Bed Bugs 101: Your five-minute crash course, free!

Every year, high school graduates from around the world will gather their belongings in preparation for dorm living, resulting in a mingled mess of personal belongings – the perfect transportation for hitchhiking BED BUGS. Unless you’re planning on majoring in entomology, you’re probably not interested in meeting one of these blood-sucking pests face-to-face. Fear not, our Bed Bugs 101 crash course is free of charge and takes less than 5 minutes. When you’re finished, you’ll have all the information you need to avoid a bed bug encounter. Now, let’s get started…

How to avoid bed bugs in college dorms

Because bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, they are easy to carry both to and from campus. Here are a few tips on bed bug prevention in college dorms and housing:

• Suitcases and bins should be fully inspected for signs of bed bugs prior to using for back to school packing, especially if they were used for other travel.
• Inspect any secondhand or rental furniture to ensure that it is free of any bed bugs or bed bug evidence.
• Inspect dorm rooms prior to unpacking – begin with the mattress and check any additional furniture in the room, such as sofas or chairs.
• Invest in a mattress encasement if your school doesn’t provide them. While a mattress encasement can’t stop bed bugs from getting into your dorm room, they can allow you to see bed bugs that get introduced to your room, since it prevents them from being able to hide in mattress and box spring crevices.
• Do a visual inspection to prevent the transfer of bed bugs while moving.
• Look out for blood spots on linens and clothes.
• Check for fecal spotting on and inside the box spring and box spring frame.
• Inspect the area around the bed for shed skins, eggs, and live bugs.

College dorms and housing are hot spots for bed bugs. They can also be prime territory for bed bug infestations to spread rapidly. It only takes a few hitchhikers on your belongings to bring that infestation back home. If you’re away at college, make sure you aren’t bringing home any unwanted guests over the holiday breaks.

If you discover bed bugs in your dorm room, alert your residential supervisor right away so the school can take immediate action to avoid a larger infestation. However, if you find them at your home, Western Exterminator can help. Our pest specialists will work with you to determine the best treatment method to give you peace of mind. Contact us today for a free inspection.