Common hiding spots for bed bugs in dorm rooms

As students return to college, bed bugs in dorms can become a concern. With people moving in from many different places and bed bugs known for hiding in luggage and clothes, student housing is a common spot for bed bug infestations. If you're a student or you have a student headed back to start the new school year, there are five places they should check and keep an eye on to try and spot a bed bug infestation before it gets bad.

If you have a bed bug infestation in your home or business, contact the experts in bed bug removal and prevention at Western Exterminator today.

Signs of bed bugs in university dorms

Knowing what to look for is the first step in spotting a bed bug infestation. The most common signs of bed bugs include small dark spots on mattresses or furniture, shed skins, and small blood stains on sheets. You may also notice bites on your skin, which can appear in clusters or rows. If you spot any of these, it’s time to take a closer look.

These signs typically show up in the places bed bugs like to hide. That includes bedding, furniture, walls, and anywhere else they can tuck themselves away near people. In the following sections, we’ll walk through five of the most common places where you might find signs of bed bugs in university dorms and what to look for in each spot.

1. Beds

This may seem obvious. These insects are called "bed" bugs, so of course, the first place you should look is in the bed. But this doesn't just mean the mattress. They can hide in the smallest cracks in the bed frame. Bed bugs might also hide in the box springs. If the frame is wood, check it thoroughly. Look throughout the mattress and check every wrinkle and space. You can purchase bed bug mattress encasements for extra protection.

2. Couches and chairs

Make sure that the couches and chairs in common areas are free from bed bugs, too. They can hitch a ride on you or your clothing and end up in your room. Make sure that the sofa you grabbed from the sidewalk to add to your dorm room or student apartment is free of bed bugs. Check your furniture thoroughly and remember that bed bugs can be very small, looking more like grains of pepper or apple seeds than insects.

3. Baseboards

Although bed bugs are infamous for being in objects covered with fabric, they will hide anywhere. This includes the baseboards around the bottom of walls. They can also hide in the electrical sockets found near the ground and behind anything else that ends up against the wall.

4. Dressers

Since bed bugs can get into clothing, or hitch a ride into a dorm room or bedroom by climbing into suitcases, they can end up inside the dressers. Check the drawers and look for the shed skins or the insects themselves. They can hide in the corners, pushed into the cracks, or on the clothing stored there, too.

5. Clothing

Piles of clothing (not uncommon in college dorms and fraternity houses) are the perfect areas to hide for bed bugs. Make sure the drawers, closets, laundry baskets, and laundry rooms are free of bed bugs. If you keep as much clothing off the ground as possible, you reduce the risk of bed bug infestations.

What to do if you find bed bugs in a dorm room

Bed bugs can get into anything. That includes jackets and backpacks. They can spread throughout the campus easily. Once they infest a room down the hall, they can move down the hallway and spread out, infesting an entire dorm. Here are a few steps you should take if you find bed bugs in your dorm room.

• Inform your RA and the management within the school. Let them know that there's a problem and they might need to contact a pest control professional.

• If you have bed bugs in your room, you do not need to throw out all of your clothing or bedding. You can wash the sheets and bedding, or the clothes, at a high temperature, and that will kill the bed bugs and their eggs and larvae. Keep clothing and bedding in sealed bags if you can to prevent them from returning.

• Keep your room clean. Pick up clothing. Make sure you hang up shirts, pants, and other clothing. Vacuum and clean the room often, and make sure that you dispose of the dust and debris effectively.

• Make sure that your bed is off the floor. Regularly clean bedding and inspect your bed frame, particularly if you have a wooden bed frame. Bed bugs will hide in the smallest cracks or crevices in a frame.

The important thing to remember is that if you keep an eye out and do all you can to keep your room clean, you can help to reduce the risk of bed bugs in your dorm room.

If you have any concerns about bed bugs around your home or on your property, contact the experts at Western Exterminator.

How to prevent bed bugs in college and university dorms

Preventing bed bugs in dorms means staying alert and forming good habits early. Since bed bugs in university dorms can spread easily from room to room, being proactive can make all the difference.

Here’s a quick reminder of protective measures you can take:

• Inspect second-hand furniture before bringing it into your dorm
• Keep personal belongings off the floor
• Avoid sharing bedding, clothing, or towels with others
• Use protective covers on mattresses and pillows
• Store dirty laundry in sealed bags or containers
• Wash clothes and bedding on a high heat
• Vacuum often, dispose of waste right away, and tidy away clutter
• Check common hiding spots for bed bugs in your room after traveling for any signs of bed bugs

DIY methods for getting rid of bed bugs may offer short-term relief, but for lasting results and peace of mind, call in the professionals. Our team at Western Exterminator can help assess the situation and take the right steps to address it.