The thought that bugs might be living in your furniture is enough to make anyone squirm. Bed bugs don’t restrict their living arrangements to mattresses; they can live in nightstands, alarm clocks and even the picture frames on your walls. Cockroaches could be living in your couch, and fleas can live on any type of furniture. If you have purchased an item from a thrift store or detected an infestation in a piece that’s been in your home for a while, take these steps to get rid of the pests.
Vacuum
Whether you have cockroaches, bed bugs or fleas, you can start tackling the problem by using your vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming regularly can control adult flea populations and get rid of eggs. It can clean up insect droppings and remove cockroach egg sacs from your furniture.
Start by carefully removing the cushions from your couch. Inspect and vacuum each one as you go so that you don’t move the insects to another part of the house. If you can, remove the cushion coverings and launder them.
Examine and vacuum the other furniture in your home. Vacuum your carpets and floors too.
Although fleas multiply quickly, they’re fairly easy to control if you use medication for your animals and continue to be diligent about vacuuming.
Bed bugs can be a tougher problem to deal with. They can survive inside your vacuum. A pest control expert should have a special vacuum that prevents the proliferation of the pests. If you use your own vacuum, make sure to wash all of the non-electronic parts, including the filter, so that you don’t spread the bugs.
Steam Clean
If you can steam clean your furniture, do so. The hot temperatures will kill bugs and eggs that are living on the surface of the furniture. Steam can also kill bed bugs that are living about 2 inches in crevices.
The quality of the steam cleaner is important. Carpet cleaners and steamers that are used to remove wrinkles from clothing don’t get hot enough. The steam cleaner should heat the surface to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit immediately after application. You can check the temperature with an infrared thermometer.
Be careful if you use this method. Gradual heat won’t work, and introducing moisture to your furniture can lead to the development of mold.
Freeze Them
If you live in a cold climate, you can try moving your furniture outdoors in freezing temperatures. If the cold can reach the insects, it might kill them. However, the pests may be burrowed so deeply inside the furniture that they stay safe.
Fumigation
In many cases, pests in furniture may be difficult to control. Fumigation may be necessary if you’re not sure where the insects are coming from or haven’t been able to control them with other methods.
You might be tempted to spray for pests yourself if you find them in your furniture. That’s not always a good idea, though. Experienced pest control experts will be able to take care of the problem without putting you at risk. They also understand the signs of an infestation and can give you a confirmation when the problem is resolved.
Contact Geiger’s Pest Services if you have an infestation in your furniture. We’ll help you take care of the problem and prevent the pests from returning.