How to prepare your home for pest control

Most internal treatments follow the skirting boards, and most external treatments run along the base of the walls, so the technician needs a clear path around the edges of each room and around the outside of the house. Inside, pull furniture out a little where you can and move stored boxes away from the walls.

Outside, shift pot plants, wheelie bins, hoses, toys and stored items back from the wall line so the perimeter can be treated in one continuous band. In our subtropical Brisbane climate, ants and cockroaches travel along these edges and enter through tiny gaps, so an unbroken perimeter treatment is where a lot of the value sits.

Kitchens and pantries are where crawling pests are most active, so this is the room worth spending a few minutes on. Put open food away in the fridge or in sealed containers, clear or cover any dishes on the bench, and empty the kitchen bin so nothing is competing with the treatment.

Wipe down the benches and give the floor a quick clean. A clean, clear kitchen means the products can be applied where cockroaches and ants actually run, rather than over crumbs and clutter that shorten how long the treatment stays effective.

Fish and other aquarium life are sensitive to spray drift, so before an interior treatment, cover the tank and switch off the air pump for the duration of the visit and while surfaces dry. Turn the pump back on once the technician confirms the area is dry.

Put away pet food and water bowls, and move pet bedding out of the rooms being treated. Cats, dogs, birds and small animals should be secured in a room that is not being sprayed, or taken outside or for a walk during the appointment.

Sweeping and vacuuming beforehand is one of the most useful things you can do. It lifts dust, hair and crumbs so the treatment lands on clean surfaces and bonds properly, rather than sitting on a layer of debris that gets swept away later.

Vacuuming also removes some existing eggs and insects, which gives the treatment a head start. Empty the vacuum afterwards and put the contents in an outside bin so nothing is carried back indoors.

Let the technician know if there are young children in the home or anyone with allergies or respiratory sensitivities, so the products and application can be adjusted. During the visit the technician treats the internal skirting lines, entry points, wet areas and the external perimeter, and will explain what has been used.

Afterwards there is a short re-entry and drying window, usually a couple of hours, and the technician will confirm the time on the day. Once dry, keep pets and family off treated surfaces until then. Importantly, do not mop or wipe the skirting boards straight after the treatment, as that removes the product before it has done its job. Normal cleaning of the middle of floors is fine; just leave the treated edges alone for a couple of weeks.