Buying a Used Couch or Mattress? The EPA's Bed Bug Checks

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) puts it plainly in its bed bug brochure: do not bring second-hand furniture into your home unless you have thoroughly inspected and cleaned it first. Its main bed bug page says the same about secondhand furniture, beds and couches. For anyone buying a used couch, mattress or bed frame, that is the rule to follow.

A great price on a couch is not a deal if you bring something home that you did not pay for.

This is general information from the EPA's pages, not pest-control or medical advice. If you think you have an infestation, the EPA advises getting help from a qualified professional.

What bed bugs are, in brief

The EPA's brochure describes bed bugs as parasites that seek out sleeping people or animals for a blood meal, then hide. They are small and can squeeze into cracks and crevices, so they are often unnoticed. The brochure says they are not known to transmit disease, that bites are often painless and happen at night, and that some people have allergic reactions with painful swelling. It also notes they can live several months without a blood meal, which is why a piece of furniture can carry them after sitting in storage.

Where they hide on furniture

The EPA's hiding-place list includes the spots a buyer can check before paying:

• Mattresses, box springs, bed frames and headboards, along seams and piping and under handles and labels.
• Under the thin dust cloth on the bottom of a box spring.
• Seams and fabric folds in curtains and under furniture, including chairs and sofas.
• Under wall-to-wall carpeting and padding.
• Cracks, crevices and nail holes, and under wood moldings and baseboards.
• In and behind picture frames and mirrors.
• Inside switch plates, clocks, computers, phones and similar items.

Signs to look for

The brochure lists these signs:

The EPA also warns that bite marks are not a reliable indication of an infestation, so do not rely on how someone's skin looked. And if you find a suspect bug, the brochure advises capturing several examples and having them identified by a qualified expert before taking any further action.

A practical checklist at the seller's place

The list above comes from the EPA. The way I would use it is my own.

1. Bring a flashlight. The EPA's travel tips mention using one on the mattress and headboard.
2. Check the seams first. Run the light along seams, piping, tags and corners of the mattress or couch.
3. Flip or lift where you can. Look under cushions, under the dust cover of a box spring and at the legs.
4. Smell it. A sweet, musty smell is a warning.
5. Look at the surrounding area. Cracks in baseboards, headboard screws and wall hangings nearby can show signs.
6. Ask where it has been. A piece from a clean, single-owner home is a different risk from one pulled out of a curb pile.
7. Walk away if you are unsure. There are always more couches.

If you decide to buy

Bring it home carefully. The EPA's brochure says to isolate infested items in sealed plastic bags or containers, and that items can be treated in a hot dryer for 30 minutes. It warns that raising the indoor temperature with a thermostat or space heaters will not work, and neither will putting items in the home freezer. For things that cannot be washed or dried, it points to specialized steaming, heating or freezing equipment, and advises contacting a bed bug management professional.

For a mattress, the EPA recommends a protective cover that encases the mattress and box spring to remove hiding spots, and interceptors under bed and furniture legs. It also says that pesticides alone generally will not eliminate bed bugs, and to read labels and never use outdoor pesticides indoors.

The other side: passing furniture on

If you are the one getting rid of furniture, do not hand a problem to someone else. The brochure says to not pass bed bugs on to others. Our guide to getting rid of old furniture in DC and Fairfax lists the bulk pickup rules and reuse groups.

For DC, Maryland and Virginia buyers

Furniture is one of the easiest things to check in person, so use that advantage. If you shop online, read the condition notes and the return terms, and look at the help page for how DealsDMV handles pickup. You can browse what is in stock on Buy Now or the categories page. And as always, if it has a motor, a heating element or a battery, run a recall check.

The bottom line

Inspect first, bring it home second. Check seams, piping, tags and dust covers with a flashlight, look for the signs the EPA lists and walk away if you are unsure. Once it is home, keep a protective cover on the mattress and an eye on the seams.

If a friend is about to pick up a free couch from the curb, send them this first.