Home »Bed Bug Tips » Buying used furniture? Here’s how to check used furniture for bed bugs. In today’s economy, everyone wants to save money. Buying used furniture or getting used furniture for free from a friend or relative can really save you serious bucks. But, there’s a catch: bed bugs. One of the single most common ways to get bed bugs in your home is through buying used furniture and bringing it into your home. Given the average cost of a bed bug treatments by a professional often exceeds a thousand dollars, it’s definitely best to insure the furniture you’re buying does not have bed bugs. To avoid having your home infested with bed bugs, it’s preferable to avoid buying used furniture or bringing used furniture in your home all together. However, we understand that this isn’t always practical or realistic. Therefore, inspecting any used furniture for signs of bed bugs before you bring the furniture into your home is critically important.
Even bringing used furniture with bed bugs into your home for just a few minutes can be the beginning of a bed bug infestation that will cost you time, sleep, sanity, and money! Inspect used furniture for bed bugs Whenever you find or are offered used furniture, the very first you should do is thoroughly inspect it for bed bugs. Be prepared, this could offend some people, but that is just the reality we live in today. Here’s how to inspect used furniture for bed bugs: Bring some white latex gloves, a magnifying glass, flashlight, and an inexpensive white sheet with you to inspect the furniture. Spread the white sheet on a flat surface, and place the furniture on the bed sheet. The white sheet will help you see bed bugs or signs of bed-bugs if they fall on the ground. Use your fingers, or preferably a credit card, run the edge of the card over the furniture’s surface. Then use your fingers or the edge of the card through any creases, cracks or grooves in the furniture.
Remember, bed bugs like to hid in small tight spaces, so running the card through these areas is critical to performing a thorough inspection. Watch for signs of bed bugs on your gloves or on the white sheet. Signs can include feces (which will be dark red stains), old skin, or bed bugs themselves. Use the magnifying glass to inspect anything remotely questionable. Use the flashlight to highlight and inspect any hidden or dark areas of the furniture. Again, these are the locations where bed bugs like to hide. They are generally not out in the open where they are easily seen. If you see any bed bugs or even signs of bed bugs, do not bring the furniture home. Treating used furniture for bed bugs Assuming you’ve done a thorough inspection, and haven’t found any signs of bed bugs, we still highly recommend treating the used furniture for bedbugs. Bring the furniture home, but do not bring it inside your home yet. Go ahead and place the plastic bag in your dryer and rip it open.
Leave the covers in the dryer and dispose of the bag in an outside trashcan. Run the covers in your dryer on high heat for at least 30-60 minutes. We recommend doing this twice. Thoroughly vacuum the furniture, including all crevices, seams, folds and hidden areas. Immediately remove the vacuum bag and place it in a tied plastic trash bag in an outside trashcan. Using a bed bug spray, spray down the furniture, insuring all areas are covered. Be sure to follow the detailed instructions that come with the spray. Allow the furniture to completely dry. If you prefer not to use a spray, you can cover the couch with Diatomaceous earth, steam treat or heat treat the furniture too. If you use Diatomaceous earth, allow the furniture to sit outside for a few days. Used furniture bed bug tips Avoid taking used furniture from dumps or furniture left on the road side. Furniture like this is generally thrown away for good reason, and bed bugs are often why. Avoid bringing used furniture into your home from high risk bed bug areas of the country, such as New York city.
Avoid used mattresses and box springs all together. They just aren’t worth the risk! Interested in learning more about how to keep bed bugs out of your home? Check out our Bed Bug Prevention page. Get FREE Local Bed Bug Exterminator Quotes Fill out our simple and easy form, and get FREE and LOCAL bed bug exterminator quotes sent straight to your inbox. Where do Bed Bugs Hide? Bed Bugs Rash and Bite Symptoms How To Find Bed Bugs In Your Home Bed bug heat treatment – The EssentialsDid you knowThe safest change table in the world won’t stop babies from accidentally rolling or squirming off. Keeping one hand on your baby at all times will keep her safe. Choosing safe baby furnitureThere are several things you can do to find out about choosing safe baby furniture: Check with the Department of Consumer Affairs or the Department of Fair Trading in your state or territory for the latest information about child and baby safety. You can also check with Product Safety Australia.
Look at the Product Safety Australia – Keeping baby safe booklet. Buy, rent or accept equipment with the Australian/New Zealand Standards (AS/NZS) label. This label shows the product has been manufactured according to sound quality standards and, where necessary, that it complies with compulsory Australian safety standards. Go to SIDS and Kids for advice on beds and cots. Safe second-hand baby furnitureFriends and relatives might offer you their old baby furniture. It’s important for your baby’s safety to check the furniture before you use it.In general, the furniture needs to be solid and stable. It should also have brakes or locking devices in good working order. There should be no rough surfaces, sharp edges, paint chips or parts that stick out, like screws. Baby cots and mattressesThese tips can help you choose a safe baby cot and baby mattress: Look for the Australian/NZ Standards label, especially if you’re buying a new cot. The standard for cots is AS/NZS 2172:2003.
