How To Get Rid Of Bed Bugs In Your Sofa? Step by Step Instructions

Helen Skeates
Helen Skeates
20 min read

The good news is that we’ve put up a step-by-step guide to help you get rid of bed bugs in your sofa. To get rid of bed bugs faster, we’ll go through the entire cleaning and chemical treatment process with you. But why are there bed bugs on the couch if they’re only found in the bed?

This article also explains why you encountered these creatures in a place other than your bed. We do, however, suggest that you have a look at this guide on how to get rid of bed bug mattresses before moving forward. As a bonus, if the infestation is bad enough, you may also put it on your sofa to get rid of it.

What are bed bugs?

While people and animals sleep, they are infested by bedbugs (Cimex lectularius), small, flat, parasitic insects that feed primarily on their blood. Reddish-brown and wingless, bed bugs are the size of Lincoln’s head on the coin and may survive without a blood meal for several months.

How do I know if I’ve been bitten by a bed bug?

To determine if you have been infested with a bed bug, you must first detect bed bugs or other indications of an infestation. In order to keep a person from noticing they have been bitten by bed bugs, they inject an anesthetic and an anticoagulant into their skin. One to five days after the initial bite, bite marks begin to develop on the victim’s skin. The bite marks resemble those left by a mosquito or flea and are red, swollen, and itchy. It’s possible that the bite marks will be erratic or in a straight line. Besides insomnia, anxiety, and skin problems caused by scratching, other symptoms of bed bug bites include skin problems that result from excessive scratching.

Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Bedbugs: Yes, but Is It Worth the Risk?

Because everyone’s reaction to bed bug bites is unique, it’s possible that you won’t see any bite marks or other telltale indicators of being bitten. It is possible that some people are allergic to the bites of bedbugs. Anaphylaxis, larger bite marks, and severe swellings at the bite site are all possible allergic reactions.

Do bed bugs spread disease?

Bedbugs are not known to carry or transmit any diseases. Infestation by bedbugs can cause itching and disrupt sleep, making them a nuisance. Excessive scratching can occasionally raise the risk of a subsequent skin infection as a result of itching.

4 Common Health Risks of Bed Bugs

1. Infection from scratches

Having a bed bug bite might cause a strong desire to scratch it until the itch subsides, making it difficult to sleep at night. In addition, because bed bugs often bite us while we are sleeping, we unintentionally scratch them, causing flesh wounds that must be treated in the mornings. Even though little open wounds from scratching may not seem serious, if left untreated, bacteria and germs can enter the wound and develop an infection. A bacterial skin infection is characterized by swelling, redness, and painful pimples that are warm to the touch. Cellulitis, Impetigo, and boils are among the most prevalent skin infections.

2. Allergic reaction to bites

It is possible that having a bed bug infestation will put your health at risk for an allergic reaction. Because bed bugs feed on the blood of their hosts, some persons who are bitten by them may suffer life-threatening allergic reactions.

Anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction accompanied by wheezing, tightness in the chest, swollen or itching lips or tongue, and tightness in the throat, can occur in those who are hypersensitive to bug bites and stings. When an allergic reaction results in anaphylactic shock, the patient is in grave danger and must be treated right away.

3. Sleep deprivation

If a bed insect infestation in your home becomes too much of an issue, you may suffer from lack of sleep. The constant itch, countless bites, and the notion of creepy crawlies will keep anyone awake all night and leave them fatigued the next day.

Risky driving, sluggish thinking and heart disease can all be caused by sleep deprivation. There is a risk of poor work performance and even family conflict in extreme circumstances.

4. Stress

Infested with bed bugs, a home can quickly become unpleasant and distressing due to the rapid proliferation of bed bugs, repeated damage to bedding and curtains, and frequent biting on the body. For lengthy periods of time, living in a stressful atmosphere can cause emotional anxiety, which can eventually lead to health issues.

Stress-induced anxiety can impair our immune system’s ability to fight off antigens, making us more vulnerable to infection of all kinds. It can also lead to bad habits like drinking and smoking. Additionally, stress can raise our heart rate and blood pressure, which can have an impact on our digestive tract. These factors used together can raise the danger of contracting dangerous diseases.

To put it simply, bed bugs aren’t as dangerous as mosquitoes, which carry diseases like Zika and dengue, or rats that carry leptospirosis that can cause liver and kidney damage. However, over time, the cumulative effects of these little harms might represent a serious health hazard. As a result, if you see clear and evident indicators of a bed bug infestation, you may be dealing with a major infestation.

To get rid of these insect problems and avoid the associated health hazards, speak with a pest control professional in your area.

Signs of Bed Bugs in the Couch

It’s easy to see if your couch has bed bugs. There are always the same warning indicators in every bed bug-infested home.

First, you’ll want to check the bottom of your couch cushions. You may need to flip the couch over and examine the underside for bedbugs if they aren’t there.

You should inspect your couch’s wooden frame for signs of bedbugs because it’s a great hiding place.

