Bed bug mattress and box spring covers for dorm bed?

[Anonymous]

The first time dorm shopping list suggestions have my head spinning, trying to figure out what is really needed. I see "bed bug mattress and box spring covers" on some lists. Is this a good idea, or is not necessary? I do not want DD's bed infested, but if she does cover the mattress, can't the bed bugs just infest the pillow? Can't they climb up the frame of the bed and infest the blankets and the bed bug covers?? We have never had bed bugs, and I don't know what the heck I am doing here. Any dorm advice related to bed bugs or other pests is appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Get the covers for everything and a nice plush mattress pad and separate topper. Yes, its common. And, who knows who slept on the mattress before her. You could ask to bring your own mattress - I did that for a few years.

[Anonymous]

OP: I completely agree with you that covering the mattress isn't going to solve the issue. Buy an egg crate (to make the bed more comfortable), mattress cover and you are good to go. BTW, I have 2 kids recently out of college and NO bed bugs.

[Anonymous]

I got covers for my kid (who is very allergic to dust mites) that encased the whole mattress in plastic bag (no box springs at his school). I also got pillow covers.

[Anonymous]

The mattresses in the dorm DD will be living in are already covered in some type of permanent plastic cover. Is that good enough or does she need another layer of protection?

[Anonymous]

We did not do the bed bug covers because most dorm mattresses have vinyl rather than fabric covers. That was true at both my kids colleges. We wiped it down with Clorox wipes before making the bed but that was it. We used a thick (like 3-4 inch) memory foam topper and a regular XL Twin mattress pad. Neither kid had box springs - never seen that in a dorm because most dorm beds are built so that you can store a decent amount of stuff under the bed (so they are high, but instead of a box spring it's open space). Many dorm beds can also be bunked. One kid's dorm had modular furniture where you could loft the bed using the desk and dresser as the base.

[Anonymous]

Also I have not heard of bed bug infestations at colleges. OP has your DCs college had issues in the past? You have to take the packing lists with a grain of salt - most are put out by the people selling the stuff on the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did not do the bed bug covers because most dorm mattresses have vinyl rather than fabric covers. That was true at both my kids colleges. We wiped it down with Clorox wipes before making the bed but that was it. We used a thick (like 3-4 inch) memory foam topper and a regular XL Twin mattress pad. Neither kid had box springs - never seen that in a dorm because most dorm beds are built so that you can store a decent amount of stuff under the bed (so they are high, but instead of a box spring it's open space). Many dorm beds can also be bunked. One kid's dorm had modular furniture where you could loft the bed using the desk and dresser as the base.

+1 to all of this. Dorm mattress was vinyl-covered, wipe down with Clorox/whatever cleaner, twin XL mattress pad and memory foam topper. No boxspring. Bed is lofted for space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I have not heard of bed bug infestations at colleges. OP has your DCs college had issues in the past? You have to take the packing lists with a grain of salt - most are put out by the people selling the stuff on the list.

My dd was at a summer program at UVA last summer and when I picked her up she was covered in bed bug bites. It was either Metcalf or Echols, I can't remember. We sealed all her stuff and baked it in the trunk of the car for a week before combing through it to toss almost everything we couldn't run through the dryer.

[Anonymous]

Mattresses at our school are like hospital ones, covered in thick vinyl.

[Anonymous]

Bed bug covers only protect your mattress from bed bugs. They do absolutely nothing to prevent an infestation elsewhere in the room. Bed bugs are just as likely to live in bed frames or baseboards.