How To Check Used Furniture For Bed Bugs?

How To Check Used Furniture For Bed Bugs?

Know how to undertake complete pest control if you want to keep your home pest-free while still getting some great old furniture. Unfortunately, scientists have yet to develop a bug radar, but there is always a way, so don’t worry.

Here’s a tried-and-true way for identifying bed bugs in your couch, sofa, chair, or whatever type of furniture you have.

  • Protect yourself with latex gloves, a white sheet, and a flashlight.
  • Shake the furniture on the sheet with your hands. This way, you’ll be able to see any bed bugs that fall.
  • Keep an eye out not just for the bugs themselves but also for their forces. They’d resemble dark crimson spots in appearance.

In the World, bed bugs are becoming more prevalent. Even the cleanest homes can be infested, and they can reside in every piece of furniture in the house. You may not even need to go to a shady motel to catch them because they could be lurking in that dresser you just bought at a garage sale.

To inspect every surface of the furniture, completely disassemble it. Look for little reddish-brown beetles and their shed exoskeletons in cracks and crevices. Also, keep an eye out for any little black patches or feces stains. You can also look for little white eggs using a magnifying glass.

Is It Common For Used Furniture To Have Bed Bugs?

No, it’s not typical for used furniture to be infested with bed bugs! Every day, people all around the country purchase safe, bedbug-free secondhand furniture. When purchasing products, it’s still better to be cautious. After a bed bug infestation, many people will not find the infestation in the furniture. It’s simply smart practice to be extra cautious and scrutinize stuff properly.

What Kind Of Furniture Do Bed Bugs Live In?

What Kind Of Furniture Do Bed Bugs Live In?

While bed bugs are most commonly discovered in the mattress, box spring, and bed frame, they can also be found on furniture such as clocks, with chairs, behind wallpaper, desks, along with portraits, gaps in wood floors, moreover under the edge of the carpet.

How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs From Wood Furniture? 

  • Pesticides Are Used.

Step 1- Vacuum the bed bugs from the hardwood surface with the vacuum cleaner.

Step 2 – If there are any lingering bed bugs, use the steamer to kill them.

Step 3- Place your fumigation mask over your face.

Step 4- Remove the carpet and spray the insecticide in the crevices if you have a parquet floor. If your wooden bed is infested, remove the mattress and sheets and spray the entire bed construction, including cracks, and your mattress without bedding, with bed bug spray.

Step 5- Allow the insecticides to dry before proceeding.

Step 6 – You can also re-spray the surfaces and wait for them to dry before proceeding.

Step 7– Now, you may put your hardwood furniture or floor to use.

  • Treatment With Heat

There are no steps for this procedure because heat treatment necessitates the involvement of an exterminator. The methods listed above can help us get rid of most bed bugs, if not all of them; however, exterminators can get rid of bed bugs in a matter of days or even hours. Therefore, heat treatment of hardwood surfaces may be the safest and most effective way.

How To Prevent Buying Bed Bug-Free Used Furniture?

When buying used furniture, keep these bed bug prevention methods in mind.

  • Think Before You Buy:

Before you buy a piece of furniture, there are a few things you should consider. First, before you bring the furniture home, inspect it. Some furniture, even if it’s “shabby chic,” maybe better be left behind. If you like the piece, make sure it’s clean before bringing it inside. Meanwhile, park it in your driveway or garage if you have one. Because you don’t know the piece’s backstory, it’s best to play it safe. Has the piece steam cleaned if it’s upholstered?

  • Reupholster As Soon As Possible:

Don’t put off having a piece reupholstered. But, until you do, keep it outside or away from your main living area. Bed bugs can easily squirm their way through upholstery, especially if it’s damaged.

Also Read: Can Bed Bugs Survive Under a Plastic Cover?

Can Bed Bugs Live In Wood Furniture?

Bed bugs may dwell in wood furniture just like they can in any other piece of furniture with hiding holes. However, there’s no reason to assume bed bugs prefer wooden furniture for any reason other than the fact that it naturally has more gaps, cracks, and other potential hiding spots.

Can Bed Bugs Live In Appliances?

Electronics and appliances might harbor bed bugs. So anywhere they feel safe, as long as they’re close enough to a sleeping host, are perfect. The only problem is that when you’re sleeping, devices and appliances aren’t usually close by.

Can Bed Bugs Live In Leather Furniture?

Bed bugs may tuck themselves into the corners, seams, and undersides of almost any piece of furniture. Bed bugs can live on leather, suede, and vinyl, although they are less likely to hide in such materials.

Signs Of Bed Bugs In Wood Furniture?

The real bed bugs, feces, which may leave dark red stains, or old skin will all be signs. Examine any concealed or dark sections of the furniture with your flashlight. Bed bugs like to hide in wrinkles where they can’t be seen, so look there.

How To Check For Bed Bugs In Furniture?

How To Check For Bed Bugs In Furniture

Place your furniture on the white sheet to make it easier to spot bed bugs if they land on it. Use the edge of a credit card or your gloved hand to go over any creases or cracks on the furniture’s surface. Keep a close eye on your gloves and the white sheet with the magnifying glass for evidence of bed bugs.

Conclusion

Buying or picking up used furniture can be a terrific way to save money when furnishing a home, but be wary of bed bugs. Bed bugs frequently spread from one home to the next through used furniture. You may save money by buying a used couch, but if the couch becomes infested, you will spend three times as much attempting to get rid of the irritating insects. Thus, purchasing used furniture may not be the greatest option in the long run.

Author Bryant