How to Check Used Furniture for Bed Bugs

So, you scored a real bargain at the second-hand furniture store, and now you’ve got a pretty decent sofa for your living room. Brilliant, but as you’re already here, you probably wonder how to tell if used furniture has bed bugs.

Although tiny, bed bugs can be a real nuisance to exterminate. And DIY methods rarely work. That’s why inspecting the furniture before you purchase is the best way to (not) deal with a bed bug infestation.

Keep reading if you:

• Are planning on introducing some vintage to your interior; 
• Have fallen in love with a designer couch on Facebook Marketplace; 
• Simply need an extra closet and aren’t splashing on a new one. 

In this article, we’ll go over how to inspect second-hand furniture for bed bugs, how to try and get rid of them (if you brought them inside your home), and what not to do during the inspection process.

About bed bugs

So what are bed bugs? They are small (from 1 mm to 7 mm in length) parasitic insects that infest homes – usually through contaminated luggage and used furniture. Once they “move in” at a property, they can multiply drastically within 2 to 4 weeks.

While bed bugs don’t transmit any hazardous germs, what makes them an absolute menace is the fact that they feed on blood from humans and even pets. Essentially, at night, while everyone is sleeping, they crawl out of their hiding spots, and literally get into beds to bite the unsuspecting sleepers.

Usually, after a few nights of sleeping with bed bugs around, people tend to notice the bites and rashes on their skin so they decide to take action. You can learn more about bed bugs here.

Signs of bed bugs in used wood furniture

Now, let’s take a look at an extensive list of signs of bed bugs in wood furniture. We’ll start with the more obvious ones and then get to the more obscure ones.

• Live bed bugs – Naturally, if you see live adult bed bugs in the furniture, then you have them present. However, if you see them out during the day, this usually means a heavy ongoing infestation.
• Bed bug eggs – Bed bug eggs are tiny (about 1 millimetre in size), and are pearly white or sort of translucent in colour. They are oval-shaped as you might guess. The eggs are often found in clusters, usually attached to surfaces with a sticky substance.
• Bed bug exoskeletons (shed skins) – As time goes on, adult bed bugs shed their skins which look like tiny brownish flakes.
• Rust-coloured stains (from crushed bed bugs) – You might spot tiny dark spots on the wood furniture here and there.
• Dark spots (bed bug faecal matter) – If you notice tiny dark dots looking kind of like ground black pepper, then this could be bed bug poop
• Musty odour – A prolonged bed bug infestation might leave the wood furniture with an unpleasant musty smell.
• Tiny white or yellow eggshells – These are usually hard to spot but they suggest that bed bugs have hatched in the exact piece of furniture you are inspecting.
• Small holes or cracks in the wood – Bed bugs can hide in small holes or cracks in wood, using these spaces as harborage areas to stay hidden during the day.
• Slightly raised bumps or blisters on the surface – Raised bumps or blisters on wooden surfaces may indicate areas where bed bugs have burrowed or where their eggs are clustered beneath the surface.

Do bed bugs live on wooden furniture?

Bed bugs can live on certain types of wooden furniture such as night shelves, wardrobes, or bed frames. This is because wooden furniture offers plenty of secluded dark spots and crevices where bed bugs can hide during the day and lay their eggs.

Used wooden furniture is definitely at risk of bed bug infestation because it could have damaged parts, cracks, and holes that bed bugs can get into.

How do bed bugs infest wood furniture?

Bed bugs infest wood furniture by simply crawling to it from other infested objects or pieces of furniture at the property.

Given enough time and a feeding source, a bed bug infestation will gradually expand As the population of bed bugs grows, they will populate the spots that offer them darkness and protection. Naturally, the wooden furniture found at the property will be affected as it offers plenty of hiding spots.

Can bed bugs live in wood?

Bed bugs don’t live in wood in the same way that other insects such as termites do. The adult bed bug is not able to burrow itself into a solid piece of wood and infest. Bed bugs are simply opportunistic and wooden furniture offers them plenty of hiding dark hiding spots and how they end up in it.

Do bed bugs lay eggs on wood?

As bed bugs infest wood furniture, they will lay their eggs in it. Usually, they will lay their eggs in the dark secluded corners and crevices that offer the most protection. However, as those get filled up, eventually they will start to lay eggs in other parts of the furniture, making them a lot more noticeable.

How to remove bed bugs from wood furniture

If you have bought a piece of wood furniture and figured out that it has bed bugs, then you can try to deal with the problem yourself.

(NOTE: Hopefully, you have not brought the furniture into your home yet. In case you have, then keep in mind that some of the bed bugs might have moved out of the piece of furniture and infested other areas of your home.)

Your best option in this case is to carefully wipe the entire piece of furniture with a cloth and wood-safe cleaning product. After that, apply a bug spray that targets bed bugs all over the item to eliminate the adult insects and their eggs.

Steam cleaning is another popular method to deal with bed bugs but you probably don’t have immediate access to such equipment and the high temperature of the steam can actually cause damage to the wood.

How to inspect second-hand upholstered furniture for bed bugs on the spot

Let’s go over some tips for avoiding bed bugs with secondhand furniture. The most common places for bed bugs to hide are the wood joins and internal sections of the furniture. Occasionally, you can see signs of an infestation in the furniture legs too. 

Noticing an ongoing infestation is no easy task. Tiny nooks, crannies, and cracks in the furniture are perfect bed bug hiding spots. Not only that, but other insects that look like bed bugs can hide there as well. Still, for the time being, let’s focus on bed bugs.

Signs of an upholstered furniture bed bug infestation

It’s easy for bed bugs to burrow into upholstered items since they conceal themselves in seams and pleats. 

