How to prepare for an exterminator

Many people don’t realise they need to do a little bit of work at their home or business before the exterminator comes. In fact, many pest control professionals will refuse to treat a property that has not been properly prepped before their arrival. Lack of preparation can lead to unsuccessful results and re-infestation, so it’s important to follow a few simple steps to get your premises ready.

To keep the pest specialist happy and ensure the most effective treatment possible, we’ve shared five tips on how best to prepare for an exterminator in your home or business environment.

Read more: How much does pest control cost?

1. Take note of exactly where you’ve seen the pests

First, write down a list of all the areas of your property where you’ve seen pests lurking. Some pests (especially cockroaches) spend a lot of time in hiding, so they may not be easy to spot when your pest control technician arrives. If you have an infestation of ants, it’s also important to pay attention to where they are as they are tiny and can spread fast. A list of sightings makes it easier for your technician and it helps to ensure no areas or infestation go untreated.

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2. Scrub the floor and vacuum the carpets

All hard floors and carpets need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove visible pests and eggs. Use a good detergent on all hard floors and plenty of elbow grease. When vacuuming carpets, don’t forget to get into cracks with your vacuum crevice attachment. As soon as you’ve finished scrubbing and vacuuming, take your used cloths, mops and vacuum bag outside and seal everything in a separate bag before throwing in the bin. Don’t forget to give the entire vacuum cleaner a wipe down after.

3. Move furniture and large appliances away from walls

Do I need to move furniture for pest control? Your pest control expert will need full and free access to anywhere pests have been seen. Even if you haven’t spotted any pests around particular items of furniture or appliances, you still need to move them for cleaning. Move all your furniture and appliances away from the walls to clean behind and beneath each of them. Once you’ve finished cleaning, leave your large belongings at least three or four feet from the wall so your technician can check for any signs of recent activity.

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4. Put all food items away

Check any food items that have been left out on countertops for contamination. If everything looks untouched by pests, remove the foods from your work surfaces and store your items safely away. Small appliances and cooking utensils should also be removed and stored somewhere if you have space. If for any reason you need to keep food items outside of the fridge or cupboards, then they must be fully covered before and for some time after pest control treatment.

5. Cover cages and aquariums with sheets or towels

If you can, relocate your pets before receiving treatment. For any pets that cannot be kept outside the building or relocated to a friend or neighbour’s house, it’s vital to cover their cages with large sheets or towels and keep your pet in their enclosures. Whether it be aquariums, bird cages, insect tanks or any other type of animal enclosure, your exterminator will not treat your property while your pets are indoors if they are not properly covered and protected.

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