How to Protect a New Futon From Bedbugs

The threat of bedbugs is real, as these bloodsucking insects jump from person to person and multiply by feeding on you while you rest. Bedbugs take up residence in your mattresses and other cloth materials, quickly reproducing shortly after contact. The pests prefer warm hiding places including mattresses, box springs, headboards and upholstered furniture. While bedbugs cannot be completely avoided, you can reduce the level of infestation by covering your futon mattress.

Mattress cover
Vacuum cleaner
Clothes dryer

Instructions

- 1
  Slip the mattress cover over the futon mattress. Close the zipper to seal off bedbugs from getting into your mattress. Mattress covers use a tightly woven fabric that restricts bedbugs from getting into the mattress and locks in bedbugs that may have made their way into the futon already. Bedbugs, which require a host to survive, will die within two days after being cut off.
- 2
  Vacuum your home's floors, focusing on cracks and crevices where bedbugs tend to hide. Remove the vacuum cleaner bag outside of your home and place it in a sealable plastic bag to prevent the bedbugs from spreading.
- 3
  Wash and dry your clothes and bed linens on a high heat setting. A heat setting above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes kills bedbugs and their eggs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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