PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Philadelphia is once again at the top of a list no city wants to be a part of.
The City of Brotherly Love is now #3 on Orkin’s 50 Best Bed Bug Cities list.
According to the exterminator company, the list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022.
There’s good news: Philadelphia fell down a spot last year. Last year we were 2nd.
New York crawled up to this slot.
Chicago takes the top spot for the third year in a row.
The top 5 also includes Cleveland and Los Angeles.
For reference, Philly placed 14th in 2021, 10th in 2020, and 12th in 2019.
Along with his annual list, Orkin published some proactive tips for homeowners and travelers to prevent bed bugs:
Home:
- Check your home regularly for signs of bed bugs. Check spots where bed bugs hide during the day, including mattress labels and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets, and picture frames. Check when moving in, after a trip, when a service employee visits or after guests have stayed overnight.
- Reduce the clutter in your home, making it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
- Examine all used furniture before bringing it into your home.
While traveling, remember the acronym SLEEP to check for bed bugs:
- Check the hotel room for signs of an infestation. Look for tiny, inky stains on mattress seams, in upholstery, and behind headboards.
- Lift up and look inside bed bug hideouts: mattresses, box springs and other furniture, as well as behind baseboards, pictures and even torn wallpaper.
- Lift the luggage away from the bed and the wall. The safest places are in the bathroom or on countertops.
- Examine your luggage carefully when repacking and upon returning from a trip. Always keep luggage away from the bed.
- After you return home, place any dryer-safe items in your luggage in the dryer on the highest setting for at least 30-45 minutes.
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