How to Prevent Bed Bugs from Coming Home from School

Bed bug infestations in classrooms are rare because schools are generally poor environments for them. However, periodic introductions of bed bugs into classes occur more, often due to the increasing frequency of bed bugs in homes.

While teachers and staff can be more easily addressed, dealing with students or parents can be challenging, especially if the family cannot afford proper control measures or their landlord refuses to properly treat their home.

College dorms and apartment complexes are also hot spots for bed bugs. College housing can be prime territory for bed bug infestations to spread rapidly, and it only takes a few hitchhikers on your son or daughter’s belongings to bring that infestation into your home. 

If you have a child in this position, make sure they aren’t bringing any unwanted guests back with them.

Bed Bug Prevention in the School

If you’re a faculty member, we recommend the following for preventing bed bugs:

• Provide educational materials to staff and parents/guardians.
• Keep the facility clean and uncluttered. Bed Bugs are not associated with uncleanliness, but a clean facility makes it easier to detect bed bugs before an infestation gets established.
• If children take naps at school, regularly put the bedding in the dryer on a high setting for at least 30 min. This will kill all stages of bed bug development. Dress up clothes or theater costumes should also be regularly put through the dryer.
• Regularly clean and inspect the following: lost-and-found, sleeping areas, upholstered furniture, and wall mounted items (pictures, clocks, signs, mirrors, etc.).
• Store items (bedding, clothes, coats, bags) in clear plastic containers when possible.
• Consider periodic inspections by a bed bug detecting canine, if bed bugs are consistently an issue in the population you serve.

If a Student’s Home Is Known to Have a Bed Bug Infestation

• Provide the student with educational materials they can take home with them.
• Send a letter to the student’s parent or guardian requesting that they take steps to reduce the risk of bed bugs being transported to school.
• Send a letter to all parents with children in the affected classroom.
• Provide the student with plastic bags or a plastic bin in which to store their belongings while at school.
• Isolate the student’s belongings.
• Reduce the number of items that the student has to transport between school and home.
• Regularly inspect the student’s desk and or locker for bed bugs.
• Avoid an accumulation of clothes, shoes, and boots in the classroom.

Tips for Parents to Follow at Home

• Parents should regularly inspect their children’s belongings for hitchhiking bed bugs.
• Limiting the number of items children bring home from school.
• Regularly checking backpacks, jackets, and clothing after kids return home, and keeping these items in a separate area of the house.
• Wash and dry cloth items returning from school in hot temperatures.
• Inspecting your car for signs of bed bugs, like shed exoskeletons and blood stains.
• If the school has reported an infestation, consider housing all related items in a sealed plastic bin.
• Ask school administrators whether they have bed bug detection and elimination plans.

Bed Bug Prevention in College Dorms and Apartments

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 apartments:

• Suitcases and trunks should be fully inspected for signs of bed bugs prior to using them for back-to-school packing, especially if they were used for other travel.
• Any secondhand or rental furniture should be inspected to ensure that it is free of any bed bugs or bed bug evidence.
• Dorm rooms should be inspected 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, it can allow you to see bed bugs that get introduced to your room, since it prevents them from being able to hide on the mattress and box spring. Look for an encasement that promotes “bug proof” zipper locks.

How to Prevent the Transfer of Bed Bugs While Moving

Randy Rupert, Batzner’s Bed Bug Team Leader, recommends the following to prevent the transfer of bed bugs while moving. 

• A visual inspection before packing is always necessary.
• Look out for blood spots on linens and clothes
• Check for fecal spotting on and inside the box spring and box spring frame
• Inspect area around bed for shed skins, eggs, and live bugs

If you find any reason to believe that bed bugs are present, or if you just want to be extra careful:

In the Dorm

Bag everything, especially linens, clothes, and shoes, and securely tie the bag(s).

At Home

Leave the bags/luggage in the garage, complete the following steps before bringing anything inside (if possible)

• Empty the bag as soon as possible.
  • Put contents into the dryer right away, dry for 30 to 60 minutes on high.
  • Keep an eye out for black spots in seams, dust skirts, fitted sheets, and other places bed bugs like to live.
• Vacuum all the luggage, bags, etc. as well as the around the bags/luggage.
• Wash canisters and other transferring material that cannot be vacuumed.
• Wipe down hard surfaced items (laptops, TVs, etc.).

Let the Experts Handle Bed Bugs

Bed bugs in your home are a sure way to ruin what should be an enjoyable time with your children and students! 

Whether your kids are in school or you work in a school yourself, it is important to keep yourself educated about bed bugs and prevention. Moving day from a college campus can also be a tiring, frustrating experience, but these few extra steps are very much worth the effort. 

If by some chance a bed bug infestation still occurs, or if you have any questions on bed bug prevention, don’t hesitate to call 866-591-3519 or contact us here.