What to Do Before and After a Pest Control Treatment

You’ve scheduled a pest control service and the service date is quickly approaching, but now you’ve begun to worry about what you need to do to get ready. Should you get everything up off the floor? Store all food items in sealed bins? Remove your kids’ toy from your backyard? And what about afterwards? Are there any particular rules you need to follow after a pest control service? 

There’s a lot to think about before your first pest control service, mainly because it’s still unfamiliar to you. However, being prepared can ensure that the service goes smoothly and leads to the most effective results possible. Pest control is a partnership between you and your technician. Giving your technician access to key areas and following post-treatment instructions will allow you to yield the best results. Instead of wondering what you need to do before and after a service visit, check out our guide below to answer your pre- and post-service questions. 

Why Does Preparation Matter Before Pest Control?

Does it really matter if you complete that pre-service preparation list your technician gave you? It can! We ask you to do certain tasks before a pest control treatment because we want to make sure you get the best results. Why does preparation matter?

• It makes it easier for your technician to access problem areas

• It allows us to provide better treatment coverage

• It increases the effectiveness of our treatments

• It improves the safeguards for your family and pets

• It allows us to identify pest activity faster and more accurately

If you want to maximize the value of your service visit, preparing your home beforehand is the best way to do it.

What Should You Clean and Declutter Before Treatment?

When it comes to preparing your house for a pest control treatment, don’t worry; you don’t have to clear out the entire place to get ready. However, there are several things you should do to prepare.

• Vacuum your carpets and rugs

• Sweep your floors

• Wipe down countertops

• Remove clutter from corners and along baseboards

• Pick up toys, clothing, and loose household items

Pests often hide behind clutter, and technicians need visibility to inspect and treat effectively, so tidying up prior to our visit can make a world of difference in the results you get.

What Should You Do with Food, Dishes, and Pet Items?

Do you need to remove all of the food in your house before All-American Pest Control shows up to treat your house? No! That said, you also don’t want to simply leave open food out on your counters or your pet’s food loose in their dishes during our treatments. We recommend:

• Storing food in sealed containers

• Refrigerating exposed food items

• Putting away dishes and utensils

• Storing pet food

• Emptying pet bowls before treatment, if instructed

Securing your food sources prior to a pest control service protects your household items. When you get into a routine of storing food sources, it also helps eliminate the resources pests rely on for survival when they get into your house. This makes it less likely that you’ll end up with pest infestations in the future.

How Should You Prepare Furniture, Pets, and Outdoor Areas?

You’ve tidied your house, removed clutter, and properly stored your food. What else should you do prior to your pest control technician’s arrival? This can depend on your particular living situation and the type of pest control you’re having done, so always check with your technician before you get to work. Some common preparations you may be told to do include:

• Moving large furniture away from walls when possible

• Creating access to baseboards and treatment zones

• Covering aquariums and turning off air pumps, if instructed

• Securing cats and dogs

• Relocating birds or other sensitive pets, if necessary

• Unlocking gates and ensuring technicians can access the yard

What Should You Expect During the Treatment?

The day has arrived! Your pest control technician is pulling into your driveway. What should you expect during the treatment?

Before your technician does anything, they’ll talk with you to discuss your concerns and find out where you’ve seen signs of pest activity. They’ll then conduct a thorough inspection of your home and property to identify pests, nesting sites, harborage areas, entry points, and conducive conditions. Once they’ve completed their inspection, they’ll go over what they found with you, taking the time to review problem areas and recommend an appropriate treatment plan for your unique situation.

If a treatment is occurring the same day as the inspection, it’s important that you follow any instructions given to you by your technician. This may include leaving your property for a set period of time. Treatment methods vary depending on the target pest and severity of activity, so instructions will vary depending on your situation.

What Areas Should You Avoid Cleaning Right Away?

When you return to your house, you may be tempted to tidy up again now that someone has been there. Of course, most tidying is completely fine, but there are certain things you’ll want to wait on in order to get the best results from your pest control treatment. 

Some of the treatments used by your pest control technician may include residual products. These are designed to work over time and they can only do so if they remain in place. To make sure they stay effective, we recommend avoiding mopping treated floors near baseboards and not wiping treated cracks and crevices.

