Unsurprisingly, college dorms are a breeding ground for bed bugs. With students from all over the country hauling in their belongings from home or recent travels, the pesky creatures simply have to hitchhike in on a backpack or suitcase and make themselves home. We’re uncovering the truths about preventing bed bugs in college dorms before you move in.
How Common Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are commonly seen in places with high occupant turnovers, such as hotels, apartment complexes, and dorms. They are likely to be carried in on luggage or used furniture, which residents in these living quarters often have. An innerspring mattress is one of the most frequently infested pieces of furniture since the bed bugs can live in coils and fabric.
Say Goodbye to Bed Bugs in College Dorms
The best way to prevent bed bugs in college dorms is to take some precautions before you pack your belongings. Follow these tips, and you’ll do your part to avoid finding these tiny bugs in the bed.
- Prepare for Bed Bugs While You’re Packing: Place your clothing, bedding, and other personal belongings in plastic bags. This may sound silly, but you won’t know what kind of critters are lurking in your dorm room until you get there. You’ll also want to pack a bug-proof mattress cover to cover your bed.
- Know What to Look For: You’ll need to know how to identify signs of bed bugs when you get to school. The apple-seed-sized bugs have small, flat, oval-shaped bodies and are wingless. They’re brown unless they’ve recently feasted on blood, at which point they turn red. If you don’t see the bugs themselves, you may find tiny droppings, eggs, cast skins, or blood spots where they live.
- Know Where to Look: When you arrive at school, don’t bring your belongings to your room until you’ve inspected your mattress and surrounding areas. Look all over the mattress, including corners and every crevice – you may even want to use a flashlight. Also, check the headboard, nightstand, and even curtains if there are any. Ask your roommate to check their side too. If you find any signs of bed bugs, alert the RA.
- Encase Your Mattress: Cover the mattress in a bed bug-proof liner to prevent the tiny bugs from nesting.
Students Relaxing In Lounge Of Shared Accommodation
How to Prevent College Bed Bugs Once the Year Begins
Even when you’ve determined that your room is bug-free, you should keep your guard up for the rest of the semester. Maintaining a clean living environment will help keep the bugs away:
- Minimize Clutter and Vacuum Often: Keep floors clear so you can vacuum rugs or carpets where bed bugs can hide.
- Wash Bedding and Clothing Frequently: Sheets and comforters allow bed bugs to get cozy. Washing them frequently in hot water and drying them for 30 minutes will kill bugs. And since bed bugs from other students can hitchhike on your clothing, wash everything you wear often. Have you considered a mattress pad to protect you from all the stuff in your college mattress? Our mattress dorm topper offers you the ultimate protection and comfort.
- Keep Clothing Sealed: If there’s room in your dorm, keep your clothes in plastic tubs with tight lids. Bed bugs are much less likely to live in there than in drawers or closets.
Sleep Soundly With a Mattress Topper
Hopefully, if you’ve taken all the precautions, you won’t encounter college bed bugs. For even more peace of mind when sleeping on a college mattress, use a DormTopper mattress pad. It’s hypo-allergenic and antibacterial to protect you from germs that other students have left behind, and it wicks away moisture to keep you cool and dry all night long. You need to sleep well to concentrate in class, so do everything you can to make it happen!
