Experience also shows local pest control officials to be somewhat lackadaisical, even dim-witted, in their approach. Roomers are ordered to donate infested possessions, like books, to libraries and charities so that the admittedly ineffectual — except as a flimsy legal foil for unscrupulous (often, aliens of hostile origin) landlords — spraying might commence, with great haste.

Apparently, if the often impoverished tenant has not emptied out all possessions in a certian amount of time, the toxins get applied to anything still standing about the room. No attempt is made to help relocate items, secure storage, hire moving vans, etc. In other words, if a penniless roomer just happens to have a huge collection of books or whatnot, the standing order seems to be: make absurd demands, offer no assistance, then spray everything.