We made a top 5 list but it really bites
by 614now Staff
July 25, 2018
Good night, sleep tight, the bed bugs are most likely going to bite.
Mattress Clarity recently released a graphic of the bed buggiest places in the United States and guess who landed the #5 spot?
Yep, Columbus.
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Baltimore, MD; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; New York, NY took the 1-4 spots, respectively.
Mattress Clarity sourced bedbugregistry.com, bedbugreports.com, orkin.com, and businesswire.com for their findings.
Here are some ways to protect your home against bed bugs, according to the EPA:
- Check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for any signs of bed bug infestation before bringing them home.
- Use a protective cover that encases mattresses and box springs to eliminate many hiding spots. The light color of the encasement makes bed bugs easier to see. Be sure to purchase a high quality encasement that will resist tearing and check the encasement regularly for holes.
- Reduce clutter in your home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.
- Vacuum frequently to remove any successful hitchhikers.
- Be vigilant when using shared laundry facilities. Transport items to be washed in plastic bags (if you have an active infestation, use a new bag for the journey home). Remove from dryer directly into bag and fold at home. (A dryer on high heat can kill bed bugs.)
- If you live in a multi-family home, try to isolate your unit by:
- Installing door sweeps on the bottom of doors to discourage movement into hallways.
- Sealing cracks and crevices around baseboards, light sockets, etc., to discourage movement through wall voids.
- Consider purchasing a portable heating chamber to treat any items that you believe may have bed bugs.
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