Thinking of Buying Used Bunk Beds for Kids? - Watch Out For Bed Bugs

Maybe you saw an ad on the newspaper recently, or online, showing pictures of a nice set that looked expensive and well-made. The price appeared to be really low too. What a great deal!
"Used bunk beds for sale - $90.00 only. Mattresses and covers are included."
And you are thinking that all you have to do really is wash the bed clothing and, as best as you can, sanitize the mattresses. And the set-up is probably is going to be very easy as well.
Be careful here. One week later, your kids could be complaining of getting bites while they are sleeping - red, nasty-looking bites that appear to occur in rows along the arms and legs. This is a typical pattern of bed bug feeding. Yes, it is a revolting thought. And, yes, I have been a victim of these bugs.
Speaking from experience, then, - I have had two invasions in my home - you probably are in danger of bringing bed bugs into your home.

Please reconsider this purchase.
Scenario 2: You have already purchased infected used bunk beds for kids.
Your kids are complaining of mysterious nocturnal bites which are, more than likely, due to bed bugs
If you see them, they will look like apple seeds with many tiny legs. However, you will rarely see them as they can hide deep within the corners of the mattresses, the bed posts, electrical outlets and other hard-to-get-at places.
And they hate well-lit areas, hence their night-time activity.
It gets worse. They resist vacuuming as their eggs, hundreds of them, produce a sticky chemical which enables them to adhere to different types of surfaces.
And, by the way, simply washing the clothes and vacuuming will just temporarily curtail their advancement.

So what can you do to get rid of them? Based on my own successful experience, here are some tips.
Bunk Beds Infected With Bed Bugs - 5 Tips for getting rid of them

1. Take the entire bed apart - screws, nuts, bolts, brackets - and vacuum each bed component and the surrounding area of the bedroom. When finished, go outdoors to remove the vacuum bag, directly into a plastic bag.

2. Wash and swab each hardware component and all the wood with 70% alcohol.

3. Wash all the bed clothing and place it in the dryer, on high, for at least 30 minutes. Alternatively, you could always place them in plastic bags outdoors, under a really hot sun, for a few days

4. Either throw out the mattresses (and bed-clothes?) or else get new mattress covers that are especially designed to prevent bed bugs from creeping in or out. These are breathable and very effective. Caution: Don't purchase the cheap ones as they might tear.
(Note: Slash the mattresses of the used bunk beds with a knife to make them unusable for anyone else who might be tempted to pick them up from the curb)

5. Use Diatomaceous Earth. This is a cheap flour-like natural substance that bed bugs hate as it breaks open their skin when they come in contact with it. Sprinkle this into the joints and corners of the bed and over the bed boards before replacing the mattress again.
Sprinkle a layer of the powder around the base of each leg of the bed (they can climb, but not jump or fly).

Conclusion:
Don't expect the bites to stop immediately. You may get the odd bite even after all this work. Their numbers, though, will have greatly decreased with the initial treatment, and when they come after your kids at night, they will have to cross the toxic barrier created by the Diatomaceous earth.
This is the plan and it worked for me.
My own preference would be to buy new beds instead of used bunk beds as this would totally eliminate the risk of infestation.

Richard Barrett is a freelance writer living in Toronto.
Richard has an interest in consumers' product reviews. You can visit his bunk beds reviews website (below) for more information to help you choose the right bunk bed.

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