Cleaning stooped furniture in Toronto

So, you’ve found the perfect bedside table or new rug for your living room while walking the streets of Toronto, but are paranoid about bed bugs and weird stains? I’ve got you!

You may have seen our stooping guide and been inspired to find furniture for free (because in this economy?), but now you need to know how to get rid of the furniture’s old germs before bringing it home. Here’s a step-by-step tool with tips on how to do just that.

Step one: Survey the item to see if it’s worth saving

No matter how much you want that super cute vintage table or that funky lamp, sometimes an item has reached the end of its life expectancy.

• Look for obvious signs of bugs or damage. Most (decent) people will leave a note if there are bed bugs or if it’s completely beyond repair.
  • If there’s no note, here are some things to do:
    • Insight Pest Canada recommends looking for blood spots on sheets, musty odour, egg shells and fecal staining.
    • One Reddit user suggested inspecting seats/cushions carefully and to “buy a can of Raid and spray the underside/seams.”
    • David Suzuki Organization suggests washing items in hot water or putting smaller items in the freezer for extreme cold temperatures.
    • When in doubt about bugs, post your local neighbourhood Facebook group for a second opinion.
• Does it have water damage? You don’t want to bring a musty water smell into your room, so look for water stains or a bad smell. Besides posting on Facebook for second opinions, you can figure out something has water damage by looking at wood discolouration and staining.

Step two: If it’s worth saving, how will you repair it?

• Sometimes all an item needs is a good sanitizing moment, so carry wipes with you when you’re walking around Toronto in case you spot something you can’t leave behind.
• Also ask yourself, ”Can you borrow cleaning items from friends and family if you don’t have any?”
  • If it’s a couch or chair with fabric, you’ll want to use a carpet cleaner with good suction.
  • If your FYP is like mine, you’ve probably seen those magical steam cleaners, so ask around to see if you can borrow one. If not, one can be rented from Home Depot or Rug Doctor by Bissell.
• If you’re not handy with tools, visit a local repair café; here are three you can try:
  • Repair Café Toronto
  • York Region Repair Café
  • UTSC Repair Café

Now that your item has been cleaned and repaired, enjoy the latest addition to your room.