Don’t Let the B-word Move In
Don’t Let the B-word Move In
A story about clutter, creepy-crawlies, and calling in the right cavalry.
The late-night call Patriot will never forget
Picture this: It’s 10 p.m. on a muggy July night in Valpo. A frantic homeowner phones Patriot Clean Out because “something is… skittering” every time she flicks on the basement light. Josh grabs a flashlight, steps into a room stacked floor-to-ceiling with forgotten boxes and spots the tell-tale rust-colored specks. Bed bugs. Lots of them.
“We’ve tackled moldy fridges, hoarder houses, even a garage full of raccoon ‘souvenirs,’” Josh says. “But bed bugs hiding in 25 years of clutter? Challenge accepted.”
Within 48 hours, his crew had every cardboard box out, every mattress wrapped, and the space cleared for Franklin Pest Solutions’ heat treatment team. The homeowner slept bite-free the very next week. While this isn't exactly how the story went, we did recently clean out an estate infested with bed bugs, and it is a scenario all too familiar, no matter where you live.
Why bed bugs love clutter (and hate Patriot Clean Out)
- More hiding spots, harder treatments. The EPA flat-out warns that clutter “provides more places for bed bugs to hide and makes locating and treating them harder.”
- Almost universal among pros. A whopping 97% of pest-control pros treated bed bugs last year, and 66% say the problem is still growing. (PestWorld)
- They’re everyone’s problem. 1 in 5 Americans has dealt with them personally or knows someone who has. (PestWorld)
- Chicago tops 2025’s “bed-bug cities” list. If you’re in Northwest Indiana, you’re next-door to ground zero. (Orkin)
- Clutter doesn’t cause bed bugs, but it turns a small invasion into a full-blown fortress. That’s why Franklin Pest Solutions highlights clutter and harborage as key cost factors in treatment.
The declutter-and-destroy game plan
| Step | What the Patriot team does | Why it matters for bed-bug defeat |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rapid triage | Sort “keep / donate / trash” on-site in sealed bins to avoid spreading hitchhikers. | Limits the insects’ escape routes. |
| 2. Safe hauling | Wrap infested mattresses & upholstered items in thick poly before loading. | Prevents the “trail of bugs” problem en route to disposal. |
| 3. Deep sweep | Remove baseboard clutter, peel back carpets, vacuum cracks & crevices. | Exposes hiding spots so Franklin’s heat treatment reaches lethal temps. |
| 4. Post-treatment clean-out | Return once Franklin gives the all-clear to remove any remaining debris. | Leaves the home fresh—and psychologically frees the family from the nightmare. |
Estate clean-outs & multi-unit moves
Bed bugs hitchhike on furniture, rental trucks, even that vintage sofa Aunt Linda insists you must keep. If you’re handling an estate clean-out or prepping a rental turnover:
- Schedule a pre-move inspection with Franklin Pest Solutions.
- Book a same-day junk-removal window so infested items go straight to the landfill—no pit-stops, no cross-contamination.
- Document everything. Many insurers cover part of the treatment when there’s proof of professional disposal.
Resources & further reading
- EPA — Top Ten Tips to Prevent or Control Bed Bugs
- NPMA - All Things Bed Bugs
- Orkin — 2025 Top Bed Bug Cities
- Franklin Pest Solutions — Bed Bug Solutions hub & blog
When DIY just isn’t enough
Yes, you can launder sheets on high heat and vacuum daily, but a serious infestation calls for a one-two punch:
- Licensed pest pros like Franklin Pest Solutions to kill the bugs.
- Clutter-busting crews like Patriot Clean Out to strip the battlefield bare.
Trying to do one without the other is like swatting mosquitoes while standing in a swamp. Call the experts, reclaim your space, and—finally—sleep tight.
