The first thing many people want to do when they find bed bugs is drag the mattress and couch to the curb. In most cases, you don’t need to. Getting rid of furniture is expensive, and it rarely solves the problem on its own.
Bed bugs don’t just live in furniture
Bed bugs hide anywhere close to where people rest. Besides the mattress and couch, they hide in:
- Bed frames and headboards
- Baseboards
- The edges of carpet
- Cracks in walls and outlets
If you throw out the mattress but leave the bed frame and baseboards untreated, the bugs that stay behind will move right into the new mattress.
Throwing furniture out the wrong way makes it worse
When an infested mattress or couch is carried through the house, bed bugs fall off along the way. They land on carpet, in hallways, and in other rooms, then crawl off to find new hiding spots. What started in one bedroom can end up spread through the whole home.
If a piece of furniture really does need to go, it has to be sealed first. Wrap it completely in plastic before it leaves the room, and mark it so nobody else picks it up and takes bed bugs home.
Why bed bugs pick certain furniture
Bed bugs stay close to the places where you spend the most time sitting or sleeping: beds, couches, recliners, and game room seating. Those spots give them the best chance to come out, feed, and hide again before you notice. That’s why treating those pieces is more effective than replacing them.
When it does make sense to replace something
- The item is badly torn, with deep holes in the fabric or padding.
- It’s heavily infested and was already near the end of its life.
- You’d rather replace it than have it treated.
Even then, have the room treated first so the new furniture doesn’t get infested.
Related reading
- Bed bug furniture guide
- More on bed bugs and furniture
- Where Do Bed Bugs Hide? A Room-by-Room Checklist
Before you throw anything out, book an inspection. Inspections are $49–$99, depending on home size and location.
Recent Comments