If you have any questions about what treatments were used or where treatments were applied, ask your technician or give All-American a call! We’re happy to answer your questions.

Is It Normal to See More Bugs After a Treatment?

Many homeowners assume that as soon as a treatment is complete, they’ll be done with pest sightings. After all, the point of a pest control treatment is to get rid of the pests. It can be very concerning when instead of disappearing, pests suddenly seem even more active than before the treatment. 

Rest easy! There is a reason for an increase in pest sightings after a pest control treatment. Many treatments are designed to flush pests out of their hiding spots. This is a good thing because it ends up eliminating all of the pests in your house, not just the ones you can see. The downside is that you’ll see an increase in pests for a few days following the treatment as they flee from their hiding spots. 

An increase in pest sightings after a treatment is normal and should disappear in a few days. If you’re still seeing a lot of pests beyond what your technician says following a treatment, give us a call and we’ll return to your house to determine if a follow-up is required.

What Can You Do to Help Prevent Pests from Returning?

Now that you’ve addressed your active pest problems, instead of dealing with pests every time they show up, wouldn’t it be nice to be proactive so that you can avoid pest infestations in the future? Long-term pest prevention after treatment is entirely possible if you know what to do. All-American Pest Control recommends these prevention tips to help keep your house pest-free:

Sanitation

• Take out the trash regularly

• Clean food spills promptly

• Store food in sealed containers

Moisture Control

• Fix leaks

• Reduce humidity

• Address standing water

Exclusion

• Seal cracks and gaps

• Repair screens

• Install weather stripping

Ongoing Monitoring

• Watch for new activity

• Report recurring issues

Taking these actions are great ways to extend the benefits of your professional treatment from All-American Pest Control.

When Should You Contact Your Pest Control Company Again?

If you choose to get recurring services, we’ll visit your property on a quarterly basis to maintain your home’s protection with exterior perimeter barrier treatments. Free re-treatments are available if pests show up between scheduled services.

Feel free to contact us at any time with questions or concerns. It’s our pleasure to provide you with the information you need about pests, treatments, and results to set your mind at ease.

Why Do Ongoing Pest Control Services Deliver Better Long-Term Results?

Many homeowners wait until pests show up in their homes to call All-American Pest Control, but ongoing pest control is a better option if you want to keep your house pest-free in the long-term. Ongoing pest control provides:

• Continuous monitoring

• Seasonal adjustments

• Ongoing refreshing of protective barriers

• The ability to address new pest pressures before they become infestations

Ready for a Pest-Free Home? Contact All-American Pest Control

Now that you know what to expect before, during, and after a pest control service, get in touch with All-American Pest Control to schedule your free home evaluation. Successful pest control starts before the service begins and continues afterwards with proper prevention. You have a part to play in successful pest control for your home, but by partnering with All-American Pest Control, you can leave the bulk of the work to the professionals. We will:

• Identify pest activity

• Recommend the right treatment plan

• Provide preparation guidance

• Deliver long-term protection for your Tennessee home

Book a FREE evaluation and get expert recommendations tailored to your home by contacting us today.

Comprehensive Pest Control Solutions in Nashville, TN & Nearby Areas

Since 1961, All-American Pest Control has been your go-to team of trusted pest experts for homes, businesses, and home builders throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Our expert team offers termite treatments, mosquito reduction, rodent removal, ant and spider control, and wasp nest removal—keeping your property protected year-round. As a local, family-owned company, we take pride in offering reliable, professional pest solutions with outstanding customer service.

We proudly serve: Brentwood, Centerville, Fairview, Thompson’s Station, Arrington, Leiper’s Fork, Windstone, Westhaven, McKay’s Mill, Ladd Park, Rizer Point, Silver Stream, Annandale, Canterbury, Governors Club, Avalon, LaurelBrooke, Belle Vista, Lockwood Glen, Lookaway Farms, Maplewood, McLemore Farms, Meadowview Estates, College Grove, Franklin, Nolensville, Primm Springs, as well as the entire Williamson County and Greater Nashville areas.

For trusted pest control in Nashville, TN, and these surrounding communities, contact All-American Pest Control today! Call (615) 824-8814 or Schedule a Free Consultation online.