Check out these indicators of a bedbug infestation in your couch if you’re not sure what to look for:

1. Bed Bug Eggs and Shells

Female bed bugs lay their eggs, which hatch into adult bed bugs. All of us are familiar with how bed bugs like to lay their eggs in our couches, as well as in our clothing. Bed bugs will lay their eggs wherever they feel most at ease.

Bed Bug Furniture Couch, Sofa Bugs Infested Mattress Removal Services

Due to the bigger size of bed bug eggs, you will detect them right away. Bed bugs hatch from eggs with their shells still on. Bed bugs shed their outer covering as they grow in size.

In most cases, this shell is what is left behind after a death. It has the appearance of a bed insect, virtually. Despite the fact that they’re formed of keratin, these shells won’t simply disappear. Infestation with bed bugs can be detected by looking for this particular symptom on your couch. Actually, this is a tangible sign of an infestation of bedbugs.

2. Bed Bug Feces

Feces are the first indication of a bed bug infestation. However, despite the fact that bed bugs eat (or drink) nothing but blood, they still excrete feces. This is an extremely thick and dark substance that can easily be smeared when it is touched.

Once it hardens, it is nearly impossible to remove with the towel alone, even if you wait a few weeks or months. Cleansing fluid and a cloth are all you’ll need to remove it.

In order to distinguish their feces, look for little droplets that retain the shape even after they have been totally dried off. The presence of feces indicates that there are bedbugs in the area, which is commonly seen on the couch’s underbelly.

Corners and holes in the wooden frame of your couch or other furniture are the specific locations. Using feces as a marking, bedbugs can detect where their hiding place is by the scent of it. One of the most significant indicators of bedbug infection is this.

3. Dead Bed Bugs

Dead bugs will be strewn around the wooden frame of your couch after you cure it. The only difference between them and live bed bugs is that they don’t move. The hue of an apple seed is the same as the color of a dead bed insect.

4. Living Bed Bugs

This sign was put at the end since living bedbugs can’t be seen in your couch. Crevices and fissures are ideal hiding places for them because they can’t be seen there. When bedbugs are hungry, they’ll venture out, but it’s not often throughout the day. Because they know you’re sleeping, they go out to eat instead.

Even so, it’s quite unlikely that you’ll come across any actual, breathing bed bugs. But if you see them, you know they’re there and the infection is spreading. This means that you’ll need to take the following steps, which are outlined below.

Different Ways to Get Rid of Bed Bugs in Your Couch

To remove bed bugs from your couch, there are a number of methods that have been proven to be successful.

As a last bonus, we’ll provide you with a detailed tutorial so that you can grasp the concepts within minutes of reading. We’ll go into more detail about each of these strategies in the paragraph that follows.

How to Remove Bed Bugs and Their Eggs From the Couch – Step-by-Step Instructions

Method 1 – Laundering

Step 1: You can wash some of your couch’s components, such as the fabric and little cushions. This must be bagged into the large plastic bag or box prior to washing.

Step 2: Be careful not to disturb any bed bugs by moving too rapidly or smoothly.

Step 3: Launder the couch’s cushions and shams.

For at least an hour, use the standard or high heat setting. This is enough to kill every bed bug.

Use your dryer to dry your clothes after they’ve been washed and rinsed. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes at a high temperature.

Step 6 – Treat the couch’s frame as it dries. Take care of it by wiping it down and inspecting the structure for holes.

If necessary, allow the frame to dry and then reinstall the dried cushions and fabric back into the frame.

Method 2 – Using Bed Bug Couch Cover

Consider the first approach before applying a bed bug couch cover. Before you go, make sure you take care of your couch frame and cushions.

Step 2: Use your steamer along the couch’s edges to ensure that any bed bugs have been killed.

Step 3: Next, use your vacuum cleaner to thoroughly clean the couch on all sides.

Step 4 – Now that your couch is completely clean and dry, wrap the bed bug couch cover around your couch and zip it properly.

Now that your couch has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, zip up the bed bug couch cover.

Leave the sofa cover off the bed and use it as normal. This will not only trap all of the bed bugs within, but it will also keep any further bed bugs out.

Method 3 – Using Bed Bug Traps for Couches

Let us first go over what bed insect traps are and how they work. Glue traps, bed bug interceptors, and bed bug lures are the three types of bed insect catches that are available. Chemicals such as CO2 are used in bed bug lures to draw in the pests. The purpose of the lure is to entice the bugs away from you and toward it.

Plastic traps that encircle the couch’s feet are known as interceptors. Bugs can enter but not exit this trap due to the plastic’s slick surface. In the end, we have glue traps, which don’t need any explanation. It’s similar to an interceptor, except instead of using glue, it uses a sticky substance to secure the bugs in place.

Bed Bug Lures:

In the first step, use the lure to attract bed bugs to a conspicuous location.

There were no results.

Step 2: If the lure works, you’ll notice bed bugs crawling all over the floor or wherever you placed it. Vacuum them now with your vacuum cleaner.

Dispose of the vacuum cleaner bag in the third step.

Bed Bug Interceptors/Glue Traps:

Step 1: Place the glue traps and interceptors around the couch’s feet.

Wait until the next day to see if the problem persists.

It’s now time to get rid of the bedbugs you’ve trapped in the interceptor (if it’s a glue trap).

Bed Bugs in Couch Treatment: 3 Best Products

1. Utopia Bedding Premium Bed Bug Proof Box Spring Encasement

Your life will be less dystopian if you use the bed bug couch cover from Utopia Bedding. With a 60 by 80-inch footprint, it can accommodate a box spring with a maximum depth of 10 inches.

As a result, it’s breathable, waterproof, and ultra-soft; all of the qualities you’d expect from a high-end couch cover. With its stretchy soft texture, it may be used for everything from a large couch to a regular bed.

Furthermore, its capacity to stretch means that the quality of the construction is excellent and thus resistant to rip. A mini-zipper is now available to keep bed bugs out of your mattress.

2. MAYTEX Pixel Ultra Soft Stretch Sofa Couch Furniture Cover

MAYTEX provides a couch cover that may be used on your sofa as well.. The product’s performance is enhanced by a wide range of colors; in total, we have 7 hues to pick from, increasing its adaptability and ability to fit any couch.

Installing the couch protector is a cinch thanks to the step-by-step directions included in the box. Here we go again with elastic corners and flexible fabric for keeping your cover secure. A sofa or couch with a width of 76–96 inches can be supported by the maximum dimensions.

3. CRESNEL Furniture Cover Plastic Bag for Moving Protection

  • Sofas up to 92″ x 42″ in width can be covered (Depth)
  • For relocation and long-term storage, this bag is EXTREMELY THICK.
  • This sofa’s legs have been lengthened to provide full coverage.
  • The packaging tape can be used to keep out dust, insects, and more.
  • High-quality, 100% new, non-recycled plastic that is extremely resistant to wear and tear

Bed bugs can’t get into your couch for a while with this simple plastic bag cover, but it works well enough to be worth the effort. A large, heavy-duty couch afflicted with bed bugs will fit just fine in the 92-inch width and 42-inch depth.

The extra thickness of this typical plastic bag allows you to carry it confidently without fearing that it will tear. This cover can occasionally cover the entire couch and even overlap as you wrap it again because of its large size.

In order to prevent bedbugs from invading your home, this sofa cover is sealable. You, your home, and the environment will all benefit from the use of this high-quality, non-recycled plastic.

Home Remedies for Treating Bed Bugs on Couch

Diatomaceous Earth

When it comes to getting rid of bed bugs, diatomaceous earth is a godsend. You can use this powder whenever you want, and it will quickly kill any bugs that come into contact with it.

There were no results.

You can tuck it under your mattress or in crevices in the frame. Food-grade diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled on the outside of your bed frame as an alternative. For the sake of your health and the health of any children you may have, we recommend going with the food-grade option.

Essential Oil Sprays

Diatomaceous earth, on the other hand, is far more effective than essential oil sprays. In order to eliminate bed bugs on the spot, these need to be applied with more vigor. You’ll need a spray bottle and a lot of elbow grease to get your bed frame, holes, crevices, etc., sprayed down.

If you have a minor infestation of bedbugs, essential oil sprays can be a worthwhile investment.

Vacuum Cleaner

A brief history of the humble vacuum cleaner is unnecessary. When it comes to bed bugs, this noisy gadget will do the job of a frog. When used in conjunction with a steamer, this bad guy can do some major damage to bed bugs.

However, vacuum cleaners are readily available at home, so why not take use of this convenience?

Bed Bugs in Couch – Everything You Need to Know

Having bed bugs in a couch is an entirely separate topic. When dealing with bedbugs in the couch, it is important to know all you can about this pernicious infestation, which can spread like the plague. A special article on bedbugs on couches can be found by clicking this link for that reason.

All you need to know about this infestation and how to get rid of the bedbugs infesting your couch can be found in this article and the one you’ve just read.

Who is at risk for getting bed bugs?

Everyone who visits an infested location is at risk of contracting bed bugs. Those who travel frequently and stay in places where others have stayed in the past are more likely to get bitten by bed bugs or to propagate an infestation.

How to get rid bedbugs

How are bed bugs treated and prevented?

Bed bug bites are rarely life-threatening. Using antiseptic creams or lotions and taking an antihistamine is the best method to treat a bite. Insecticide spraying is a frequent method of dealing with bedbug infestations. A bed bug infestation can be confirmed by contacting your landlord or a pest control company with experience in the treatment of the pests in your home. Regular inspection for symptoms of an infestation is the most effective strategy to keep bed bugs from becoming an issue.

Summary

Even if bed bugs have infested diverse items in your home, the approach of eradicating them is largely the same. Even if you can’t get rid of the infestation on your own, you can always rely on the services of pest control experts to handle the more serious infestations.

All bedbugs will be exterminated at a set price. You should always strive to fight on your own because this will help you get the essential experience and expertise for future battles.

We urge you to take immediate action if you suspect your home has a bed bug infestation so that it does not spread. Keeping your home clean and vacuuming frequently will help prevent the spread of bed bugs.

Helen Skeates

Helen Skeates

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