You should consider the possibility that the furniture was cleaned and vacuumed. In such cases, any evidence of bed bug activity may be absent.

You can still perform your own inspection, there’s just a chance that you won’t be able to detect anything.

Bed bugs are tiny, oval, brown insects. Since they’re so small and they hide in cracks, it can be a bit hard to notice them. 

That’s why it’s much better to look for other signs, such as:

• Bed bug excrement: Appear as dark or reddish-brown stains on fabrics. 
• Eggshells: Tiny, white in colour. 
• Smell: Bed bug smell glands give off a musty smell. 
• Skin shed: Bed bugs shed before reaching adulthood. 

Remember to prepare proper gear, such as latex gloves and a flashlight. 

It would be best if you inspect second-hand upholstered furniture for any signs of bed bugs. Check the seams, zippers, tags, and cracks on the wooden elements. Bed bugs are more likely to hang out near a bed or couch used for sleeping or leisure than they are to occupy an upholstered dining chair or bar stool. Alternatively, you can look for items not in immediate use by people and aren’t used in the bedroom area or close to the bed. 

Find out where the used furniture has been stored

Inquire about the furniture’s storage location. It’s not uncommon for sellers to store their furniture in storage units, leading to bed bug infestations since the units aren’t always sealed and airtight.

In the case of an upholstered piece or an item that’s been left in a storage facility, ask the seller if you can inspect the furniture for pests yourself.

In addition, since many customers move between different storage units, bed bugs can quickly spread from one place to another – much like a hotel room. Furthermore, many people store mattresses and upholstered items in these units, making these perfect environments for bed bugs.

Check also: Bed Bugs on Mattress – What To Do Now?

It’s important to remember that bed bugs can survive for over a year without feeding, so just because some used furniture has been placed in a storage unit for a long time does not mean that they’re dead.

You may want to consider buying used furniture that is kept inside or furniture directly from the seller’s home.

How long does it take for bed bugs to infest furniture?

Bed bugs can start infesting furniture surprisingly quickly. After entering your home, usually by hitchhiking on luggage, clothing, or used furniture, bed bugs can begin laying eggs within days.

For example, a single female bed bug can lay up to 250 eggs in its lifetime, and these eggs hatch in about 6 to 10 days.

The exact timing depends on factors like temperature, availability of food (that’s you, your family members, and your pets), and hiding spots, but infestations can develop rapidly if not addressed early. Within a month, a few bed bugs can multiply into a noticeable infestation, especially if left unchecked.

How to get rid of bed bugs in upholstered furniture

If you’re not sure whether a piece of furniture has bed bugs or you wish to purchase a great piece with signs of pests, then you’ll need to clean it thoroughly. 

• Bed bugs exposed to high temperatures over 50°C for more than two minutes, studies found a 100% mortality rate. To do this, you can remove the cushion covers and all other removable parts of the chair, sofa, couch etc., and place them in the dryer. Run them on high heat for at least 30 minutes to effectively kill all life stages of bed bugs. The quickest and most effective way to get rid of those nasty pests is the bed bugs heat treatment.

• Another non-chemical control method involves vacuuming the furniture. Always use a disposable vacuum bag to prevent re-infestation. Ensure to vacuum all sides and corners of the furniture, especially the nooks and crannies, and dispose of the vacuum bag after finishing.

• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth in cracks. It seems to work well on penetrating the exoskeleton of the bed bugs and ultimately killing them. 

• As soon as you identify bed bug eggs, move the furniture into another room. Keep all infested items there. In this way, only one room has to be heat-treated, if necessary. It is still a good idea to inspect the remaining rooms as well.
  
• Dry cleaning kills bed bugs at all stages, which is best for delicate fabrics and temperature-sensitive materials.

Does steam cleaning kill bed bugs in furniture?

Yes, steam cleaning does kill bed bugs when done correctly. A commercial steamer with a larger capacity and adjustable steam allows for better penetration between the fibres. These machines also reach a higher temperature (around 82°C), which can kill even bed bug eggs. That’s why it’s recommended to book a professional bed bug steam treatment. 

Streamers are far more suitable for injecting a high temperature on flat surfaces. So, if you have to treat tiny cracks and crevices, these aren’t very reliable.  In addition, avoid using carpet cleaning machines. They cannot reach temperatures high enough to kill bed bugs or their eggs. 

You should seek professional advice if you don’t know how to use a steamer or don’t have one. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment with a local pest control company.

Things to avoid when you have bed bugs on your property

Being aware of what not to do is equally important. Fighting a bed bug infestation is hard, mainly because the bugs can develop resistance to a lot of chemicals, which renders all-natural ingredients useless. 

Keep in mind to: 

• Never use pesticides for agricultural or garden purposes to kill bed bugs. Insecticides used outdoors to control bed bugs can be harmful to your health. Many over-the-counter pesticides claim to eliminate bed bugs, but they might not be powerful enough to destroy insects deep within the upholstery.
  
• Avoid using rubbing alcohol or petroleum products.
  
• Avoid using bed bug bombs. The only effect they have is to spread pests all over the place, but they cannot rid you of them.
  
• Don’t throw your furniture away. It is not a good idea to throw away furniture since you may spread the bugs. There are ways to treat bed bugs in beds and other furniture.

Professional bed bug treatment

Getting rid of bed bugs is a complicated process, frequently requiring more than the tools accessible over the counter. Even a few bed bugs can wreak havoc on your property, and the cost of recovering from a bed bug infestation can be quite steep. 

Your best option is to call a professional bed bug pest control company and ask them to inspect your property. That way, you’ll know the full extent of the infestation and exactly how much it will cost you to get rid of this pest. 

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