When bed bugs make an unwelcome entry into a home, the first place they go is to the bed because it is the most popular place for humans to rest, especially when they want to do so for long periods. The bed is the ideal hiding place for them because they can use those hours to begin biting and feeding on human blood while still returning to their hiding places without being discovered. But, aside from the bed, the couch and cushion are other places where humans can find comfort.
Since bed bugs love places where people prefer to stay in the same position for long periods, it’s no surprise that they still have the same goal in mind when they move to the couch. If you wake up with itchy, red bumps on your skin, this is enough evidence to tell you that you have bed bugs.
Besides your leather or wooden couch, bed bugs may infest other areas where you will most likely relax, such as sectionals or walls and other easy chairs or chair frames. Now that we’ve established that, let’s look at some ways to check and remove bed bugs on your couch and some signs indicating their presence.
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Check For Bed Bugs on Your Couch
Before you start looking for bed bugs, you should know what you’re looking for. Also, you should ask yourself are you looking for bed bugs on the couch but nowhere else? You should be checking your mattress for bed bugs as well. Here are a few things you’ll need to check your couch:
- Flashlight: Look for them in hidden, tight places that are dark. To find them, use a flashlight to search those areas; if possible, use a UV light to make the bed bugs glow due to phosphorus in their backs, making them easier to spot.
- Magnifying glass: You will also be looking for things like eggs, shells, or young bed bugs, which are smaller than actual bed bugs, and you will need a magnifying glass to find them.
- A small stick: If you can’t dismantle your couch, a small rod such as a stick or plastic will come in handy. There will be some places on your couch that are tightly fixed together. You’ll need a stick to insert into those places and draw it out so that if there is anything there, you can easily remove it.
What to Search For
You should look for bed bug poop, exoskeletons, and of course eggs. Bed bugs molt every week, shedding their exoskeletons, searching for new ones. Their skeletons provide structure and grow on the outside, so they must shed them for new and larger ones if they are to get bigger.
They don’t do this far away from where they live, and the same can be said for their poop and eggs, so finding any of these things in your search means you’re on the right track and their hiding place isn’t far away. If you find items like their poop, they will be laid out in patches, so if you find them, you can trace the patches to where they begin and end.
The following are signs of bed bugs on the couch;
- You wake up with itchy red bumps: The itchy red lumps appear due to your skin’s reaction to the bugs’ bites; the bites will occur in clusters because that’s how they feed. It’s possible to detect only one bite, but it’s extremely rare; anticipate seeing roughly four bites at a time, depending on the extent of the infestation.
- Musty or mildew odor emanating from the couch: Humans detect bed bug pheromones by smelling an odd odor in the air, such as mildew or musty. Still, humans can only detect this odor if many bed bugs are trying to communicate at once, so if you detect this odor and are certain that there are no dirty or damp clothes lying around, you may have an infestation on your hands.
If you’ve done your research and discovered that bed bugs are present on your couch, the next thing on your mind should be how to get rid of them. Before we get started, you should know that squishing them is not a method for getting rid of bed bugs; the only benefit you’ll get from squishing them is to satisfy your desire to make them pay for all the damage they’ve caused.
Get Rid Of Bed Bugs From A Couch
Here is how to get bed bugs out of couch;
- Use a vacuum: While this method cannot guarantee complete eradication, it is a great way to capture many of them at once in small spaces. You have to get your vacuum ready and suck them all up into the upholstery. If you find anything during your search, then take them out in sealed plastic bags and dispose of them; the vacuum can be used for other things like their shells and sticky eggs. It’ll clog them all up in the plastic bag.
- Have your couch washed: If you have a couch that you can dismantle or think you can wash, wash it with very hot water because bed bugs die when exposed to temperatures above 117 degrees Fahrenheit. Alternatively, suppose you have a large enough washing machine. In that case, you can put the dismantled sofa in it and set the machine’s temperature to the highest, allowing the bugs to soak in hot water before the machine starts washing. If you cannot wash the sofa yourself, give it to professionals and explain the condition of the sofa to them; they will know how to handle it to eliminate bed bugs.
- Utilize chemical bug sprays: Another technique for eradicating bed bugs is to use high-quality sprays that leave no mess. If you find where bed bugs are hiding, spray them there; if the spray is good, it will kill them on contact, and then you can clean up the dead bed bugs from the couch. Some sprays are powerful enough to destroy bed bug eggs, so do your research before buying anything.
Encasements for Couches
So what are Bed bug covers/encasements for couches? If you don’t want bed bugs getting into your couch or escaping from it, you can buy a couch encasement. These are made of soft, comfortable, high-quality fabrics that provide maximum relaxation while protecting your couch from bed bugs, dust mites, and a variety of other insects. They can also be used to get rid of an infestation of bed bugs because bed bugs on the couch will die if they stay too long without food.
Dual Waterproof Couch Cover
This couch encasement provides 100 percent protection from all kinds of insects. It is made from a waterproof fabric, so you can be sure that it is safe underneath this encasement even if you eat on it or spill water on it. It is also made from quality elastic material to elongate and retract back to its size. However, make sure that you measure the size of your couch before purchasing. It is easy to install and wash but can cost a little extra.
Reusable Plastic Couch Cover
The HomeProtect Plastic Couch Cover is a thick plastic couch cover that protects against insect dust and even liquid stains. It is made from a quality, thick plastic material that can even protect your couch from pest claw attacks.
It’s easy to clean, requiring only a wipe to return to its original clean look, and, to top it all off, this material is not expensive and is ideal for those on a low budget. But it is not a fashionable couch cover, and it is not an ideal choice if you want to protect your couch from pests. However, it is excellent for those looking for a treatment for bites caused by fleas, mites, and bedbugs.
Heavy Duty Plastic Recliner Cover
This heavy-duty plastic recliner cover is a couch encasement meant to guard against filth, dust, and liquid. It is composed of a thick plastic material that is strong enough to protect against scratches from pets. It is simple to install, use, and clean; it takes a damp cloth to clean it. It’s perfect for covering your recliner and armchair if you won’t be using it for a long time.
Conclusion
Bed bugs do not only live in beds; your couch can be a hiding place for them because you will rest or take long naps on it from time to time. Bed bugs use people’s resting places to determine where they will hide.
Home remedies are also available to try if you want more control over your product and the chemicals used. Using the information in this article, you can check your couch for bed bugs and eliminate them from the comfort of your home.