How to Rid Furniture of Bugs and Odors
When furniture becomes overwhelmed by odor and bugs, your first thought may be to put the furniture out for the garbage collector. But before you toss your furniture and spend hundreds or even thousands on new items, take steps to clean the old furniture thoroughly of bugs and odors. You may find that, with a bit of elbow grease and the right products, you can make your furniture look and smell like new.
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Things You'll Need
- Bug fogger
- Bug spray
- Vacuum
- Scrub brush
- Bucket
- Upholstery cleaning machine
Instructions
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Set off a flea bomb, bug fogger, or similar product in the room with all the furniture you want to keep. Remove any cushions from the furniture to ensure the fogger spray makes its way into all crevices where bugs may hide. After allowing the room to air out (usually a minimum of four hours), spray the furniture with an insecticide to ensure that you eliminate all bugs. Keep in mind that, in some cases, the spray or fogger could damage certain types of furniture, so read the labels first. Look for a dry fogger, which is often less harsh on cushions and furniture.
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2
Use a vacuum attachment to vacuum out all the dead bugs, dirt, and debris remaining on the furniture. Toss the used vacuum bag into the garbage outside immediately.
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3
Place your furniture outside on a patio or driveway for thorough cleaning. Clean the surface of each piece of furniture with a mixture of one part vinegar, two parts water, and one or two capfuls of a mild cleaner that is safe for upholstery. Vinegar is a natural odor neutralizer. Place the solution into a pail, dip a scrub brush or cloth into the solution, and squeeze out the excess. Start by cleaning a hidden section of each piece of furniture to ensure that the cleaning solution doesn't change the color.
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Use an upholstery cleaning machine in place of a scrub brush if you're cleaning a couch or chair with cushions. To avoid issues with mildew, take your time vacuuming the solution completely out of the cushions.
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Allow the furniture to air-dry for at least six to eight hours. Keep the pieces out of direct sunlight.
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