Are you looking to find different ways to get rid of bed bugs in wooden furniture? This is where you will find out How to Remove Bed Bugs From Wood Furniture.
Why do bed bugs prefer wooden furniture? How many ways are there to remove them from these tight spaces? Do you have to throw out these items?
In this article, we’ll find out How to Remove Bed Bugs From Wood Furniture.
How to Remove Bed Bugs From Wood Furniture
The quickest possible method to eliminate bed bugs from wooden furniture is with commercial insecticides intended for bed bug treatment. White vinegar, diatomaceous earth, steam cleaning and vacuuming are also recommended treatment options.
Can Bed Bugs Live In Wood?
Yes. Unfortunately bed bugs can migrate from your mattress to deep inside wood furniture. They are not looking to eat into the wood.
They are simply looking for a safe space to lay their eggs. Look in the following locations:
- cracks
- grooves
- crevices
- holes
- scratches
- chips
Bed bugs are looking for dark colored wooden spaces where they can blend in better. These pesky critters have great taste in furniture and are looking for for natural wood over the cheaper stuff.
Do Bed Bugs Live In Wood Floors?
Sadly, yes. Laying out flooring means that you can’t just rip it up and put it back. Hardwood floors that contain the following spaces result in perfect grounds for bed bugs to live and breed:
- crack
- knotholes
- joints
- gaps
You will need to get into the same spaces with insecticides, baking soda, dish soap, vinegar, diatomaceous earth or other alternatives.
Which Pieces Of Furniture Do Bed Bugs Live In?
Bed bugs will choose wood over metal and plastic furniture. They are attracted to pieces with grooves, cracks and crevices.
Traditional furniture with extra moldings or designs create more hiding spaces. The following pieces of wooden furniture need to be checked carefully for bed bugs:
- chests
- dressers
- vanities
- nightstands
- desks
- bookcases
- shelves
Sleeker, minimal style homes with new furniture containing fewer grooves, edges and hiding spaces for bed bug to dwell.
How Can I Tell If There Are Bed Bugs In Wood Furniture?
It may be hard to notice bed bugs in wooden furniture if they are not biting you yet. You may have noticed them in your mattress and gotten rid of them, but they could hiding deep inside:
- wooden frames
- doors
- drawers
- shelves
- hinges
- joints
- peeled paint
Look for live bugs firsthand. Compare them to closeup pictures you can find online. They are dark and oval in color.
Inspect for tiny eggs or droppings. An infestation may also smell off or even worse. It could be compared to rotting fruit.
What Are The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Wooden Furniture?
There are plenty of homemade remedies that the internet will offer you, but are you looking to keep it natural or do you want to put on your shades and be The Terminator?
Let’s look at some natural options that we’ll leave right here:
- baking soda
- hot pepper
- ginger
- vinegar
- eucalyptus oil
Now let’s get into the heavy hitters. It’s time to put on a mask, gloves and get to spraying with powerful items such as:
- Insecticides
- Diatomaceous Earth
- Borax
Insecticides
You are looking for killing agents marketed directly at killing these pesky bugs. You may need an extender or even a syringe to insert the insecticide into these tiny cracks and crevices.
Look for insecticide options that offer such tools as a bonus piece to their packaging. Don’t just walk out of the shop with a regular can of spray.
Saturate the furniture with the spray, but inject or squeeze out insecticide through thin tubes into any tiny holes, joints, hinges, cracks and more.
Diatomaceous Earth or Borax
Both of these substances are available in powdered form and sold as desiccants. They are difficult to apply without making a mess everywhere.
The goal is for bed bugs to make contact with these powders and begin to dry out immediately. All moisture gets absorbed with these powders making abrasions into the exoskeletons of bed bugs.
Diatomaceous earth is slightly more effective than Borax, acts faster and must be applied dry. Borax works well wet in a spray bottle as well, but is better when pests ingest them rather than simply make contact.
