Heat Treatment Prep List
We have compiled a comprehensive preparation list to help you ensure that the eradication of bedbugs is most affective in your home or business. It is important to follow ALL steps provided below and ALL preparation protocols as they are written to ensure that the treatment will be affective. If all protocols are not followed as written, the treatment may not be effective, and you have a higher chance of re-infesting your home.
If you are Renting Equipment and TLC is not providing a full treatment service, the list below are suggestions for you to complete prior to treatment to get your best results and make your treatment most affective. TLC will not check this check list if you are renting the equipment and you will be able to rent the equipment if not all suggestions have been completed prior to treatment. Please note: TLC does reserve the right to deny delivery/rental if safety hazards, indicated below, have not been completed.
All steps listed below are required to be completed prior to treatment (unless you are renting equipment). Please initial next to each step once you have read over the criteria and have a full understanding of what is expected under each step:
- HOUSEKEEPING AND STORAGE AREAS:
- All floors must have been swept, mopped and/or vacuumed
- Kitchen must be clean and free of clutter
- Dishes washed and put away
- All laundry must be removed
- The house must be tidy. Clutter is not acceptable and is counter-productive to the process (NO HORDING ALLWED)
- Boxes and Bags must have been gone through and eliminated from all treatment areas
- Eliminateany areas that may harbor or hid Bed Bugs within the home
- All drawers (kitchen drawers do not need to be thinned unless directed) must be thinned out and can only be half full with items other than clothing or linen (All clothing and linen must be removed and taken to the laundry the day of treatment)
- All cabinets (kitchen cabinets do not need to be thinned unless directed) must be thinned out and organized/tidied up (All clothing and linen must be removed and taken to the laundry the day of treatment)
Initial if you understand and have completed the above tasks ____
- TRASH & DEBRIS:
- The removal of ALL trash and loose debris from ALL areas requiring treatment is very important and must be completed (the equipment and fans create a lot of movement within the house, loose items can damage equipment, create an ineffective treatment and a safety hazard)
This step must be followed for safety reasons. TLC has the right to refuse the use of equipment if this step is not followed appropriately. In addition, TLC is not responsible for any damages that result in equipment malfunctions if/when loose articles cause equipment malfunction.
Initial if you understand and have completed the above tasks ____(Required when renting)
- LAUNDRY:
- ALL linens and clothing items must all be put in plastic bags and taken to laundry prior to or on the day of treatment.(ALL DIRTY AND CLEAN)
- These items must be placed in a dryer unit on high heat for at least 20 minutes
- These items must be placed in new plastic bags prior to being brought back to the home(these items may not be re-introduced to the home until after treatment is completed)
- All hanging linen and clothing items may be left in closets
- All closets must be de-cluttered and cannot be over stuffed prior to treatment
Initial if you understand and have completed the above tasks ____
- REMOVAL PROCESS:
- ALL (MEANING EVERY ITEEM TAKEN OUT OF THE HOUSE) items listed below that need to be removed must be wiped down with disinfectant wipes and thoroughly inspected.
- After inspection, items must be put directly into a clean plastic bag
- The bag must be tied and wiped down with disinfectant wipes and thoroughly inspected prior to removing from the house
- DO NOT use boxes from the house to carry any items out
- Fresh new boxes or plastic crates that have been wiped clean with disinfectant should be used to move things out of the house We suggest gathering all the items that must be removed into one room close to the door
- After gathering all items, decide what is going into the refrigerator and wipe them down
- Load everything else into clean plastic bags and take them out immediately
- HEAT SENSATIVE AND REMOVAL ITEMS
Your home will be heated to temperatures that are around 120-160 degrees. Due to certain items having a sensitivity to heat, we ask that these items be removed the day prior to the treatment if possible.
SAFTEY ITEMS TO BE REMOVED (Dangerous to be left in the house)
- Ammunition, gun powder, explosives, lighters, and fuels
- Prescription Medications, oxygen tanks, and compressed gases
- Household cleaners and products and shampoos may stay but remember bottles can lose shape. Aerosols and Gel Packs are most important of all to remove.
ALL OTHER ITEMS
- Antiques or family heirlooms made of fragile materials or thin woods.
- Aquariums
- Exposed or loose batteries
- Cash, valuable jewelry (all valuables left onsite can be declared prior totreatment); we are there to help and do not want to be accused of theft!!
- Wax items such as candles, crayons and soaps.
- Chocolates, soft candies, breads and spices should be placed inside therefrigerator during treatment. Some plastic jars will lose shape but not beharmful to the food itself. If you have thin plastic shelving heavily loadeddown, they could potentially lose form as the plastic heats up.
- Peanut butter
- Perfumes, creams and lotions
- Fine linens (i.e. silk), fabrics or textiles can be damaged. These items shouldbe bagged and taken directly to the dry cleaners.
- Air pocket soled shoes.
- Oil paintings, drawings, and unframed pictures. Plastic picture frame covers(commonly replacing glass) can potentially curl up and lose shape. Glassframes will be fine.
- Acrylics may warp or lose shape. This includes some types of furniture too. Besure to discuss any items you think are made out of this material with yourtechnician prior to service.
- Live plants and thin plastic plants
- Wine or other alcohol
- Mini blinds, valances and some vertical blinds. If you leave these itemshanging within the home, you are risking them to loosing form.
ITEM BELOW SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED BUT HAS SPECIAL INSTRUCTION
- All outlet and light switch covers need to be removed prior to our arrival. Weask that you keep all covers and screws together in a bucket or tin inside thehome. These items are notorious for harboring bugs and eggs. DO NOTremove them from the house. Taking them off the walls allows for the airflowto get into the wall voids where bedbugs love to hide.
Initial if you understand and have completed the two above tasks ____
- DRESS PROTOCOL (Applies only to whole home treatments only):
- On the morning of your treatment you must have cleanclothes to change into before you leaving the premise
- We recommend that you place a set of clothes for each family member in the dyer for at least 20 minutes on high the morning of treatment(If a dryer is not available, please have clothes cleaned and sealed tightly in a bag clean prior to day of
- Treatment as indicated in the protocol above)
- Nothing should leave with you except some valuables that have been wiped down and inspected
- Do not take your laptops, bags purses or anything with you without getting permission from the TLC professionals the day of treatment
Initial if you understand and have completed the two above tasks ____(Safety/Dangerous items must be removed when renting)
- PETS (Applies only to whole home treatments only):
- Cats, Dog and all other pets must be removed from the property prior to treatment
- Dogs and Cats will need to be taken out of the home or business location and given a flea bath or grooming the same day as treatment
Initial if you understand and have completed the two above tasks ____
- THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Should you leave any of these items behind, TLC Heating Treatments LLC will not be held responsible for any damages done to or by these items during the treatment process or any other time
- It is your responsibility to have these items removed prior to our arrival for service
- Failure to do so may result in the damage of not only the items themselves but to the area where the item lay may be affected
- After treatment the house will be very hot and need time to cool off before you can reenter
- Upon entering your premise, be sure to immediately turn on Air conditioning
- You may want to turn on air and then leave the premise for a few additional hours for home to cool down
- IF you are suffering from COPD, asthma, or any other respiratory issues of any kind, we strongly recommend you stay with family or in a hotel for the night.
- Initial if you understand and have completed the two above tasks ____
Any questions please call: 614-549-7195 or Text 814-969-9234
Thank you,
TLC BED BUG HEATING TREATMENTS LLC
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