Chicago Still One Of Worst Bed Bug Cities

CHICAGO, IL — For the second year in a row, Chicago gets the dubious honor of being Orkin's No. 3 worst city when it comes to bed bugs. But the good news is that it could be worse. In 2016, the Windy City earned the No. 1 spot for infestations by the blood-sucking creepy crawlies. The tiny reddish insects, which can infest the seams of beds and other furniture, can easily spread from place to place and can be expensive to exterminate.

Also for the second year in a row, Baltimore is the No. 1 worst city for bed bugs, which travel from place to place, hitching rides on luggage, clothing and other belongings.

Here's a look at the top 10, based on metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments (residential and commercial) from Dec. 1, 2016 to Nov. 30, 2017.:

1. Baltimore
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Chicago
4. Los Angeles
5. Columbus, Ohio
6. Cincinnati
7. Detroit
8. New York
9. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose
10. Dallas-Fort Worth

"The number of bed bug infestations in the United States is still rising," says Dr. Tim Husen, an Orkin entomologist. "They continue to invade our homes and businesses on a regular basis because they are not seasonal pests, and only need blood to survive," he said, adding, "Any type of home is prone to bud begs. It has nothing to do with sanitation. We have treated for bed bugs everywhere, from newly built upscale homes to public housing."

Last August, Terminix released a similar ranking, and Chicago did not make the top 20 places for bed bug treatments.

To help detect bed bugs and stop them from spreading, Orkin offers these tips.

At home:

• 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.
• Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
• Inspect all secondhand furniture before bringing it inside your home. This is a common way for bed bugs to be introduced into homes.
• Dry potentially infested bed linens, curtains and stuffed animals on the hottest temperature allowed for the fabric.

During travel, remember the acronym S.L.E.E.P to inspect for bed bugs:

• 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.
• 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.
• Elevate luggage away from the bed and wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on counters.
• Examine your luggage carefully while repacking and once you return home from a trip. Always store luggage away from the bed.
• Place all dryer-safe clothing from your luggage in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at the highest setting after you return home.

The Worst Bed Bug Cities In US

Image via the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention