Upholstered furniture, from deep-seat sofas to armchairs, is one of the key components that make a home feel complete. It serves an essential role in helping us relax and unwind after a long day, which is why it can be incredibly frustrating to find your favourite chair riddled with pests that are keeping you from fully loosening up. If you find that unwanted critters have invaded some of the upholstered furnishings in your home, read on to learn what caused the problem, how to deal with it quickly and effectively, and when you should call on pest control services for help.

Why insects are often attracted to furnishings

As opportunistic creatures, insects are always on the lookout for a safe place to nest, breed, and establish their colonies; soft furnishings are one such ideal example that can accommodate all those needs. For one, the fabric in these furniture pieces provides ample protection and even shelter for insects that are small enough to crawl right through their fibres.

Once they are deeply embedded, no amount of surface vacuuming, spraying, or disinfecting can completely get rid of them. And the longer they are left unchecked, the bigger the pest problem becomes. The usual suspects that often make their home in furnishings include fleas, bed bugs, mites, and carpet beetles, which either pose a threat to human health or the furniture itself, damaging its upholstery, padding, and even frames.

How to get rid of bugs in your upholstery

When insects and other bugs manage to burrow into your precious furniture, you might think the only solution would be to get an entirely new replacement. Fortunately, you do not have to resort to such extreme measures just yet.

1. Identify the pest

Knowing your enemy is the first step to defeating them, hence the importance of properly determining what kind of pest you are dealing with. Oftentimes, you may encounter more than one type of pest since many of them are often symbiotic by nature. This is more likely to occur in furnishings found in places like offices due to the high number of people who use them daily, and commercial pest control services are often required to resolve this effectively.

For instance, if you notice small oval bugs that are about the size of an apple seed and are red or brown in colour, you may have a bed bug infestation on your hands. However, if they look flat, have large hind legs, and have a brown or black hue, then you most likely have a flea problem. Pet owners are most likely to encounter the latter and will be familiar with how difficult it is to eradicate them fully.

2. Prep for treatment

No matter what treatment plan you decide on later with a pest control service provider, it is best to follow the steps below first before getting started to keep the pests from abandoning ship and scurrying into other parts of your home:

• Relocate the affected furnishing to a clear and spacious area, such as the backyard or garage.
• Wear proper safety attire to ensure you do not breathe in any chemicals or have particulates get into your eyes.
• Make sure you have all the pesticides and other products you need to complete the job in one go.
• Once done, perform a thorough clean-up of the work area and do a final vacuuming of the furniture using an upholstery brush attachment to get rid of any dead pests left behind.

Conclusion

Upholstered furniture is a costly investment that requires lots of care and maintenance that go beyond just regular cleaning. Pest control is also necessary to keep unwanted guests from invading your comfort zone and ruining your relaxing evenings. From frequent inspections to regular pest prevention treatments, being proactive at keeping pests at bay ensures no creepy crawlies make themselves at home in your upholstery.

Should your pest problem be more than you can handle on your own, PestClinic is always ready to provide the help you need to get the job done. Equipped with decades of industry experience in handling pests of all shapes and sizes, we can make quick work of bugs in your furniture so you can return to your peaceful nights lounging on your chairs and sofa.