Don't Make This Huge Mistake When Buying A Used Rug At The Thrift Store

Bringing home a thrift-store rug can add incredible style and charm to a space. Some of the best finds may showcase remarkable designs, craftsmanship, and high-quality materials — like silk or hand-knotted wool — at a fraction of their original price. However, despite these appealing advantages, it's critical to shop for such pieces with a careful eye. That's because when you bring home a pre-owned rug, if you're not careful, you can unwittingly introduce your home to something else entirely: bed bugs.

It's surprisingly easy to overlook that a rug may be harboring hidden passengers, as these nocturnal blood-sucking pests are tinier than an apple seed and are experts at staying out of sight. Even more concerning, many people don't realize that bed bugs can take up residence in far more than just mattresses. While a soft rug can be an excellent target, they can also linger in other pre-owned items, such as upholstered chairs or even harder surfaces like wood furniture, since they can squeeze themselves into joints and seams. These pests can cause allergies and even skin reactions, so you'll need to inspect your thrifted rug prior to purchasing.

For this reason, some experts insist rugs are among the things you should never buy at the thrift store, while many designers counter that scoring a quality rug at a bargain can add otherwise unobtainable style and elegance to a space. Though buying used does carry some risk if not done properly, you can use tips and tricks to avoid bringing home bed bugs in your next thrifting haul that greatly minimize the chance of introducing these hard-to-eradicate pests to your home.

If a thrift-store rug is on your shopping list, be ready to undertake more than the just the steps you shouldn't skip when choosing an area rug. For starters, you should also examine it for signs of insect activity. Get up close: Use a flashlight or your phone's light — and a magnifying glass — to scan for tell-tale clues such as dark fecal specks, red blood smudges, shed skins, or even live bugs. Also ask the shopkeeper whether they take preventative measures against bed bugs, such as routine heat treatments for their goods.

If a rug appears pest-free and you take it home, by all means, don't roll it out right away to enjoy in your home. Instead, seal it in a plastic bag or tub and place it in a cold outdoor area or direct sunlight before bringing it indoors. Let it remain outside for at least a few days in very hot weather or in frigid temperatures for more than two weeks; extended exposure to temperatures above about 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below 0 degrees can kill them. Another option: Sprinkle diatomaceous earth, a natural bug killer, on the rug, then clean it with a high-powered vacuum fitted with a HEPA-filter and immediately dispose of the contents outdoors. If the rug is washable, laundering and drying it in hot temperatures should help eradicate any pests. While buying a secondhand rug carries some risk, and the preventive precautions you should take to ensure it's clean and useable will require extra effort and time, taking these steps mean you can safely enjoy a stylish rug in your home.