Several of my nieces and nephews are in college now. This summer, while getting things ready for their kids' apartments, my sisters went out and purchased new mattresses and furniture. I thought they were a little nuts for spending that money. When I think back to my first college apartment, my roommate and I had a couch we bought for $10, an entertainment center we found on the side of the road, and a chair we found abandoned at the apartment complex. After reading this article about bedbugs, however, I think my sisters did the right thing by not letting their kids go garbage picking for furniture.

College campuses and dormitories are like a luxury resort for these blood-sucking little critters. Students frequently visit each other's rooms (possibly transporting little friends as they do so). Universities like Texas A&M, Ohio State, Stanford, and the University of Florida have had to deal with outbreaks of bedbugs.

Bedbugs are hard to spot. Waking up with small, red welts is one tell-tale sign. You may also spot tiny black or reddish-brown spots on your sheets.

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That carton of milk in your fridge is stamped with an expiration date, but what about your pillow? Prescription medications, mattresses, vitamins, contact lens solution, and other items all need to be replaced after some time. It's important to replace these items to preserve your health -- in time allergens can build up or the efficacy of the product can wear off. But how do you know what needs to be replaced... and when?

• Smoke alarms. Change detectors after 10 years.
• Pillows. Replace bedroom pillows once a year.
• Mattresses. Replace after 5-10 years.
• Vitamins. Replace after two years.
• Fire extinguishers. Replace after 10 years.
  

Knowing when to replace items as they wear out can help keep your family safe and healthy.

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