It’s time once again for “Allston Christmas.” This is the name given to an annual ritual that takes place when college students return to the city. On or about September 1 each year, move-in week leads to piles of household belongings, furniture, and mattresses piled up on sidewalks in front of residences. Those in need of such items help themselves, decorating their new lodgings with free stuff. This is not a good thing according to city officials.

Bed bugs are the main reason that you might want to skip the event this year. Used belongings, especially mattresses, box springs, and bed frames, are one of the main ways in which bed bugs are spread from one location to another. You usually don’t know the history of that bed and unless you’re an entomologist or an exterminator, you certainly don’t know how to properly inspect it for bed bugs or their eggs.

Boston’s Bed Bugs Mapped

Bed bug problems and complaints in Boston are not getting any better. Last year, the city received 427 complaints, about 30 more than the year before. Since January 1, 2012, there have been 1,822 bed bug complaints filed with the city. The Boston Globe put together an interactive bed bug complaint map showing the location of each one of these complaints. Check it out to see how your neighborhood fares when it comes to bed bugs. East Boston seems to have more than its share of complaints but no neighborhood has been immune.

Boston city workers are trying to educate the clueless who are scrounging furniture from the streets this fall. At this time every year, workers pass out literature warning students and others of the bed bug problem and they leave bright orange warning stickers on discarded items that could contain bed bugs.

For non-Bostonians, the term “Allston” Christmas comes from the heavily student-populated Boston neighborhood of the same name. And yes, Allston has its share of red dots on the bed bug map.

For more on the bed bug–used furniture connection, see these Colonial blogs:

• Don’t Discard Bed Bug-Infested Furniture
• Used Furniture Can Hide Bed Bugs
• How Can You Get Rid of Bed Bug-Infested Furniture?