General prep
- Pull furniture a little away from walls so baseboards are reachable.
- Empty cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks.
- Put food, dishes and utensils away or cover them.
- Vacuum floors and along baseboards.
- Unlock gates and side yards for exterior treatment.
Kids, pets and plants
- Ask how long to keep people and pets off treated areas.
- Cover fish tanks and turn off their air pumps if asked.
- Move pet bowls, toys and bedding out of the way.
Pest-specific prep
Bed bug, flea and roach treatments usually need more prep, like washing and drying bedding on high heat, emptying closets or vacuuming thoroughly. Ask for a written prep sheet before the visit.
After the treatment
Seeing more insects for a few days can be normal as they're flushed out. Avoid mopping treated baseboards right away, and ask when it's OK to clean.