Are Bed Bugs Still a Problem For These Four Cities in Michigan?
There are four cities in Michigan that have significant problems with bed bugs.
Unfortunately, Michigan is a hot spot when it comes to bed bugs. Earlier this year we told you about four cities in Michigan that made Orkin's 2022 list of the 50 worst cities for bed bugs.
The Michigan cities included include Detroit at #4, Grand Rapids at #11, Flint at #23, and Lansing at #48. Chicago was #1 on the list for the second year in a row.
We're only going to assume that these cities are still in a bed bug battle as they're usually on the annual list every year. It's not a question of whether or not they're on the list, it's more about where they are on the list. We won't know if these Michigan cities have fallen off until the updated Orkin list comes out in January.
SEE ALSO: Michigan Women Sets Herself and Car on Fire Trying to Kill Bed Bugs
We get a preventative treatment applied inside our house every few months. It's not because we had bed bugs, it's because we don't want to risk ever getting them.
You can pick up bed bugs from anywhere. You could simply go to the moves and sit in a seat where someone with bed bugs was sitting and then unknowingly bring them into your home. It's a risk that we're not willing to take.
How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Getting rid of bed bugs is not an easy task, it's almost impossible without hiring professionals. However, there are a few things you can do:
- Clean bedding, linens, curtains, and clothing in hot water and dry them on the highest dryer setting. Place items that can't be washed in the dryer and run on high for 30 minutes.
- Use a stiff brush to scrub mattress seams to remove bedbugs and their eggs.
- Vacuum your bed and surrounding area frequently. After vacuuming, immediately place the vacuum cleaner bag in a plastic bag and place it in a garbage can outside.
- Encase mattress and box springs with a tightly woven, zippered cover to keep bedbugs from entering or escaping. Bedbugs may live up to a year without feeding, so keep the cover on your mattress for at least a year to make sure all bugs in the mattress are dead.
Now you understand why we get preventative treatments.