Preparation Checklist

Bed bug heat treatment preparation checklist

One of the reasons UK households across London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent and Surrey choose heat over sprays is the prep is minimal — no bagging the wardrobe, no laundering everything, no living out of bin bags for a fortnight. But a handful of items genuinely must come out before we arrive, and a few small steps the night before make the difference between a good kill and a perfect one. This is the complete checklist we send every customer.
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Must remove from the property

  • All pets — dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, reptiles, fish (yes, including the tank).
  • Live houseplants.
  • Candles, wax melts and crayons.
  • Vinyl records, cassette tapes, polaroid film, undeveloped camera film.
  • Pressurised aerosols — deodorants, hairspray, spray paint, lighter refills.
  • Medication labelled "store below 25°C" or with a max storage temperature.
  • Chocolate, fresh fruit, cheese, butter, wine and any temperature-sensitive food.
  • Firearms ammunition (rare but worth flagging).

Leave in place

  • Wardrobes full of clothes — open the doors. Heat will penetrate.
  • Drawers — pull them slightly open so air can circulate.
  • Mattresses, duvets, pillows, cushions — leave on the bed/sofa.
  • Books, paperwork, soft toys.
  • TVs, fridges, freezers, laptops, games consoles (we'll switch them off).
  • Furniture — the heat needs to penetrate through it.

The night before

  • Do not spray any over-the-counter bug killer in the days before. It scatters bed bugs deeper into voids and makes treatment harder.
  • Do not strip beds or move infested furniture between rooms. You will spread the infestation.
  • Pull furniture 10–15cm away from walls if you can do so safely.
  • Pile loose floor items (shoes, bags) onto beds and sofas so heat can reach skirting boards.
  • Bag any clothes you'll wear the day after into a clean plastic sack and keep them in the car / at a friend's — so you have something clean to change into.

Morning of treatment

  • Pets gone, plants gone, fish tank gone.
  • All heat-sensitive items out (see list above).
  • Smoke alarms — leave them in place, they tolerate the temperature.
  • Heating system off; we manage all temperature control during the day.
  • Park considerately — we need a 30-minute window for unload near the door. In central London (Camden NW1, Westminster SW1, Hackney E8) and town centres like Watford WD17 or Guildford GU1, let us know about permits and loading bays in advance.

Access and power

We bring industrial electric heaters that run from the property's standard 13A sockets across multiple ring mains. For larger properties or HMOs we sometimes use a portable generator placed outside — useful to know if you live in a Westminster mansion block, a Hackney warehouse conversion, or a top-floor flat in Croydon (CR0) with limited power.

We will need a key, fob or door code in advance, plus your mobile number for arrival. Landlords arranging treatment for tenants in Watford (WD17), Romford (RM1) or Maidstone (ME14): please confirm the tenant is briefed before the day.

After the treatment

See our dedicated Aftercare guide for the 14-day post-treatment routine — vacuuming, monitoring and reporting. Most households need to do nothing more than sleep normally and watch for new bites that, in 99% of cases, never come.

Where we deliver this service

We respond across London and the Home Counties on the same day. Click any location below for postcode-level coverage, response times and pricing for that exact area.

See all areas we cover

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to bag or wash everything?

No. The huge advantage of heat treatment over sprays is you do NOT need to launder, bag or pack your wardrobe. Clothes, bedding and soft furnishings are treated in place — the heat penetrates them.

What MUST I remove?

Pets (including fish and reptiles), live plants, candles, vinyl records, pressurised aerosols, medication that lists a max storage temperature, chocolate and any heat-sensitive electronics like polaroid film.

Can I leave the TV, fridge and computers?

Yes. Standard consumer electronics (TVs, fridges, laptops, games consoles) tolerate 55–60°C without issue. We power them down before treatment.

What about musical instruments?

Wooden instruments (guitars, violins, pianos) should be removed if possible. If they cannot move, tell us in advance so we can shield them and adjust the protocol.

Do I need to strip the bed?

No — leave it made. Heat penetrates bedding and the mattress core better when everything is in its normal position, exposing the harbourage points bed bugs actually use.

How long before arrival should prep be done?

Aim to finish prep an hour before our ETA. Heat-sensitive items should already be out of the property; pets in carriers or already gone.

Related guides

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