Make sure the cot has no horizontal bars or footholds your baby can use to climb out. Check the locking devices and stability of the cot before you use it, especially if it’s second hand. Check that the mattress is firm. Use a tape measure to check that the: space between bars is 50-95 mm – gaps wider than 95 mm can trap a child’s head distance between the base and the top of the cot is at least 600 mm – this is important for preventing falls once your baby can stand up gap between the mattress and the sides and ends of the cot is no more than 20 mm, so your child’s head, arms or legs can’t be trapped. Once you’ve bought and are using the cot, don’t: make any alterations to the cot use pillows, doonas, cot bumpers and cot restraints. These can be suffocation risks. Portable cots – or portacots – are meant only for short-term use.These tips can help you choose a safe portable cot: Look for the Australian Standards label AS/NZS 2195:1999.
Check that the portable cot has a firm mattress that touches the cot on every side and fits snugly. Check that it’s deep enough and has no footholds so your child can’t climb out. Make sure it has locking devices on the frame with clear locked positions. The locking devices should be designed so your child can’t unlock them. The inside of all folding or portable cots must have permanent and clear labels with: instructions for assembly and locking procedures a warning to check that the cot is correctly assembled and fully locked into place before each use either a warning to use only a mattress of specified dimensions or a warning to use only the mattress supplied with the product a warning not to add an extra mattress. Before you put your child into a portable cot, check that it’s properly locked together and stable. This is especially important if you’re using a second-hand portable cot.Never make any alterations to portable cots.
HighchairsThese tips can help you choose a safe highchair: Look for the Australian Standards label, especially if you’re buying a new highchair. The standard for highchairs is AS 4684:2009. Look for a highchair that is sturdy and stable with a five-point body harness – that is, a harness with straps that go over the shoulders and hips and between the legs. If the highchair has wheels, make sure the wheels can be locked. If the highchair folds, make sure it can be locked firmly into position. If you’re using a chair that hooks onto the back of an adult chair, make sure it’s slip-resistant and that the seat is level. Look for a simple design – it’ll be easier to clean and also lessen the chance of small fingers getting caught. Using a highchair safely Always strap your child into the five-point harness in highchairs so he can’t fall out. Keep the chair away from walls and cupboards so your child can’t push away and tip the chair over.
Always help your child climb into and out of the chair. Hang portable chairs from sturdy low tables that won’t tip. If you’re using a portable chair, keep a constant watch on your baby and make sure she’s always wearing a harness. That’s because your baby has access to everything within reach on the table. Change tablesThere’s no Australian Standard for change tables, so it’s important to look carefully at the safety features of any change tables you’re interested in.If you choose to use a change table, these tips can help you choose one that’s safe: Make sure that the table has a child safety harness and raised sides that are at least 100 mm higher than the changing surface. Make sure there are no gaps or spaces at the top of the table. Check that the table is stable and has secure locks. Look for one that’s a good height for you, so you’re not bending uncomfortably. Using a change table safelyAt home, it’s safest to change your baby on a mat on the floor, so he can’t fall.
But if you use a table, these tips can help keep your baby safe: Make sure all the clothes, wipes, nappies and other gear you need are within arm’s reach before you lay your baby on the change table. Stay with your baby while she’s on the table. Keep a hand on her at all times to stop her from wriggling off. Teach older children to keep off the change table. Make sure you don’t overload the side pouches. Safety gates and barriersThere’s no Australian Standard for safety gates, so it’s important to look carefully at the safety features of any safety gates you’re interested in. What to look for in safety gates Read the manufacturer’s instructions and warning labels to ensure you have the right gate for your needs. Note that gates that open are more practical than barriers you have to step over. Look for a model that can be opened by a foot pedal. You should need to use reasonable force to open the gate, or the gate should need at least two separate actions to open it.
Check that the gate has no crossbars or mesh that your child could use to climb over. It should also have no sharp edges, and no detachable small parts that could pose a choking risk. Check that the size of the opening to be gated is within the recommended dimensions for your preferred model. Many gates have extensions you can use for larger openings. Note that models you can adjust without needing a spanner are more convenient. They’re safe as long as the nuts are done up tightly. Safety gates on stairs: tips Stairs with more than three steps should be guarded: Check that the gate you’re interested in is intended for stair use and can be securely attached to the wall or banisters. Use approved and securely attached safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Note that not all safety gates are safe for use at the top of the stairs. Other baby furnitureIf you have a bouncinette or baby chair, use it only on the floor, not on a table or raised surface.
If your baby can roll over, don’t use a bouncinette.If you decide to use a jolly jumper that hangs in a doorway, make sure the doorframe can support your child’s weight, and make sure you hang the jolly jumper securely. Check the clamps and straps before each bouncing session. Don’t leave your child unattended in a jolly jumper, and tell older children not to push or pull the baby in the jolly jumper. Baby walkers are not recommended. A baby in a baby walker is incredibly mobile – he could be down the stairs or out the door before you realise it. And walkers give extra height, which means your baby can reach all sorts of things you thought were out of reach.If you do choose to use a baby walker, Australian Standards require that baby walkers have an automatic braking system and safety warning labels.A safer and cheaper alternative to a baby walker or jolly jumper is to put your baby on a play mat or blanket on the floor. This is stimulating for your baby’s development and is a good chance for baby to have tummy time.