Bed bugs are often transported from one location to another through infested belongings, such as furniture. From curbside trash to furniture rentals, there are plenty of ways that used furniture can carry the possibility of bed bugs if you’re not careful.
Furniture that is thrown out for garbage and left on the curbside is often how bed bugs are transported. Have you ever heard of the saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”? This is not the case when it comes to bringing bed bug infested items home.
If you come across any type of used furniture whether it’s a bed, couch, night stand, dresser, etc., be sure to thoroughly inspect it before you decide to load it up and haul it away.
When it comes to furniture that is tossed out for trash, our experts suggest that you leave it alone. Most homeowners who do have bed bugs aren’t necessarily going to throw out their furniture with a sign on it that says, “DO NOT TAKE—HAS BED BUGS!” Instead they are going to just going to put it on the curb or in the dumpster hoping that no one notices the evidence of bed bugs. Often times, this is exactly how bed bugs are spread unknowingly between homes.
Other obvious ways people bring home bed bugs unexpectedly is by purchasing used furniture from antique shops and online avenues such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Many people are always searching for a deal or looking to save a few bucks, however, we encourage you to inspect any and every item before you bring them home. Bed bugs are small and excellent at hiding in small crevices. This is why many can go undetected, even by professionals.
What Can I Do to Avoid Bringing Bed Bugs Home on Used Furniture?
INSPECT ALL ITEMS THOROUGHLY! KNOW THE SIGNS AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR. It is important to inspect every piece of furniture BEFORE you bring it home. Once it has entered your car or home and there are bed bugs, you’re in trouble, so just check out the item before you haul it home.
A simple inspection of a mattress includes a quick look at seams and edges for any evidence of bed bugs or bed bug activity including fecal spotting, cast skins or live bugs. Headboards should be inspected by checking screw holes and any other cracks and crevices for evidence of bed bug activity. For upholstered couches and chairs, be sure to check all the seams, edges as well as any backing underneath the item. Bed bugs are elusive in nature and prefer to be hidden away in cracks and crevices. Check out some of our blogs for helpful tips on how to inspect for bed bugs and what to look for.
Secondly, if you have purchased furniture without inspect it and are concerned about the possibility of bed bugs, there are a number of things you can do to reassure you as to whether or not you have the bugs in your home.
If you purchased a used mattress, box spring, headboard, nightstand or any other type of bedroom furniture, you should encase both the mattress and box spring with a CERTIFIED bed bug proof encasement. By doing this, if there are any bugs present in the mattress or box spring, they are now locked inside the encasement. It is important to understand, encasements do not get rid of the bed bugs. If encased early before an infestation occurs, CERTIFIED bed bug encasements will only keep them trapped inside and prevent them from biting you. However, if any of the bed bugs have migrated anywhere else, such as other furniture, in the walls or under the carpet etc., they will continue to reproduce only making the infestation worse. In addition to protecting your bedding, encasements will allow for easier detection of the bed bugs before the infestation gets out of control. If you think you may have bed bugs, it is highly recommended to call a professional bed bug exterminator to help you safely remove the bugs.
Call FL Bed Bug Experts at (813) 922-8475 or contact us if you think you may have a bed bug problem and need help.
