BugCorp guide
How to prepare your home for a pest treatment
Good prep takes five to ten minutes and makes the whole treatment work better. Clear benchtops and floor edges, put food and dishes away, cover fish tanks and switch off their pumps, and keep kids and pets out until treated surfaces are dry. For fleas and bed bugs, hot-wash bedding and vacuum first. We confirm the specifics when you book.
The general prep for any treatment
The aim is access. Most pests travel along skirtings, corners and wet areas, so those are the spots we treat, and they need to be reachable. Ten minutes of tidying the edges of each room is genuinely all it takes.
- Clear benchtops and put food, dishes and utensils away
- Move furniture a hand-span off the walls where you can
- Pick up toys, shoes and clothes from the floor edges
- Cover or put away pet bowls and pet food
- Mention fish tanks, ponds and bee hives when you book
Kitchen and bathroom prep
Kitchens and bathrooms get the most attention because they offer food, water and warmth. Clear out under-sink cupboards if you want them treated, because they are prime cockroach territory. Wipe up crumbs and grease so baits are the most attractive meal available.
Empty the drip trays under the fridge and coffee machine, and fix or mention any dripping taps. Moisture matters as much as crumbs, and a dry kitchen recovers from cockroaches far faster than a damp one.
Kids, pets and fish tanks
Kids and pets stay clear of treated surfaces until they are dry, which usually takes a couple of hours. We confirm the exact timing on the day, because it depends on the areas treated. Dogs and cats are best kept inside, or with a neighbour, while external work is done.
Fish are the sensitive ones. Tank lids are not airtight, so cover the tank with a towel or plastic, switch the pump off during treatment, and uncover once the rooms have aired. Mention the tank when booking and we will plan around it.
Extra prep for fleas and bed bugs
Flea and bed bug work is half treatment, half housekeeping. The product does its part, and the washing and vacuuming do the rest. Skipping the prep is the main reason these jobs need extra visits.
After a flea treatment, vacuum daily for two weeks. It feels backwards, but the vibration encourages the last fleas to hatch out into the treated areas, which is exactly where you want them.
- Hot-wash bedding, pet bedding and soft toys, then high heat in the dryer
- Vacuum all floors, rugs and under beds, then bin the vacuum bag
- Clear bedroom floors so every edge can be treated
- For bed bugs, do not move furniture between rooms before the visit
After the treatment
Seeing more pests in the first few days is normal and actually a good sign. The treatment flushes them out of hiding, and numbers fall away over the following week or two. Hold off mopping hard along the skirtings for the first week so the treatment keeps working.
Keep the sanitation habits going, because a treated home plus an easy food supply recovers slower than a treated home without one. Residential work carries a 6-month warranty, so if activity continues beyond what we told you to expect, call and we come back.
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Common questions
Do I need to leave the house during treatment?
Usually not for long. We ask that kids and pets stay clear of treated areas until surfaces are dry, which typically takes a couple of hours. If anyone in the home is pregnant or has breathing sensitivities, tell us when booking and we will plan around it.
Should I clean before or after the treatment?
Before. Clean, clear floor edges let the treatment reach the skirtings where pests travel. Afterwards, hold off mopping right along the skirting boards for about a week so the treatment keeps doing its job.
What if it rains on the day?
Light rain is rarely a problem, because most external product goes into protected spots like weep holes, eaves and crack lines. If the weather is genuinely bad, we rebook the external component rather than wash your money away.
How do I prepare for a possum or rodent job?
Very little is needed. Make sure we can reach the manhole and any known entry points, and keep ceiling storage clear of the access area. The inspection does the rest.
Last reviewed by Ross, licensed pest technician, October 2026.
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