Buying used furniture can save you a ton of money, but it can also put your home at risk. When you bring furniture into your home, you could also bring along any pests it may have on it. Before you force yourself to call pest control services, you need to inspect the furniture you want to buy. Here are some pests to watch out for when buying used furniture.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs don’t just live in mattresses. They can live on couches, chairs, luggage, clothing, and more. They feed on blood, so any piece of furniture that is regularly in contact with humans could potentially have bed bugs. Their numbers can grow quickly, so it is important to take care of the population early on.

Signs of Bed Bugs:

  • Small blood stains
  • Dark or rust colored spots (bed bug excrement)
  • Egg shells or skin shells
  • Musty odor

Fleas

Fleas feed on the blood of warm bodies. While they mostly live on the animals they host, they can slough off onto furniture and survive for short periods of time. If there are animals in the home or store you are buying your used furniture from, make sure they do not have fleas. If they do, you will need to thoroughly vacuum and treat your furniture before putting it into your home. This is especially important for pet owners as pets are more susceptible to flea infestations than humans.

Signs of Fleas:

  • Small, black bugs jumping or gliding along
  • Black dust and small black balls, similar to pepper in appearance
  • Clumps of pet hair (from a dog or cat scratching himself)

Termites

Termites most often make their homes in the framework and flooring of a house, but they could move into wood furniture over time. If the wood is not property sealed and treated, a termite population could easily eat its way through the wood. By the time you fix the areas the termites are munching on, chances are you would be rebuilding your furniture entirely. You might as well save yourself some money and buy something new at that point.

Signs of Termites:

  • Sawdust near the furniture
  • Weak spots in the wood
  • Visible rows in the wood
  • Small piles of feces near the furniture

Always be careful when buying used furniture, and you will not have to worry about a pest problem in your home.

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