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Can I Prevent Bed Bugs When Purchasing Used Furniture?

So, youโ€™ve just found the perfect used couch on Facebook Marketplace and canโ€™t wait to bring it into your home. While redecorating is always exciting, accidentally carrying bed bugs into your home certainly isnโ€™t.ย 

It is very possible (and common) to unknowingly carry bed bugs into your space by buying used furniture. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to prevent an infestation when shopping secondhand:

  • Avoid upholstery
  • Perform a thorough inspection
  • Never bring in free furniture from the road
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Used armchairs arranged in a line outside

How to Check Used Furniture for Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are tiny insects, so you may not notice them at first glance. Before buying a piece of used furniture, carefully inspect it for these signs of bed bugs:

  • Small black or red dots
  • Discarded exoskeletons
  • Creamy white eggs
  • Live or dead insects

Be sure to look in the joints, seams, creases, and voids in the furniture so ensure you are being thorough. If you notice anything suspicious, donโ€™t risk it! A used chair or desk isnโ€™t worth a difficult and unpleasant infestation.

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Will I Get Bed Bugs From Secondhand Furniture?

While itโ€™s important to be cautious when purchasing used furniture, not everything is riddled with bed bugs! You may be able to safely buy secondhand items either from a retailer or directly from a person. Just take the extra time to look for any indicators that it may have bed bugs.

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Used Furniture

Unfortunately, you may not notice bed bugs until after youโ€™ve already purchased the piece of furniture. If thatโ€™s the case, keep the item outdoors and start by contacting the store owner to let them know what you found; some retailers are willing to offer a refund for infested items.ย 

If you want to keep the piece of furniture or have already brought it into your home, get in touch with a professional bed bug removal company as quickly as possible. Itโ€™s incredibly difficult to get rid of bed bugs on your own, and the longer you wait for assistance, the worse the infestation will get.

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