Are you getting ready for termite fumigation and wondering, What Needs to Be Removed When Tenting for Termites?
Which items can remain, which should be bagged and which should be taken out? Will there be residue on everything in the home? Do you have to wash everything in the home that remains?
In this article, we’ll discuss what needs to be removed when tenting for termites.
What Needs to Be Removed When Tenting for Termites?
Remove or double bag any packaged goods that are edible. Even if they have not been opened before, you should still double bag them. This includes cereal, rice or chips.
Any items that are sealed in plastic such as mattresses should be split open in order for the fumigation and aeration process to take full effect.
Plants, medicines, toiletries, skin care products, pet supplies, toys and foods, should be removed.
What to Do Before Termite Fumigation
All food products intended for animals and pets including medicines or any other types of recreational products such as tobacco or alcohol should be removed or sealed by double bagging them. Plants should be removed as well.
Items that can remain in the home:
- Plastic
- Glass
- Metal bottles
- Cans
- Jars
The jars themselves need to have the airtight seal from the original manufacturer. If they are not sealed and you have only closed the lid, considered double bagging them in special nylon bags. The fumigating company should be able to provide you with bags that are intended for this process.
Anything with an airtight seal from the manufacturer such as soups or drinks and medicines that have never been opened can remain in the house without double bagging them. These items can include drinks, pantry items like soup, and medicines.
How do I Prepare For Fumigation?
Before the fumigation process begins:
- The gas should be cut off within 24 hours.
- Water the surrounding perimeter of your house for a depth of 6 inches. Watering help to protect the plants that are outside of the tent. It also helps to prevent the fumigants from leaking at the base of the tent.
- Open all doors.
- Remove toiletries, medicines and foods that are not sealed.
- Unplug electronics
- Find a place to stay.
What Should be Bagged During Fumigation?
Bag all items that are in resealable containers. Any plastic containers that have been opened in the past should also be bagged.
The type of bagging that you should use is nylon or something special that the fumigation company has given to you.
Bag the following food items:
- Milk
- Butter
- Sour cream
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Vegetables
- Fruits
How Do You Prepare For Termite Fumigation?
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for a termite fumigation:
- Unlock everything.
- Shut Off the Gas.
- Check the fine print in the contract.
- Seal Items or Remove them.
- Don’t Leave the Linens or clothes.
- Plant and Animals need to go.
- Find a Place to Stay.
When it’s time to prepare for termite fumigation, make sure that you unlock everything. The professional service representatives need to be able to access all rooms in the house.
Remember to shut off the gas 24 hours before starting immigration. Inspect the contract that you are signing closely. It termites come back the professional service may include a free additional fumigation to make sure that they can guarantee their ability to get rid of termites from your home.
Bag or take out items that have been opened in the past that are ingestible. Your linens and clothes can remain in the home, but if you wish, you can remove them to ensure that the fumigation gases do not seep into the fabrics.
All plants and animals must be removed. Find a place to stay during the fumigation process which should only last about 24 to 48 hours.
Do I Need to Wash All My Dishes After Fumigation?
Dishes, linens and clothes may or may not be washed after fumigation. The choice is yours. Personally, I would wash everything after termite fumigation.
I’m being told by the professional fumigation company that the gas dissipates from the contents in which it has make contact with.
Drawers and cabinets should always be left open for the aeration process to fully occur. At this point, the gas will dissipate and you should not find any toxic remnants on any dishes, linens or clothes.
If you would like to be on the safe side or if it makes you feel more comfortable, you should wash everything that you think requires additional cleaning after fumigation. This includes your dishes.
Do Toiletries Need To Be Bagged For Fumigation?
Yes. Remove or bag all toiletries. This includes medicines, drugs, tobacco products, alcohols, plastic metal bottles and anything that is not sealed directly from the manufacturer.
During the aeration process, the gas itself is going to dissipate from most of your items. Unfortunately, the professional service that is human fumigating your home does not guarantee the safety of all remaining products in the house.
For your health, you should remove anything that is ingestible or double bag with special nylon bags that they give you.
If they do not provide you with any bagging, you should either remove the items or purchase thick nylon bags and double bag the items yourself.
Can I Leave My Refrigerator on During Fumigation?
No. Do not leave the refrigerator on. Open all the doors including the refrigerator doors. All the drawers on your desks, cabinets, closets and even your safe should be open.
Remove all the food from your refrigerator and freezer. The food should not be remaining in your pantry either unless you are double bagging everything in there.
If items have the original manufacturers airtight seal on them, then they can remain in the house.
Does Fumigation Affect Electronics?
Fumigation does not affect any electronic products in your house. If you would like to be extra safe, you can remove these electronic items from your home first.
There is no point to baggies electronic items because the gas is going to pass through them with the fumigation. The gas is meant to pass through large areas around your whole building as well.
It dissipates into the open spaces right away. This is why the fumigation process usually only lasts about 24 hours. Your electronics shouldn’t be harmed.
Does Fumigation Ruin Your Stuff?
Fumigation companies do encourage you to remove any types of food or valuable belongings to make sure that they are not responsible for any damages caused.
They do indicate that your furniture, clothing carpets or other large items in your home will not be affected.
The current type of fumigants that exterminators use do not leave residue. It’s a gas that dissipates rather quickly. Ensure that most of the house is open for aeration to take effect.
How do I Clean M y House After Tenting?
Thankfully, you do not have to clean your house too much after tenting. This is because current uses of fumigation gases do not leave a residue behind.
If you wish to clean your house after tenting, use a damp cloth and wipe all the surfaces around your house to get rid of any remnants of fumigants.
Discard the cloth after using it. You can use a solution of water and vinegar that works just as well as any type of soap.
Make sure to wipe:
- cabinets
- doors
- knobs
- drawers
- cupboards
How do I Prepare My House For Tenting For Termites?
- Preparing your house for tenting for termites involves making plans for your family to stay elsewhere.
- It is now time to seal all consumable items and double bags of thick nylon. If items are already quite low and you do not wish to seal all them you can either remove or toss them away.
- Your clothes can remain in the home, but the closet door should be open to allow for better aeration to take place.
- Your electronic items should be unplugged.
- Plants should be removed.
- Furniture should not be covered.
- You should not have any plastic seals on top of mattresses. This will not allow for the aeration of the fumigants to fully cover all areas of your home.
- Open all the doors between the rooms and do not lock anything.
- The exterior of your home can be also prepared by watering the perimeter. This helps to keep the fumigation inside the home and and not allow it to seep into your garden.
Do you Have to Wash your Clothes After Termite Tenting?
No. The gas has been dissipated after fumigation. The fumigation company themselves can measure the indoor air quality as well and give you some assurance that the house is not toxic after they are finished doing their work.
People don’t usually notice any residue or smells after fumigation. The choice is yours whether or not you wish to wash your clothes once again after fumigation. There should be no remnants of fumigants on your clothes.
What to Pack When Your House is Being Tented?
Remember to pack all your medicines, toiletries and skin care products. These items should not be used if they have been covered in fumigants. Any items that are open previously should be double bagged.
Any pet food or supplies for your pets to be removed. Children’s toys should be bagged or also removed from the house.
- Medicines
- Toiletries
- Skin Care Products
- Previously Opened Food
- Pet Food And Supplies
- Children’s Toys
Will Termites Come Back After Tenting?
Unfortunately, termites may return after tenting. There are many cases of termites coming back after treatment.
Termites may return after several treatments. This is why most companies offer to treat your house again at no extra cost if termites return.
Make sure to read the fine print of the contract that you are signing to see if it includes this clause.
Ask the company themselves to ensure that they can treat the house once more if you notice termites returning.
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