Do I Need To Throw Out My Wooden Furniture Infested With Bed Bugs?
It might be time to say goodbye to traditional pieces of furniture that contain too many cracks, knotholes or grooves.
Sorry grandma, but it’s time to move forward with sleeker, cleaner and bed bug-free furniture.
You simply may not be able to reach every crack or crevice to be absolutely sure that you have killed off every bed bug.
Even a steam cleaner can’t reach every spot so throw it out before they eggs spread to other locations.
Should I Steam Clean Bed Bugs Out Of Wooden Furniture?
Yes. Steam cleaning is used by professionals to get rid of bed bugs from all types of furniture. Steam enters corners, cracks and gaps to scald, heat or burn bed bugs.
You are looking to heat up bed bugs in extreme temperatures up to 160°F. High heat could also make your wooden furniture warp or break. Proceed with caution.
Top 5 Tips To Find Bed Bugs In Wooden Furniture
- Wooden furniture that has been passed on from generations have higher likelihoods of being infested with bed bugs or termites.
- Also avoid buying used wooden furniture from unknown private sellers.
- Inspect all areas of the furniture with a flashlight and magnifying glass. Do this before bringing the item into your home or before it even enters your vehicle.
- You can put a piece of white paper next to the wooden furniture and use a plastic card or knife and run it along all edges and grooves. Look to see if they fall on the white paper.
- Now that the item is free of bed bugs, begin using chalk to cover the cracks or any spot where a bed bug could enter. You can also fill these spaces with Diatomaceous earth. Both methods will deter bed bugs or kill them.
Do Bed Bugs Lay Their Eggs In Wood?
Yes. Bed bugs prefer safe and dark spaces that many pieces of wooden furniture can provide. These pieces are near hosts such as a bedside table, chest of drawers or bed frames.
They will look to breed in these spaces. 200-250 eggs are laid in the lifespan of a single female. These wooden pieces can leave bed bugs unnoticed for them to multiply rapidly.
Do Bed Bugs Eat Wood?
No. Bed Bugs eat you! The blood inside you is the fuel to keep bed bugs going. Bed bugs prefer human blood compared to fleas who feast more off furry animals.
The heat and carbon dioxide we emit keeps the bed bugs close. The wooden furniture near us with plenty of hiding spaces keeps them even closer.
Should I Vacuum Clean My Wooden Furniture For Bed Bugs?
Yes. Can you pull some of these wooden pieces apart? It’s time to vacuum along the walls, behind, in and under the drawers and in every corner and crack.
You will clean your furniture from cobwebs, dust and bed bug infestations. When you empty the vacuum, do so outside and tie the bag shut.
If your vacuum cleaner has a steam cleaning option, the high heat will scald bed bugs and leave them permanently stiff and dead.
What Is The Fastest Way To Remove Bed Bugs From Wood Furniture?
The fastest to kill bed bugs in wooden furniture is by using insecticides. You can try vinegar first, but in the end, you will probably opt for the stronger stuff when you are unsure if the natural alternative completed the job.
You can wait and see if you get bit again, or go full throttle to kill these critters for good.
Spray insecticides in, on and along:
- baseboards
- bed frames
- dressers
- night stands
You can also use a fogger or bomb the entire room with insecticides. You will have to leave home all day or sleep elsewhere for the night. This method is usually performed by professionals.
Conclusion
No one should have to endure a bed bug infestation. If you are living in a rental space, you should contact the property manager or landlord for a plan of action. Exterminators can alleviate the stress, frustration and effort of going through this alone.
If you are prepared to take care of this problem yourself, mask up and get deep into every nook and cranny to spray or inject insecticides directly into the wooden furniture.
If you are not attached to an old item, this could be a good time to toss it out and begin modernizing your home with sleeker or minimal furniture where bed bugs cannot hide.
Thanks for visiting ThePestManagement.com for the best information to help you to make the pest control process easy, safe & affordable.