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What You Should Know About Secondhand Furniture and Bed Bugs

When it comes to saving money on the purchase of furniture, there is no easier way to pinch a few pennies than to buy secondhand pieces. Beds, couches, and chairs are among the most common items that bargain-hunters find at garage sales and yard sales, but alongside that value comes the risk of bringing home bed bugs with that used furniture.

Nobody wants bed bugs in their home. They are, quite frankly, a real nightmare, as they invade a home and leech onto the bodies of people and animals in a way that is itchy, uncomfortable, and unsanitary. With so many excellent secondhand pieces available for purchase out in the world, the risk of bed bugs may be worth taking, but there are a few ways to make sure you don’t end up with these little pests in your home. The following is a look at how to avoid bed bugs when buying used furniture:

#1 Avoid Dumpster Diving

It may sound like common sense, but it’s not a great idea to pull secondhand furniture from the trash. People often throw away what appears to be perfectly nice items for good reasons, one of which can be bedbugs. If furniture has been left for the garbage man, it may be best to just leave it alone.

#2 Avoid Upholstered Furniture

Bed bugs love upholstered furniture because they can get into a nice hiding spot where they are almost impossible to detect. Once they’re inside the cushioning, they can be very hard to get out, so if you’re concerned, sometimes it’s best just to avoid buying upholstered items in the first place.

#3 Trust No One

The person you buy the item from may insist that it’s free from bed bugs, but there’s no reason for you to take their word for it. It’s nearly impossible to be 100% sure that an item is free from bed bugs, no matter how many assurances the seller may give you.

#4 Hard Surfaces Are Safer

Items that are made from wood are much easier to clean than those with cloth or upholstery, so in a general sense, know that hard surfaces are safer than cushioned ones, at least in terms of bed bugs.

#5 Inspect (or Have a Professional Help)

Obviously, you should keep an eye out for bed bugs before bringing furniture into your home. They deposit small black spots, sometimes in little groups. Some fabrics may show reddish streaks or smears. You should inspect the furniture in the cracks, on the undersides of tables, shelves, headboards, and dresser drawers, as these little bugs love to hide. They can even hide under loose paint. Inspect closely, and if you don’t trust yourself, have someone at Tabor Services have a look at the furniture before you bring it home.

If you do end up with bed bugs or simply want to facilitate bed bug inspections in your home, give us a call here at Tabor Services and we can help with bed bug removal should it become a problem for you. Go out into the world and enjoy all the great furniture bargains that exist, but please make sure you’re doing what you can to avoid an infestation of bed bugs in your home.

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