{"id":16261,"date":"2022-05-06T03:37:55","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T07:37:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bedbugbbq.com\/?p=14481"},"modified":"2022-05-06T03:37:55","modified_gmt":"2022-05-06T07:37:55","slug":"how-to-clean-used-furniture-to-prevent-bed-bugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bedbugbbq.com\/how-to-clean-used-furniture-to-prevent-bed-bugs\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean Used Furniture to Prevent Bed Bugs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buying new furniture can be a big expense for a lot of people. That\u2019s why buying used furniture or even finding some on the curb of someone\u2019s yard are common alternatives to buying brand new furniture. However, while the price may be lower, there are some downsides to buying used furniture. The couch you\u2019re bringing into your home might just have a nasty surprise waiting for you<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Know When You Buy Used Furniture<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re set on buying used furniture there are a few things you should know to prevent bed bugs from infesting<\/a> your home. We\u2019ll go over a few of your options here.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspection \"A<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

Bed bugs like to hide in nooks and crevices<\/a> of furniture. If you want to be sure that your furniture doesn\u2019t have bed bugs you should thoroughly inspect it top to bottom and inside and out. Use a bright flashlight and check all of the seams and cracks. If the furniture you\u2019re buying has cushions, remove them and get a good look at every inch of them. Even remove the fabric cover if it has one to ensure there are no bed bugs hiding inside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Picking the Right Furniture<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some furniture is not only less likely to have bed bugs but also easier to inspect. Try sticking to basic furniture that doesn\u2019t have a lot of hiding spots. Even better, if you\u2019re willing to buy wooden furniture you should because it\u2019ll be very easy to detect any bed bugs hiding on it and there\u2019s also less of a chance of there being an infestation. If you can, avoid upholstered furniture because it can be extremely hard to find bed bugs hiding in it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep It Outside<\/span><\/h3>\n

Inspecting your furniture is a good way of seeing if you have a bed bug problem. However, as hard as you look there could still be bed bugs hiding in it. If you\u2019re not positive that the furniture is free of bed bugs then keep it outside before the next step.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cleaning Up \"Vacuuming<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t see any bed bugs but you still want to be sure that there aren\u2019t any crawling around on your furniture then here\u2019s what you can do. While the furniture is still outside use a vacuum on it to thoroughly clean any bed bugs or eggs from it. Get in all of the cracks and on every inch including the bottom and inside of the cushions. Once you\u2019ve vacuumed it then put the cushions inside your washing machine on high heat, and then in the dryer on high heat as well. The high temperatures will kill anything living on the cushions. Since you probably can\u2019t fit your furniture into a washing machine try using a steamer on high heat to get rid of any bed bugs. If you don\u2019t have a steamer you can also cover your furniture in an airtight plastic bag and leave it outside on a hot day. Keep in mind that the internal temperature needs to be at least 110 degrees for around 3 hours to be effective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Takeaways To Prevent Bed Bugs<\/span><\/h2>\n