With spring just around the corner, many people will be looking to perform a deep spring clean in their homes.
One area which should be cleaned deeply is soft furnishings such as sofas and mattresses.
This is because they can harbour bed bugs, especially in the spring months.
According to sofa expert Monika Puccio from Sofa Club, there’s an easy way to spot them in the home.
The expert said: “Unlike the name suggests, bed bugs aren’t just exclusive to the bedroom and can also be discovered on your sofa and other furniture around the home.
“This is because these mites are attracted to the heat our bodies emit and the carbon dioxide we breathe out.”
Monika explained that there are a few warning signs that a home infestation may be present.
She said: “Small, raised, red marks on the skin could be associated with bed bugs being active in your home; it is worth checking for any unusual spots or stains on furniture, too.
“Other key warning signs include your furniture developing a musty odour or discovering eggs or spots of faeces. You may also be able to spot live insects in the piping or seams of furniture.”
When it comes to removing bed bugs from your sofa and mattress, the first step is to use a vacuum. Remove the cushions and get down to the hard-to-reach areas where bugs love to live.
One cupboard staple, tea tree oil, which can be picked up for as little as £2 in many supermarkets and health stores, could “kill” bed bugs.
The expert recommended diluting 20 drops of oil into a spray bottle filled with water and spraying the furniture liberally to remove them.
If using this on the mattress, make sure it is completely dry before putting the sheets back on; otherwise, mould may grow.
The expert continued: “For those with more serious infestations, more drastic methods may need to be explored. With bed bugs sensitive to temperature changes, steaming your furniture could be a viable solution that not only kills pests but also sterilizes the furniture.
“The other solution is freezing the bugs, which would involve removing your soft furnishings and putting them into the freezer for at least three days.
“To prevent a bed bug infestation in the future, ensure you are regularly disinfecting furniture around the home and avoiding a build-up of clutter in the home.”
It’s much easier to stop and control smaller bed bug outbreaks, so regular mattress and sofa checks are paramount to preventing a serious infestation.
