How to Prepare Your Home for Fumigation

Cockroaches, mosquitoes, ants and bedbugs are common problems in Lagos homes, and the warm, humid climate gives them plenty of chances to settle in. Fumigation can deal with an infestation, but the results depend partly on how well the home is prepared.

Use this checklist in the days before your treatment and after it is done.

01Speak to your fumigation provider first

Treatments vary depending on the pest and the products used, so get the details before the day. Useful questions to ask:

• Which pests and which rooms will be treated?
• How long should everyone stay out of the house?
• When is it safe to come back, and should windows be opened on return?
• Are there any precautions for children, pets, pregnancy or anyone with a health condition?

Your technician’s instructions come first. If anything in this guide differs from what they tell you, follow their advice.

02Store food and kitchen items

Put food into sealed containers or move it out of the rooms being treated. Plates, cups, cutlery and cooking utensils should be packed away or covered properly.

It is easy to forget pet food and water bowls, fruit left out on the counter and anything kept on open shelves.

03Put away personal items

Pack away or cover things that touch your skin or mouth, such as toothbrushes, towels, bedding, clothes and children’s toys. Doing this beforehand saves a lot of washing afterwards.

04Give the treatment access to hiding places

Cockroaches and many other pests hide in dark, narrow spaces, and the treatment needs to reach them. Before the technician arrives:

• Move furniture a little way out from the walls.
• Clear out the cupboard under the kitchen sink.
• Empty cupboards where you have seen pests.
• Clear clutter from floors and storage areas.

05Plan where people and pets will go

Arrange for everyone, pets included, to stay away for as long as your provider advises. If you keep fish, ask how the tank should be covered or protected.

Making these plans early means nobody has to return before it is safe.

06What to do after fumigation

Once you are told it is safe to go back in:

• Open windows and doors to air the house, if your technician recommends it.
• Wipe kitchen counters, tables and any surface that comes into contact with food.
• Ask whether you should avoid mopping treated areas for a while.
• Watch for pest activity over the following days, and tell your provider if it continues.

How to stop pests coming back

Fumigation works best when it is followed by good everyday habits:

• Keep food sealed and clean up crumbs and spills quickly.
• Take the rubbish out regularly.
• Fix leaking taps and pipes, as many pests are drawn to moisture.
• Reduce clutter where pests can hide.
• Seal cracks and gaps around doors, windows and pipes.

Chinova Cleaning Services offers fumigation services to get rid of unwanted pests and keep your space safe. If your home also needs a thorough clean once the treatment is finished, read our guide to deep cleaning vs regular cleaning.