Which items carry the most risk
- Higher risk: mattresses, bed frames and headboards, upholstered sofas and chairs, and fabric-covered bed bases. These are where bed bugs live because they're close to where people sleep and sit.
- Lower risk: solid metal, glass or plastic items with few cracks or seams, which are easier to check and clean.
- Wooden furniture with joints, screw holes and cracks can still hide bed bugs, so check it too.
How to check an item
- Ask to see it in person, in daylight, with a phone torch. Photos in a listing won't show bed bugs.
- Look along every seam, zip, tuft and piping on mattresses and cushions. Lift cushions and look underneath.
- Turn it over if you can. Check the underside of sofas and bed frames, the fabric lining, the joints, and screw holes.
- Look for the signs: small, flat, reddish-brown insects; tiny dark spots (droppings) that smear like ink; pale shed skins; and tiny white eggs in seams.
- Ask the seller directly whether they've had bed bugs or a pest treatment. It's a fair question.
If you see any signs, walk away. It isn't worth the risk.
Before it comes inside
- Keep the item outside the bedroom, ideally at the door or on a hard floor, and check it again in good light.
- Vacuum seams, joints and the underside, and empty the vacuum into a sealed bag and bin it outside.
- Wash removable covers and cushion cases on the hottest setting the fabric allows, then tumble dry on high heat.
- Avoid furniture left out at bin centres or void decks. You don't know why it was thrown out.
Signs it came home with bed bugs
Bed bugs hide during the day and feed at night, so the first sign is often itchy bites after sleeping or sitting on the item. Bites alone don't prove bed bugs. Check the item and nearby furniture for the insects, droppings, shed skins or eggs. For a full checklist, see how to tell if you have bed bugs.
When to call an operator
If you find live bed bugs or clear signs, get a professional inspection. Over-the-counter sprays rarely reach the eggs and crevices where bed bugs hide, and treatment usually needs more than one visit. See how bed bug treatment works, what it typically costs, and how to prepare your home.
Questions
Is it safe to buy a second-hand mattress?
It carries more risk than most furniture, because mattresses are where bed bugs usually live. If you do buy one, inspect every seam in person first and ask the seller about any pest history.
Can bed bugs live in wooden furniture?
Yes. Bed bugs don't eat wood, but they hide in joints, cracks and screw holes, especially in bed frames and furniture near beds or sofas.
Should I throw out furniture that has bed bugs?
Not always. Many items can be treated. Ask your operator first, and if something does go, wrap it in plastic before moving it so you don't spread bed bugs on the way out.
Related
- Bed bug treatment
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- Bed bugs after travel: how to avoid bringing them home
More guides
- Signs of termites in an HDB flat, and where to look
- Bed bugs after travel: how to avoid bringing them home
- How much does termite treatment cost in Singapore?
- Termite baiting vs soil treatment (chemical barrier)
- Bed bug treatment: cost and preparation checklist
- How to choose an NEA-licensed pest control operator
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- Termite treatment for HDB flats
- Bed bug treatment: heat vs chemical, and how to prepare
- Subterranean vs drywood termites: how to tell them apart
- Pre-renovation termite treatment: is it worth it?
- Termites in a condo: working with your MCST
- Termite inspection before buying a landed home
- Termites (white ants) in wooden furniture: signs and what to do
- Bed bugs in a rented room or flat: a guide for tenants and landlords
Think your new furniture brought bed bugs home? Tell us what you're dealing with and we'll pass your request to up to 3 NEA-licensed operators who cover your area. It's free, with no obligation.