Upholstered furniture can be a paradise for bed bugs. Once inside, they can be impossible to detect. Over-the-counter pesticides that claim to kill bed bugs, may not be up to the task of adequately permeating upholstered furniture. Steam cleaning won’t eradicate bedbugs from upholstered furniture. The extreme heat necessary to kill the bugs and their eggs doesn’t penetrate into the padding of upholstered pieces deeply enough to do the job.
How Do I Know If the Furniture Has Bed Bugs?
If you decide to take the furniture, you need to check for signs of bugs before loading it up and taking it home. Check visually and inspect the furniture and look for telltale signs of bed bugs. If you see black spots, leave it- this is likely bed bug feces, and the bugs aren’t too far away. Be extra careful with mattresses and other bedroom furniture. Bed bugs come out and eat while you’re sleeping, so if there is a bed bug infestation, they will most likely occupy bedroom furniture.
I Think It’s Safe. Now What?
If you’ve inspected the furniture thoroughly and there don’t appear to be any signs of bed bugs, great! But you still need to be careful and take some preventative actions when you get home. If you picked up a chair, couch, or something else with a cloth cover, throw it in the dryer on high heat (do not wash it first) for about 30 minutes just in case you missed something. Bed bugs will not survive in the heat. When they spend 30 minutes at 120 degrees, they’re almost guaranteed to die. Most dryers can get around 125 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. You’re typically a bit safer with wood or plastic, as there aren’t as many hiding places for the bed bugs. Still, it never hurts to wipe them down before you bring them inside your home.
What If I Do End Up With Bed Bugs?
Let’s say you did everything right – you checked the couch before you took it home, you threw the cover in the dryer, and you still ended up with bed bugs. Don’t worry. If you are looking for a safe way to get rid of bed bugs, look into a bed bug heat treatment. This bed bug extermination process gets rid of bed bugs in just one day and won’t fill your home with fumes! Contact us today for an inspection at (202) 709-7490 or through our website!
