There are many advantages to purchasing pre-owned furniture, especially if you are looking to decorate your home at a more affordable and sustainable cost than usual. However, you have to be careful to check for bed bugs, especially when purchasing items from a garbage receptacle or second-hand sources. Nevertheless, there is always a but (yeah, but there is always a but). Knowing how to inspect secondhand furniture for bed bugs before purchasing is crucial to safeguard your home and prevent infestations. In this article, we will provide you with tips on how to accomplish that. We will also offer guidance on ways to stop bed bugs from getting into your home initially.
Table of Contents
Visual Inspection
Before introducing secondhand furniture into your home, thoroughly do a visual inspection, and examine it for any signs of bed bug infestation. What the visual inspection contains:
- Check of the seams;
- the crevices;
- and joints of the clothing.
For signs of:
- bed bugs;
- exoskeletons;
- faeces;
- or eggs that might be present.
Known bed bug hiding places include seams of upholstery and cushions, as well as drawers of furniture. If you decide to give a second home to an abandoned piece of furniture from the garbage or from an antique shop, you need to be careful, as it may have been discarded because of pest infestations. Infested furniture should be disposed of properly and not reused. Regular inspections should be conducted to check for any new infestations.
Use Protective Gear
To prevent the spread of bed bugs, particularly when dealing with secondhand furniture, especially those discarded, wear protective gear like gloves, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes to avoid touching contaminated items. It is recommended to wear a face mask during inspections or transportation as a safety measure against inhaling allergens or debris that may be disturbed.
Scrub your hands before and after using any tools. Preserving cleanliness on surfaces and disinfecting them is crucial in lowering the chances of contamination. This will stop bed bugs from jumping onto your clothing and moving to different rooms in your home. By taking this measure, you could possibly prevent bed bugs from infesting your entire house.
Bed Bug Detector Dogs
When used correctly, bed bugs can be detected using a detection dog such as the one shown here. This can provide added assurance that the bed bugs have been properly cleaned and the furniture is free of bed bugs. These dogs are highly trained to detect bed bugs with remarkable accuracy. Even a used furniture inspection can provide peace of mind when purchasing used furniture, particularly if it is found in an abandoned building or in hard-to-reach spots.
As a bonus, before the inspection, discuss with the dog handler any specific areas of concern or suspected infestations. In order to ensure that the furniture and surrounding areas are thoroughly examined, a collaborative approach can be used to ensure that bed bugs are not hidden in the furnishings.
Avoid Bringing Infested Items Home
If you suspect that a particular piece of secondhand furniture you like and want may have bed bugs, do not bring it into your home. Although it might seem appealing to rescue or renovate thrown-away items, the danger of bringing bed bugs into your home outweighs any money you could save. Instead of purchasing new or certified pre-owned furniture from reputable sources to furnish your home, think about exploring alternative options.
When looking for used furniture, the next thing you should do is report any infested items you encounter to your local authorities or waste disposal service. This proactive approach can prevent bed bugs from spreading to other individuals and communities, thereby ensuring public health and safety.
Treat and Clean Acquired Furniture
Consider treating and cleaning used furniture before bringing it into your home to avoid bed bugs and allergens. You may be wondering, how? There are a couple of methods you could try by yourself, without hiring a pest control company, such as steam cleaning, vacuuming with a HEPA filter, and using diatomaceous earth or other products to eradicate bed bugs. Nevertheless, it is important to be careful when utilising pesticides or chemicals, as they could potentially endanger your health and should only be used under the supervision of experts.
Additionally, ensure that all surfaces and objects in your home that may have come into contact with infested furniture during moving or handling are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised afterwards. This will stop the spread of bed bugs and lower the chances of more infestations in the future.
Quarantine and Monitor
It would be great if you isolated secondhand furniture, especially those found in trash heaps or outside, for a few days in a separate location from your living room. Before incorporating furniture into your living space, make sure you thoroughly examine it. Bed bugs can be detected by bites, faecal stains, or live bugs before they are incorporated into your home. There are different quarantine periods depending on the perceived level of risk and the type of treatment you apply to your furniture.
Additionally, keep a log or record of all acquired furniture, including dates of acquisition, inspection results, and any treatment or cleaning performed. This documentation can serve as a reference in case of future infestations or disputes regarding the origin of bed bugs.
Conclusion
Checking and avoiding bed bugs in used furniture bought or found as rubbish requires diligence and caution. To reduce the chances of bed bug infestations in your home, perform detailed visual checks, wear protective equipment, think about hiring professional bed bug detection services, steer clear of infested items, treat and clean any new furniture you bring in, and isolate and watch over recently acquired items. Don’t forget that prevention is crucial, so it’s important to take proactive steps when obtaining secondhand furniture to keep your home free of pests. In cases of more serious infestations, it is strongly advised to call a professional bed bug control service. Attempting to handle a severe infestation on your own can lead to incomplete eradication and further spread of the pests.
