Consider infestation before treating

David Newfang, ACE

For many of us during childhood, bed bugs were merely a bedtime rhyme. However, over the past 20 years, they have made an expansive return. Bed bugs can hide in the tiniest cracks and crevices in infested rooms, and not just directly on beds or seating. This makes thoroughness of inspection and treatment a must.

Consider the infestation levels, pressure and nature of the account (degree of clutter, etc.) to determine the treatment procedure(s). Preparation procedures for specific treatment must be performed properly, or the treatment could fail.

Communicate with the client about follow-up services, as well as the probability of re-infestation and the steps to prevent it. Continue to monitor the jobsite until the desired result is achieved. In accounts with a high likelihood of re-infestation, apply preventive treatment with an appropriately labeled silica dust to help mitigate any new bed bugs brought into the area.