Renters (and homeowners) on a budget can really help a space come together by incorporating thrifted, or even trash-salvaged, finds. My home wouldn’t be as well-furnished or decorated if I only bought things brand new. It also wouldn’t have such interesting stories to tell.
But do you ever wonder how I lug all this thrifted and trash-rescued furniture into my home without bringing in bedbugs or fleas?
Before you bring your sweet scores into your home, take these steps to ensure no “unwanted guests” sneak into your home with the furniture. After all, that sweet find isn’t so sweet if it introduces a pest infestation to your home.
Judging Craigslist or Thrift Store Furniture:
Go with your gut. If the home or store you found your treasures in seemed clean and well cared-for, then a simple vacuuming or dusting once you bring the furniture home should suffice.
Thrift store furniture often has a tag on it saying that it has been sanitized for reuse.
If you buy something on Craigslist and the house where you snag it from is pretty gross, and the upholstery on the item is gross, use my steps to sanitize it.
This living room cost less than $800
How to Sanitize Found Furniture:
I would never, ever bring curbside or trash-pile furniture into my home without first sanitizing it. Even if that chair or cabinet looks relatively clean, you have no idea why the previous owner put it out on the curb as trash.
Here’s what to do before bringing it inside your home:
- Photograph it from every angle. This way you’ll be able to remember how it looked if you decide to repair or reupholster it. Do this both before the upholstery strip-down and during.
- If it is upholstered: Remove all the upholstery. This means rip off all the fabric and any foam that was underneath the fabric. Put all the waste in a trash bag and take it to the trash right away. This way, you ensure you’ve removed any of the materials that may have been harboring pests.
- Clean it: Wipe it down with a damp rag and maybe some cleaning spray, depending on how dusty and dirty the frame is.
- Still worried about pests? If there are cracks and crevices that you worry may harbor pests, take an eco-friendly bug killer (like you’d use on your house, not your body) and spray it into those areas.
- Is it painted? Grab a little Lead Check Kit at your local hardware store to check the paint for lead, especially if it’s an older piece.
Important Precautions:
When cleaning wooden furniture, keep in mind that cleaners may harm the finish of the wood. If you’re going to strip it down and refinish it, then this doesn’t matter – but if you’re hoping to save an older paint or finish job, be cautious when selecting a cleaning solution.
The same caution applies to using bug spray on furniture. That may harm the finish as well.
Flea market chairs. Roadside dresser.
Follow these simple steps and you can rest assured that you’re bringing only awesome furniture, and no unwanted guests, into your home. Even if you rent an apartment, this upholstery-stripping process can be done in a parking lot or back porch; it really doesn’t require much space.
What are your tips for making safe decisions with found furniture?
3 Comments
Great tips! You always score the greatest finds!
What would you do about cushions, Jane? I don’t think you can replace all the cushions of a lounge chair, for example. (My holdup isn’t the fear of bugs. It’s the smell of hangar that lingers.)
Awesome post! I love how you get your furniture. It looks so good!
Hey Katie! Do you mean something that is completely upholstered, like a Lazy Boy recliner or similar? If so, I’d probably skip it. I only like to pick up stuff that I feel like I can strip the upholstery off of (easily).
However, for getting airplane hangar odor out of an otherwise good chair, maybe sprinkling baking soda all over it, letting it sit for a day or so, and then vacuuming it well would work? Also, I think they made a natural fabric refresher spray at Yellow Brick Home.