The school bell is ringing, and kids are rushing back to class. But as you stock up on new notebooks and backpacks, there’s another kind of back-to-school preparation you need to make—one for the pests that might try to hitch a ride home.

Stop a Back-to-School Pest Problem Before it Starts

Think of yourself as the defensive end for your home. Your job is to spot the threats, execute a solid game plan, and tackle anything that tries to get past your line of defense.

We’re talking about bed bugs, lice, and mites. Don’t worry, with a little preparation, you can keep your home a pest-free zone.

Huddle Up: Know Your Opponents

Before you can stop them, you need to know what you’re looking for. These pests are experts at staying out of sight, so a little reconnaissance goes a long way.

• Bed Bugs: These aren’t just in beds. They are small, reddish-brown, oval-shaped insects about the size of an apple seed. They’re notorious hitchhikers and can cling to backpacks, clothes, and lunchboxes. Look for tiny, dark spots (feces) on fabric, small blood stains, or a sweet, musty odor. The bites often appear as itchy, red welts in a line or cluster.
• Lice: Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live on the scalp. The most common sign is intense itching. While the adult lice are hard to spot, their eggs, called “nits,” are much easier to find. Nits are tiny, yellowish-white ovals glued to the hair shaft, often found behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. Unlike dandruff, they won’t flake off.
• Mites: Mites like chiggers or scabies can also be a concern. Chiggers leave itchy, reddish welts, often where clothing is tight. Scabies mites burrow into the skin, causing an intensely itchy rash. If your child has a persistent, unexplained rash, it’s always a good idea to consult a doctor.

Additionally, you cannot rely on your child’s school to proactively check all students’ heads for lice, since many school districts have moved to less aggressive forms of prevention and education.

The Game Plan: Your Ultimate Defensive Strategy Against Lice, Mites, and Parasites

Your best defense is a proactive approach. By building these habits into your back-to-school routine, you can intercept pests before they ever get inside.

1. The “Drop-and-Roll”: As soon as your child gets home, have them remove their backpack and shoes. Don’t let them drop their stuff on the bedroom floor or on upholstered furniture. The best place for these items is in a dedicated spot like a mudroom or garage.
2. Laundry Day Blitz: When clothes, jackets, and gym bags come home, wash and dry them on the highest heat the fabric allows. High heat is a powerful weapon against bed bugs and lice, killing them and their eggs.
3. Daily Inspection: Take a minute each day to inspect your child’s backpack and lunchbox. Check the seams, zippers, and crevices for any signs of pests. A quick shake-out over a garbage can is an easy way to dislodge any unwelcome visitors. Take a comb or brush and carefully and slowly go through your child’s scalp, inspecting for tiny lice or small white specks that move.
4. The Locker Room Huddle: Talk to your kids about not sharing hats, helmets, scarves, or other personal items with friends. Head-to-head contact is the primary way lice spread, and this simple chat can make a huge difference.

Video: How to Treat and Prevent Head Lice

The BLITZ: Your Final Play

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you might get a warning signal—a suspicious spot, a series of itchy bites, or a notice from the school. This is when it’s time to BLITZ the problem directly.

For non-washable items like backpacks, beds, or furniture, a direct defensive play is needed. That’s where Defensive End! BLITZ bed bug spray comes in. Our specialized formula is your go-to solution for targeting and neutralizing pests on contact, while leaving a residual barrier behind.

Apply it to the seams of beds, bed frames, backpacks, the insides of shoes, and other items that can’t go in the wash. It’s the final line of defense to ensure any unwelcome visitors are taken out before they have a chance to score.

With a strong game plan and the right tools, you can play defensive end for your family and win the back-to-school battle against bed bugs, lice, and mites.