Menu
Can I Prevent Bed Bugs When Purchasing Used Furniture?
Bed bugs do not fly, and they can’t jump the way other household pests can. This may sound strange when you consider that they’re maybe the most notorious pests in the field of pest control. The secret to a bed bug’s travel is its ability to latch onto other objects and surfaces. This includes the baggage of travelers, the clothes of college students – and, yes, the cracks and crevices of used furniture.
So, for those of us who like a good deal, is it safe to buy used furniture? What can you do to buy secondhand furniture without bringing in bed bugs and other pests?
How to Check Used Furniture for Bed Bugs
When you find a piece of used furniture you want to buy, you can do so with confidence if you first check the piece for bed bugs. This might look like:
- Searching for small black dots or blood spots, the most common sign of bed bug presence.
- Checking the undersides and cracks of wooden furniture
- Look in all possible hiding spots, including joints, seams, creases, voids, and maybe even screw holes
After all of this, if you still feel suspicious about the piece of furniture, save yourself the trouble and do not bring it into your home!
Do You Have a Bed Bug Problem? We Can Help.
Click the button below to leave your information & we'll be in touch in an hour or less.
Are There Bed Bugs in Used Furniture?
You may be comforted to learn that not all second hand furniture is swarming with bed bugs. People all over the country buy used furniture every day, and you might do the same with no unpleasant repercussions. The problem comes when people donate their furniture from a previous bed bug infestation without treating it first. Bed bugs can live without a blood meal for up to a year, which is what makes a proper inspection of used furniture so important.
Can You Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Used Furniture?
What do you do if you find bed bugs in your used furniture? The best move is to inform the seller or store you bought the piece from. They may offer a refund on the purchase and they should check to see if their other furniture contains bed bugs. But if you choose to salvage it, you can call Arrow Exterminators, Inc. to treat the infestation. What’s important is that you keep the infested furniture outdoors until we get there, to keep the bed bugs from getting into your home.