Before the appointment, confirm the rooms, the selected method and the written preparation list with your provider. Contain bedding and laundry before moving it, keep untreated items out of other rooms, and tell the team about delicate or heat-sensitive belongings, children, pets and access. Use this checklist to settle the practical questions, then follow the instructions confirmed for your selected treatment.
A treatment visit goes more smoothly when the practical questions are settled beforehand. This guide covers preparation only. To confirm that you have bed bugs, see the bed bug guide; for luggage and laundry after a trip, see the travel checklist.
Confirm the rooms and the method first
Preparation depends on what is being treated and how, so ask before you move anything. Ask the provider to confirm that bed bugs were identified, which rooms or areas are included and which method is selected. Four Solutions publishes a hybrid package of heat with targeted residual treatment, and a separately assessed heat-only option. The hybrid package is not chemical-free, so ask which products are used and what that means for your household.
The bed bug treatment page sets out the methods, and your written quote confirms the actual price, eligible offers and conditions.
Handle bedding and laundry without spreading it
The main preparation mistake is carrying bed bugs from one room to another. General US EPA guidance on preparing for treatment supports containing items and avoiding spread while preparing. Follow the provider's instructions and each fabric's care label when handling laundry. It is not Singapore regulation and it is not Four Solutions' checklist.
- Bag before you move. Put suitable bedding and laundry into a bag where it is, and keep the bag closed until it reaches the washer or dryer.
- Keep untreated items where they are. Do not shift them into other rooms to make space. Ask how items that must be moved should be handled.
- Ask for drying instructions. Request written steps for movement and for drying suitable fabrics, following care labels. Washing alone may not be enough, so this guide gives no universal time or temperature. For a fuller handling checklist, see bed bugs on clothes: washing, drying and safe handling.
- Record before you tidy. Note where and when you saw anything, take photos, and list earlier treatments that you or others tried.
- Ask before cleaning or spraying. Check with the provider before you spray or clean any surface that has been treated.
Make beds, furniture and skirting reachable, only as instructed
The team needs access to the bed, furniture joints and skirting, so follow the provider's instructions on what to clear. Do not remove electrical covers, move heavy furniture, set up heaters or try a do-it-yourself chemical or heat treatment. If something blocks access, say so and ask who will move it.
Tell the provider about delicate and heat-sensitive items
Mention candles, aerosols, electronics and other delicate belongings before the visit. Do not assume that everything must leave the room, or that everything can stay. Ask for the approved item list for your selected method, and for a clean storage route: where removed items go, and how they come back without untreated items following them.
Arrange people, pets and access in writing
Children, other occupants and pets should follow the written instructions for your method. Confirm the absence, re-entry and ventilation arrangements for your household before the appointment. Plan keys, building security and apartment access for the day. In a condominium, rental or other shared property, check whether the managing agent or landlord must give permission before the visit.
Questions to request in writing
- Which rooms and areas are covered, and which method is selected?
- Who prepares and moves items, and who carries them back?
- How long must people and pets stay out, and what re-entry and ventilation conditions apply?
- What aftercare and cleaning should follow, and what should not be cleaned or sprayed?
- Who do you contact if you see activity again, and what evidence should you send?
- Which warranty terms apply in your actual quote, and what is excluded?
Four Solutions' bed bug page says the assessment and written quote confirm the covered areas, preparation, follow-up and refund conditions. Ask for those details before the day.
After the visit
Follow the aftercare list you were given. Keep dated notes and photos if you see activity again, and report it instead of treating it yourself. Continue the agreed follow-up plan and report dated observations so the provider can assess whether further work is needed. Bed bugs can also be reintroduced, for example after travel; the luggage checklist covers that separate question. For the weeks after the visit, see what to expect after treatment, including an observation log.
Send your questions before the day
Send the property type, the rooms affected, earlier treatment and who sleeps in those rooms, including children and pets. Message Four Solutions on WhatsApp and ask for the preparation steps for your selected method in writing.
Source: US EPA, Preparing for treatment against bed bugs (last updated 6 July 2026; checked 9 October 2026), paraphrased in a few lines. It is general United States guidance, not Singapore regulation, an endorsement by Four Solutions or Four Solutions' own checklist.
Bed bug treatment preparation FAQs
Do I need to wash all my laundry before bed bug treatment?
Not necessarily all of it. Ask which items the provider wants handled and how. Bag laundry before you carry it, follow each care label, and treat drying as a separate step from washing, because washing alone may not be enough. Items that cannot be washed or dried should stay bagged until you have instructions.
Should I throw away my mattress before treatment?
Do not assume you must. Whether a mattress can be treated or should be replaced depends on its condition and the method, so tell the provider what you see and ask for an assessment before you dispose of anything. If an item is discarded, ask how to move it out without spreading bed bugs through the home.
What about pets, and when can we go back in?
Follow the written instructions for your method. Ask where pets should stay, how long people and pets must stay out, and what re-entry and ventilation conditions apply, and get the answers in writing.
Is preparing for heat-only treatment different from hybrid?
It can be, so ask which method is selected. Four Solutions publishes a hybrid package of heat plus targeted residual treatment, and a separately assessed heat-only option. The hybrid package is not chemical-free. Ask for the item list, access and re-entry instructions for the method you are quoted.
Can I ask for the preparation checklist in writing?
Yes, and it is sensible to ask before the day. Request the rooms and method, who prepares and moves items, absence and re-entry conditions, aftercare and the follow-up contact. The preparation and follow-up details should be confirmed in your written quote. Follow the instructions provided for your home and selected treatment.