Guides
How to Prepare Your London Home for Bed Bug Heat Treatment (Checklist)
Good preparation is one of the biggest things you control. Heat only works where it can reach, so a clear, uncluttered room with the right items removed or set aside gives the treatment its best chance. This checklist covers what most London homes, flats and short-lets need to do before a monitored heat treatment.
Your own booking may have extra or different instructions, so always follow the written prep list we send you. If anything on this page doesn't fit your property, call 020 3951 6155 and we'll tell you what to do.
New to heat vs spray? Read our guide on bed bug heat treatment vs spray for London homes first, then come back to this checklist.
Why preparation matters
Bed bugs hide in seams, bed frames, skirting boards, furniture joints and clutter. Heat has to reach those hiding places at lethal temperatures for long enough, and be monitored there, not just in the room air. Piles of belongings, furniture pushed hard against walls and packed drawers create cool pockets where bugs can survive. Good prep reduces those pockets and protects your belongings.
1–2 days before: the quick checklist
- Strip the beds. Take off sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases and mattress covers. Leave the mattress, base and frame in place.
- Wash and dry bedding and clothes you can. Use the hottest wash the label allows (60°C where possible), then dry on a high setting if the fabric allows.
- Bag clean laundry straight away. Seal it in clean, tied bags or lidded boxes and keep it out of the treatment rooms until afterwards, so it doesn't pick bugs up again.
- Declutter floors and surfaces. Clear shoes, boxes, toys, paper piles and anything stored under beds or sofas so we can see and reach harbourages.
- Empty bedside tables and clear headboard areas. Bag and set aside small items.
- Take out rubbish and recycling from the treatment rooms.
- Vacuum floors, skirting and soft furniture if you can, then empty the vacuum into a sealed bag and bin it outside.
Heat-sensitive items: remove or set aside
Professional heat is planned around your contents, but some things should not be heated. Remove these from the treatment rooms (or put them aside as instructed), and tell us about anything unusual:
- Aerosols and pressurised cans (deodorant, hairspray, cleaning sprays)
- Medicines and prescription items
- Candles, wax items and wax-based cosmetics
- Lighters, fuel and flammable liquids
- Food and drink that can spoil or melt
- Plants and flowers
- Vinyl records, certain plastics, and delicate or valuable items with heat warnings
- Anything you're unsure about, such as instruments, art, or medical devices
When in doubt, ask. It's much easier to move something beforehand than to repair it afterwards.
Furniture and access
- Pull furniture away from walls. Leave a gap (around 15cm or more) so heat and airflow can reach skirting and the back of furniture.
- Open wardrobes, drawers and cupboard doors if we ask, and don't pack them tightly.
- Don't stack items on beds or sofas.
- Keep clear access to the bed, skirting boards, radiators and any other hotspots we've discussed.
Pets, people and the day itself
- People and pets leave during the heat window and return only after rooms have cooled and we give the all-clear. Plan somewhere to be.
- Arrange care for pets, including fish and reptiles with tanks or vivariums, and tell us about them in advance.
- Check parking or access for our equipment, and make sure we can get into every room being treated.
Do's and don'ts
Do
- Follow the written prep list for your job
- Bag and seal laundry before moving it
- Tell us about anything heat-sensitive or medical
- Ask if you're unsure
Don't
- Don't apply DIY insecticides or foggers before or around treatment unless we've said so. They can scatter bugs, add flammable residues, and complicate the job.
- Don't move items from infested rooms into "clean" rooms unbagged. This can spread bugs.
- Don't throw out furniture without telling us, since dumped items can spread bugs and may not be needed.
- Don't leave cardboard boxes and piles in treatment rooms.
FAQ
Do I have to wash everything?
Not everything. Items that can be washed or heat-treated safely are the easiest to deal with. For things that can't be washed, ask us before you decide. Heat itself can treat many fabrics and contents in the room, within what's safe.
What if I can't fully declutter?
Do what you can, and tell us. Heavy clutter creates cool spots, so we may need more time, may advise a rebook, or may adjust the plan. We'll be straight about it rather than pretending prep doesn't matter.
Will heat damage my home or furniture?
Professional treatment is planned to reach insect-lethal temperatures while protecting the building and typical contents. Heat-sensitive items are the main risk, which is why the checklist matters.
Can I stay in the property?
Not during the heat window. People and pets leave, and we confirm when it's safe to return.
Is one visit enough?
Heat is designed to kill bed bugs and eggs in the treated rooms in a planned visit, but outcomes depend on the infestation, how thorough the prep is, and whether bugs are elsewhere. Whole-property heat treatments come with a 6-month written free re-treatment guarantee.
Ready to book, or unsure what applies to you?
London Bed Bug Heat Treatments is a heat-only service for London homes, short-lets and commercial properties. If you'd like a straight answer on prep for your property:
- Phone: 020 3951 6155
- Email: info@londonbedbugheattreatments.co.uk
- Or use Get a quote on this site
We'll tell you what to do before we arrive, and what to expect on the day.
This guide is general advice. Always follow the written preparation instructions for your specific booking.