Bedbugs. Even just hearing or seeing the word makes even the most stoic travelers shudder inside.
A scourge to man for over 3,500 years,the small, brown insects can hide almost. Anywhere in bed, of course. But also stuffed chairs and couches. Wallpaper. Behind baseboards, Picture frames and electrical switch plates. On stuffed animals and wheelchairs. Planes, trains, automobiles and buses. Purses. And, of course, luggage. Pretty much any place or thing that has small cracks or crevices. They live off the blood of animals and their bites have been known to leave red, itchy welts on the bodies of their unsuspecting victims.
Since at least 2014, Orkin, one of the largest nationwide pest control companies in the country, has put out an annual list of the 50 cities in the U.S. that have the most bed bugs. The list is based on data from the metro areas where Orkin has performed the most bed bug treatments in the most recent year.
Their most recent list is from December 1, 2021 – November 30, 2022. The ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments.
Spoilers! Chicago’s grab for the #1 gives it that ranking for the third year in a row now. New York and Philly switched places for spots #2 and 3. The Cleveland-Akron area gained 4 spots to be ranked #4. And Los Angeles, which had been in 12th place in 2022, is now in 5th place.
Here are the Top 20 metro areas for 2023, along with how they compared to their placement in 2022:
- Chicago
- New York (+1)
- Philadelphia (-1)
- Cleveland-Akron, OH (+4)
- Los Angeles (+7)
- Detroit (-2)
- Indianapolis (-1)
- Baltimore (-3)
- Washington, D.C. (-2)
- Columbus, OH (-1)
- Champaign, IL (+2)
- Grand Rapids, MI (-1)
- Cincinnati (-3)
- Charlotte (+1)
- Denver (+2)
- Atlanta (-2)
- Dallas-Ft. Worth (-1)
- Pittsburgh (+2)
- Charleston, W.V. (+3)
- Raleigh-Durham (+4)
Click here to see Orkin’s complete ranking of the 50 cities with the most bedbugs.
Orkin also has some proactive tips of how to inspect your hotel room for bedbugs. Just remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P.:
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Survey the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Be on the lookout for tiny, ink-colored stains on mattress seams, in soft furniture and behind headboards.
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Lift and look in bed bug hiding spots: the mattress, box spring and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.
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Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters.
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Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.
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Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 30-45 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.
They also give these recommendations to help prevent bed bugs in your home:
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Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames. Inspect when you move in, after a trip, when a service worker visits or after guests stay overnight.
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Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
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Examine all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home.
Feature Photo: Orkin
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