Bug sprays may seem like an obvious solution, but they can actually be dangerous. Directly spraying bug sprays onto furniture can damage it and expose people to toxic chemicals. For those looking for a safe and effective way of killing bed bugs on furniture, non-residual sprays are the way to go.
Worse still, bed bugs can actually live for up to a year without ever feeding. If you're suffering from a home infestation, rather than just a single piece of furniture, you'll need a chemical treatment. Residual sprays can be used on all soft furnishings and can help to protect your home for several weeks.
The high temperature of steam 212°F (100°C) immediately kills bed bugs. Apply steam slowly to the folds and tufts of mattresses, along with sofa seams, bed frames, and corners or edges where bed bugs may be hiding. Be careful though, steam may damage some finishes and keep steam away from electricity.
Step 3: Treat Cracks and Crevices
Pyrid Insecticide Aerosol is an insecticide aerosol that will flush out bed bugs from the smallest of crevices or eliminate them directly on contact. This product may be applied to the bed frame, box spring, and furniture within apartments, homes, or other labeled areas.
TO KILL BED BUGS AND BED BUG EGGS: Spray bugs directly when possible. Apply on and around bed frames, headboards, floors, carpeting, baseboards, furniture, moldings, ceiling, and walls.
Spray the furniture with an insecticide spray that contains cypermethrin or permethrin (which is the active ingredient in most household aerosol insect poisons). Concentrate the spray on the crevices and seams where beetles can hide.
Cushions can be put in a large, sealable plastic bag and placed in direct sunlight until the temperature inside reaches 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat will kill all bedbug stages. Or, you can freeze the fabrics if you have freezer space.
“As difficult as it is, it's imperative that you continue sleeping in your bed once you discover bed bugs,” says Klein. “Many victims decide to begin sleeping on the couch, and this is not a solution. Bed bugs are fast movers, and can travel up to 30 feet in six minutes.
How Long Do Bed Bugs Survive After Extermination? If your home is treated with insecticides/chemicals, any bugs caught by the spray will die in a few hours or less. Insecticides are incredibly effective and remain active for several days after use.
People can also bring bed bugs into their home on infested clothing, bedding, furniture, and luggage. Bed bugs can go without feeding for 20 to 400 days, depending on temperature and humidity.
Remove all removable items such as the cushions and covers from your couch and wash and dry them at the highest setting. Bed bugs usually die within 20 minutes at 118 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're unsure about how hot your dryer can get, then simply run it for 90 minutes to be on the safe side.
Get a mattress and box spring cover
An effective way to keep bedbugs that are hiding inside your bed from biting you is to invest in a good-quality covering for your mattress and box spring. The best option is to use a cover with a good seal that zips around your mattress and box spring.
Bed bugs hate scents such as lemon scents, cinnamon oil, neem oil, spearmint, and silicone. They will hide from you when you use these smells. This is so that they can easily attack and feed off of you! Even just the threat of these scents will keep them away from your house for good.
Some insect invaders will crawl along easy-to-spot surfaces like kitchen counters; whereas other “sofa bugs” tend to inhabit areas where you spend your free time, including chairs, couches, and mattresses. These pesky invaders include Varied Carpet Beetles, Bed Bugs, Fleas, and House Dust Mites.
Most times, clothing, bedding and furniture from a home with a bed bug problem can be treated and do not need to be thrown away. If you decide to dispose of items, they should be carefully sealed in a plastic bag or container first so the bed bugs don't spread.
Foam expands into hard-to-reach places to kill Bed Bugs where they hide and keeps killing Bed Bugs for up to 4 weeks on surfaces. Effective against Pyrethroid-resistant Bed Bugs. Can be used on mattresses, upholstered furniture and carpet and will not stain water-safe fabrics and surfaces.
To use white vinegar to deodorize a couch, pour white vinegar into a spray bottle and get to work on cushions and armrests! If you're concerned about the vinegar altering the upholstery, spray a small amount of white vinegar on your couch in a discrete location and wait overnight.
Pyrethrins and Pyrethroids: Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the most common compounds used to control bed bugs and other indoor pests. Pyrethrins are botanical insecticides derived from chrysanthemum flowers. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemical insecticides that act like pyrethrins.
Search Beds and Furniture with a Flashlight
Using a flashlight, inspect every gap, crevice, or seam around your bed. Bed bugs try to hide themselves deep inside narrow spaces, so a flashlight will help you see them.