Deciding when to clean your home in relation to pest control treatments can be a bit confusing. Do you tidy up before the exterminators arrive, or is it better to wait until after the treatment is done? The short answer is that both before and after cleaning play an important role in ensuring the best results from your pest control treatment. Let’s break it down.

Preparing your home before pest control professionals arrive is essential. This helps make sure that the treatment reaches all the right spots where pests might be hiding, while also preventing any contamination.

Declutter and Tidy Up:

Start by clearing out clutter, especially in areas where pests are likely to nest, like the kitchen, pantry, or storage areas. This makes it easier for pest control specialists to reach hidden corners and ensures that pests have fewer places to hide.

Vacuum and Dust:

Giving your home a good vacuuming before the treatment can help remove pests and their eggs. Dusting surfaces and vacuuming under furniture helps eliminate potential food sources for pests and makes the pest control treatment more effective.

Secure Food and Dishes:

Store food securely in sealed containers, and be sure to cover any dishes or utensils to prevent contact with chemicals used during the treatment. Keeping food away will prevent pests from returning once they smell a snack!

Move Furniture:

In some cases, pests hide behind large furniture pieces, like couches or refrigerators. Moving these items slightly away from the walls allows the pest control technician better access to spray or apply treatments where pests often hide.

Cleaning After Pest Control

While it’s important to clean before pest control, there are some do's and don'ts to keep in mind after treatment.

Wait to Deep Clean:

After the pest control treatment, it’s recommended to avoid deep cleaning for a few days. This is to make sure the chemicals have time to work and aren’t accidentally wiped away. However, light cleaning, such as wiping up spills or sweeping, is okay as long as you avoid cleaning areas where the treatment was applied.

Hold Off on Mopping the Perimeter:

It’s best to avoid mopping the perimeter of the rooms for a few weeks. This area is where pest control professionals often focus their treatment, and mopping too soon might wash away the chemicals and reduce the treatment’s effectiveness.

Monitor for Increased Pest Activity:

In the days following your pest control treatment, you might notice an increase in pest activity. Don’t worry—this is completely normal. The treatment is working, and pests may become more visible as they try to escape the treated areas. During this time, it’s okay to vacuum up any dead insects that appear.

Final Tips

Keeping your home clean and free of clutter is a great way to help prevent future infestations. Regular vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, and storing food properly can make your home less attractive to pests.

While both before and after cleaning are important, remember that the main goal is to let the pest control treatment do its job. By following the advice of your pest control technician and keeping up with basic household cleaning routines, you can keep your home pest-free and healthy.

Contact our team today to learn more about our pest control services and our safe and eco-friendly pest management solutions.