Pre-loved sofas need to be treated before they are rehoused.
Avoid pests, bugs, and critters with these simple tips.
Getty Images / Taras Grebinets
Looking to furnish a new space on a budget?
Credit:Getty Images / Taras Grebinets
Knowing the signs to look out for and understanding the risks can help yousalvage the right items.
Where to Find Secondhand Sofas
Thrifted couches can come from a variety of places.
Ideally, they come from a person you know who is moving or trying to replace their furniture.
When examining a pre-loved couch, inspect for signs of pest activity.
Black spots could be dried blood, fecal matter, or shedding skin.
Of course, live bugs are always bad news.
Press on the wood to hear or see movement from wood-boring bugs holes or tunnels.
To detect live or dead cockroacheswhich often hide in dark, secluded spaceslook for dark smears and egg cases.
Other bugs may be too small to detect.
Dust mites are also invisible to the naked eye, but you may smell a musty scent.
Above all, trust your instincts.
Err on the side of caution if you detect any of the above red flags.
Certain pests, such as termites and bedbugs, can be particularly challenging to eradicate.
Bedbugs are also notoriously resilient, often surviving multiple pest control treatments.
Worse, some insects leave behind eggs that hatch later, necessitating repeated treatments.
But not all bugs found in sofas are harmful.
Carpet beetles and clothes moths can damage fabrics and materials, but they pose no health risk to humans.
Similarly, household spiders are often harmless and can help control other bugs.
Vacuum:To get a deep clean, try avacuum with a HEPA filterand hose attachment.
Focus on cracks and corners, where tiny bugs hide and thrive.
Vacuuming is effective in eliminating many pests and their debris.
High-temperature treatments:Use a steam cleanerto treat the upholstery.
High temperatures can kill most critters and their eggs.
If the materials wont shrink, machine dry on high heat for at least 30 minutes.
The heat will help kill most pests and their eggs.
Otherwise, let them sun dry.
Be careful to use bug bombs properly.
They should be used in well-ventilated spaces if people cant fully vacate the room.
Vacuum away any debris.
Pest control products:Manyinsecticide spraysand powders are explicitly designed for furniture.
These can be highly effective in pre-treating potential infestations.
If it’s a rare or valuable find, it might justify the effort and cost of treatment.
Thoroughly inspect the sofa for visible signs of severe pest infestations.
Consider the financial implications of thoroughly cleaning and treating the piece.
Last, consider the health risks.
Bites, allergies, and rashes are common reactions to bugs and the chemicals used to eradicate them.
