What to Do Before a Pest Control Visit: A Simple Prep Guide

Good news first: for most modern pest treatments, preparation is minimal — the days of emptying every cabinet and vacating for hours are largely over. But a few simple steps genuinely improve results, and a couple of well-intentioned mistakes can undermine the whole visit. Here's the short version we send every new customer.

Do These Before Any Visit

Fifteen minutes covers it:

• Note where you've seen activity — photos with timestamps help enormously
• Clear access to baseboards, under sinks, and problem areas
• Pick up pet bowls, toys, and children's items from treatment zones
• Secure pets in an untreated room or outside during service
• Mow the lawn if you're getting a yard treatment — short grass lets product reach the soil

The One Big DON'T

Don't deep-clean or spray store-bought products right before the visit. Wiping down baseboards removes the pheromone trails your technician reads like a map, and DIY sprays can repel pests away from professional bait placements — actively making the treatment less effective. Save the deep clean for a few days after service (your technician will tell you exactly when).

Service-Specific Prep

Some treatments come with their own short checklist: flea services need floors vacuumed and washable pet bedding laundered; bed bug treatments come with a specific written prep sheet (follow it exactly — over-prepping spreads bugs); rodent exclusion needs attic and garage access cleared. Whatever you book, GreenShield sends the right prep list with your confirmation, so there's no guesswork.

After the Visit

Expect to see some pest activity for a few days — treatments flush pests from harborage, and baits need time to work through colonies. That's the treatment succeeding, not failing. Your service report explains what was done, what to watch for, and when we'll follow up. And if anything seems off between visits, re-services are free on every plan. Just call.