The essentials
Fixed appliances, unplugged (TV, white goods), usually stay in the room. Anything with a lithium battery, such as phones, laptops or e-scooters, comes out before the temperature rises, along with aerosols, medicines and anything that could melt. Those items are then inspected and isolated so they don't bring bed bugs back.
Bed bugs cope badly with heat: ANSES lists washing at 60 °C, steam and whole-room heat treatment among the ways to fight them. Even so, whatever in the room handles high temperatures poorly needs protecting.
Dry steam or room heating
Dry steam is applied spot by spot to seams, slats and skirting boards; sockets and devices are simply avoided. A room heat treatment raises the air temperature for several hours, and that is when the question of devices comes up.
The usual split
Before the visit, the technician sends you a list tailored to your home. As a guide:
- Stay, unplugged: TV, large appliances, furniture, bedding, clothes on hangers.
- Come out: smartphones, tablets, laptops, power banks, e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Also come out: aerosol cans, lighters, candles, medicines, cosmetics, food, plants, aquariums, vinyl records and delicate instruments.
- People and pets leave the room for the whole treatment.
Items taken out are not forgotten
A bedside clock, a power strip or a router next to the bed can shelter bed bugs. Items taken out are examined, surface-cleaned and kept in sealed bags, then put back once the room has been checked.
Storing them carelessly in another bedroom would simply move the problem there.
Remember
- Devices that stay are unplugged.
- Lithium batteries always leave the heated room.
- Items taken out are inspected and bagged.
- A tailored list is provided before the visit.
General information, valid at the date of publication; it is no substitute for advice from a lawyer or a health professional.