• Room temperature: 70°F (21°C)
• Boiling water: 212°F (100°C)
• Dry sauna: 158-212°F (70-100°C)

Because of this excessive heat, there are a few steps that you'll need to take to prepare your home for the process our Toronto bed bug heat treatment professionals utilize.

First, we'll need you to identify the parts of your home wherein the bed bug infestation is most prevalent so that we can concentrate our efforts there. Our team has worked extensively with eliminating bed bug infestations in Toronto, and we'd be happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have during a consultation.

Next, you'll need to take the following steps to prepare your home for our bed bug extermination treatment.

Protecting Your Belongings

During our heat treatment process use for bed bug removal in Toronto and the surrounding areas, temperatures as high as 62°C or 145°F will be achieved. Certain heat-sensitive items will need to be removed, protected, or treated separately.

Some of these items may include:

• Pets, including fish in aquariums
• Food items
• House plants
• Medication (both prescription and over-the-counter)
• Pressurized containers, i.e., fire extinguishers, aerosol cans, or paints
• Flammable items and liquids, including cigarette lighters
• Delicate wooden items, like musical instruments
• Wax-based products—candles, crayons, lipstick, and make-up
• Hanging pictures (esp. oil-based paintings)
• PVC (vinyl) blinds, verticals, Venetians, Louvre shutters, faux wood
• Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglas, or Perspex

Electronics

Any electronics that are left in your home should be turned off completely before the heat treatment begins.

Clothing

Clothing to be worn on the day of the treatment should be dried at the hottest setting for at least 30 minutes as you prepare to leave your Ontario home. All other clothing will be treated in the home. Excessive clothing should ideally be treated in a dryer at a commercial Laundromat.

Containment of Infestation Prior to Heat Treatment

Containment of a bed bug infestation can be maintained by vacuuming that area, including all crevices on the mattress and box spring:

• Rubbing alcohol when sprayed will kill all life stages on contact.
• Diatomaceous Earth is an organic pesticide used for bed bugs and can be dusted into crevices.
• A hairdryer at its hottest setting can be used for spot treatment of smaller items.

Other Home Preparation Steps Prior to Treating Bed Bug Infestations in Toronto

• Remove face plate covers on electrical receptacles/outlets and switches to allow hot air into the walls.
• Move all furniture at least 8" away from the walls, while leaving an 18" x 18" space in the corners of each room to facilitate fan placement.
• In order to aid in heat penetration, clothing should be removed from suitcases, boxes, totes, drawers, and shelves and placed on surfaces, stacked no more than 3" high.
• Blankets, sheets, duvets, towels, etc. can be draped over open doors, chairs, etc.
• Clothing should ideally be hanging, but it can be placed loosely in plastic laundry baskets.
• Cardboard boxes should not be stacked, and should be raised off the floor to allow the hot air to flow across all surfaces and to prevent bugs from seeking refuge underneath.
• Remove the fabric from the underside of box springs, chairs, and couches to allow air-flow access.
• Certain small items can be stored in the fridge and oven (remember to remove them). All items such as paper should be secured to prevent being blown away.

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