Preparation for a bed bug treatment

Let's face it, you are already stressed out enough over having found out that you have bed bugs feasting on your blood all night long. Now the pest control company hands you bed bug preparation list that looks five feet long. The long and the short of it is this. To get the best bang for your buck, you have to take this preparation sheet and own it. Think of this treatment as a new start. Spring clean. Clean out all the clutter in your closets, drawers, and bedrooms. Throw away all those old cloths. Now it's time for the laundry. Bag up all your laundry in trash bags, just enough to throw into your washing machine per bag and remember, do not overload. Now seal these bags. Load up the washer and take the bag outside to the trash. When that wash is done then the hottest setting dryer, now dry cloths into a new bag and the cycle continues until all cloths are washed. Do this for all cloths in closets, drawers, so the bedding, sheets, blankets. How about suits? Dry cleaner. How about sneakers? Bag all the sneakers and shoes that won't be bothers by heat and place in the dryer for an hour. Things like purses and leather shoes can be fumigated with Nuvan Prostrips. Your pest control person can help you get them or they can be bought online at any do it yourself pest control supply website. Usually you seal these items in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. The gas kills the bed bugs.
Now that the laundry is out of the way, move the furniture away from the walls and take off any switch plate and out let covers. Your pest control person should be dusting these areas. If they are not, fire them and do not allow them into your home.
By reducing clutter and doing the laundry, you are eliminating any bugs or eggs hiding and reducing the population. Another thing to do is take down your curtains and run them through the dryer as well. Bed bugs like curtain rods, and they may use the curtains or drapes as a place to rest also. If you have carpet, talk to your pest control person and see if they want you to pull the carpet away from the walls. I would recommend this as the bugs can hide in the area between the tack board and the wall. Any throw rugs should also be put in to the Dryer. Remember, never overload your washer or dryer. You want the heat to be effective and not trying to heat too much stuff.
Good luck and work with your pest control company, not against them.