Bed Bug Treatment Protocol

Purpose

Define the multi-visit residential bed bug treatment protocol. Bed bugs are the most labor-intensive pest in residential service - treatment requires customer cooperation (laundering, decluttering), thorough chemical application, and multiple follow-up visits over 4 - 6 weeks. The customer experience here makes-or-breaks the shop's bed-bug-treatment reputation; one bad outcome generates worse reviews than any other pest service.

Scope

Applies to:

• Single-room residential bed bug infestations (early stage)
• Whole-apartment infestations (more common at customer call time)
• Multi-unit / apartment building work in coordination with property management

Excludes commercial / hospitality work (separate scope + insurance considerations), and heat-treatment-only protocols (specialty service with dedicated equipment).

Responsibilities

• Dispatcher confirms infestation scope + customer preparation requirements at booking
• Lead technician runs the inspection + treatment
• Customer must complete extensive pre-treatment preparation (clear instructions provided 1 week ahead)

Procedure

Pre-visit (customer responsibility - confirm at booking):

1. Strip + launder ALL bedding, clothes from drawers, curtains: hot wash + high heat dryer 30+ minutes
2. Bag clean items in sealed plastic until treatment + 2 weeks after
3. Vacuum all upholstered furniture + carpet edges; dispose of vacuum bag immediately + outdoors
4. Move beds + furniture 6" from walls for treatment access
5. Customer + pets out of the treated area for 4 - 6 hours after treatment

Visit 1 - Inspection + initial treatment (3 - 4 hours)

1. Customer briefing. Set expectation: "3 - 4 visits over 4 - 6 weeks. Bed bugs are persistent - full elimination takes time."
2. Inspect with a flashlight + magnifier. Look for:

• Live bed bugs (5mm, oval, reddish-brown when fed)
• Eggs (1mm, pearly white, in cracks + crevices)
• Shed skins (lighter colored)
• Fecal spots (small black/brown dots on sheets + mattress seams)

1. Document infestation level with photos.
2. Apply combination chemistry:

• Residual insecticide (Temprid, Suspend, Demand) - perimeter + cracks + crevices
• Insect growth regulator (Gentrol, Nyguard) - disrupts egg + nymph development
• Dust (CimeXa or diatomaceous earth) - wall voids, behind outlets, under baseboards (long-lasting residual)

1. Apply per label rate. Don't broadcast-spray mattresses unless the chemistry is mattress-rated; most residential infestations don't need this.
2. Install mattress + box-spring encasements (sold to customer at quote time; trap any remaining bugs inside + prevent reinfestation).

Visit 2 - 7 to 10 days later (1 - 2 hours)

1. Re-inspect for live bugs + new evidence.
2. Re-treat areas where activity persists.
3. Apply ULV (ultra-low-volume) fogger ONLY if customer has cooperated with prep AND infestation is widespread. ULV alone isn't enough; combine with residuals.

Visit 3 - 14 days after visit 2 (1 hour)

1. Re-inspect. Significantly fewer or no bugs is the expected outcome.
2. Spot-treat any active areas.

Visit 4 - Final verification 14 days after visit 3 (30 minutes)

1. Inspect + interview customer about any nighttime bites.
2. If clean, close the job. If active still, more visits.

Acceptance Criteria

• Each visit documents inspection findings + treatment applied
• No live bed bugs at visit 4
• Customer signs each visit's report
• Mattress + box spring encasements installed
• Customer educated on prevention (luggage protocol, second-hand furniture caution)

References

• EPA Bed Bug Treatment Guidelines
• NPMA Bed Bug Best Management Practices
• Product manufacturer labels (Temprid, Suspend, Gentrol, CimeXa)
• Manuall internal: Quarterly Residential Pest Service