How to Safely Dispose of Bed Bug–Infested Furniture and Belongings in Toronto

When bed bugs invade your home, your first instinct might be to throw everything out, the mattress, the couch, the bedding, and anything that came in contact with the bed bugs. We get it. Bed bugs are frustrating, unsettling, scary, and emotionally exhausting.

But here’s the truth: throwing out furniture or belongings without proper precautions will make things worse! It can spread bed bugs into the hallways, your neighbours’ homes, or even right back into your own space.

At Pest Solution Services, we’ve helped Toronto homeowners, tenants, and landlords handle these situations the right way. In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how to safely and responsibly discard infested items while preventing further spread.

Why Proper Disposal Matters

In a busy city like Toronto, where people live in close quarters, condos, townhomes, apartment buildings, bed bugs can spread fast. Improper disposal is one of the most common ways infestations move from one unit to another.

For example:

• A tenant throws out an infested couch on garbage day.
• Someone walking by sees a “free” couch and takes it home.
• Within days, that person’s home becomes infested too.

This cycle happens every week across the GTA. That’s why proper disposal isn’t just about cleaning your own home, it’s also about preventing your infestation from becoming someone else’s nightmare.

Do Not Throw Everything Away

The biggest misconception we see is that you need to throw away everything to get rid of bed bugs.
That’s rarely true.

Bed bugs can often be eliminated using professional treatment and proper preparation. In fact, most furniture can be salvaged, including:

• Mattresses and box springs (with professional treatment and encasements)
• Wooden bed frames
• Dressers and nightstands
• Couches and chairs
• Electronics
• Guitars

Throwing things away too early can actually hurt your progress. You might spread bugs during the move-out process, and if you replace furniture before treatment is complete, the new items can become infested almost immediately. That is exactly what happened to one of our most recent client.

Items Beyond Saving

There are situations where certain items are too heavily infested or too damaged to justify keeping.
Here are common examples:

• Mattresses or couches with rips, holes, or deep seams.
• Old furniture with cracks, tears, or gaps that are impossible to seal or treat.
• Cluttered items like piles of books, paper, or cardboard that are difficult to treat safely.

When infestations are extreme, like those we’ve seen in long-term untreated Toronto apartments, some items may simply have to go.

Once our team inspects your home, we’ll let you know exactly what can be saved and what can’t.
If we recommend that certain items be discarded, we’ll also guide you on how to wrap, label, and dispose of them safely, so you don’t risk spreading bed bugs during the process. This personalized advice ensures you’re not guessing or throwing things out unnecessarily.

Prepare Items For Disposal

If you do decide to throw something away, do it safely and responsibly to stop bed bugs from spreading.

Here’s the step-by-step process we recommend:

1. Seal the Item Completely

Use thick plastic sheeting, garbage bags (available at hardware stores). Wrap the item tightly and use strong duct tape to seal every seam. This ensures no live bed bugs or eggs escape during handling or transport.

2. Clearly Label It

With a thick permanent marker, write “BED BUG INFESTED – DO NOT TAKE” in large letters on the outside of the bag or item. Toronto waste collection teams appreciate clear labeling — and it discourages anyone from taking the item off the curb. (You’d be surprised how often people pick up furniture left outside without realizing the risk.)

3. Move Carefully

When moving infested furniture:

• Avoid dragging items across carpets or hallways. Bed bugs can fall off and spread.
• Always completely wrap the item and then transport it. This ensures the bed bugs will not be able to drop from that item and further infest other areas.

4. Dispose Through Proper Channels

In Toronto, large furniture items can be left for bulk waste pickup, but confirm your collection day and rules by visiting your cities website. Never leave infested items in shared garbage rooms or loading docks without sealing and labeling them first. This has caused infestation within neighbouring units before.

Wash and Treat Everything Else

You don’t need to throw away clothing, bedding, or curtains, these can be cleaned effectively.

Here’s how:

1. Sort items by room (to avoid cross-contamination).
2. Wash each batch in hot water (60°C or higher).
3. Dry on the highest setting for at least 45 minutes, heat is what kills both bed bugs and eggs.
4. Place clean, dry items directly into sealed plastic bags or bins until your treatment is completed.

Do not mix clean and infested laundry, and avoid moving untreated items between rooms.

Don’t Reintroduce Bed Bugs After Disposal

Once your home is treated and infested items are gone, the last thing you want is a re-infestation.

Follow these post-treatment tips:

• Wait for clearance from us before buying new furniture.
• When purchasing replacements, avoid used furniture or second-hand items unless you can verify they’re bed bug–free.
• If you must bring in second-hand furniture, inspect it carefully. Check seams, joints, and undersides for small black dots or live insects.

Use Mattress and Box Spring Encasements

Instead of tossing out your bed, consider bed bug–proof encasements for your mattress and box spring. We always do this for our clients’ infested rooms, this is because these covers:

• Trap any remaining bed bugs inside (they eventually die off)
• Prevent new bugs from getting in
• Protect your investment long-term

Encasements are a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to disposal and are highly recommended for Toronto homes with previous infestations.

Be a Responsible Neighbour

Bed bug infestations can quickly spread between walls, units, and hallways, especially in multi-unit buildings.
If you live in a condo or rental apartment:

• Inform your landlord or property manager immediately if you have bed bugs (it’s required by Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act).
• Cooperate with any building-wide treatment or inspection efforts.

Bed bugs are often a community pest issue, and prevention helps everyone.

Conclusion

Dealing with bed bugs is one of the most stressful experiences a homeowner or tenant can face. But how you handle your belongings during this time makes a big difference. By following proper disposal procedures, sealing and labeling items, and working closely with our recommendations and guidelines, you can stop the spread and move toward a truly pest-free home.

At Pest Solution Services, our entomologist-led team has spent over 15 years helping Toronto and GTA residents eliminate bed bugs completely and safely. From treatment to preparation guidance and disposal planning, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Contact us.