Cleveland Is in the Top 15 for Worst Bed Bug Infestations

It was hard to ignore just how common bed bugs had become in Cleveland—and across Ohio, for that matter. Bed bugs seemed to be making themselves right at home, from apartment buildings to family homes and everything in between. It was no longer an occasional problem people heard about—it was happening everywhere.

That kind of widespread presence naturally raised a few questions, such as the following:

Why had Ohio become such a hotspot for bed bug infestations?

And what made cities like Cleveland especially vulnerable to these persistent pests?

Before diving into data or expert opinions, one key factor immediately stands out…

 

Theory #3: Older Homes

Bed bugs only care about two things, a place to hide and their host. With older homes, comes more cracks, holes, and older forms of insulation. So comes the theory that with cities with a higher amount of older homes would be higher on the Top Bed Bug Cities.

Here is what we found:

And again, NO CORRELATION. We would expect the amount of older homes to be decreasing as we went further down the list. Looks like bed bugs don’t care whether you have a new or older home…

We have had several other thoughts as to why bed bugs would be more prominent in one location over another. These theories are not able to be quantified, so we will have to ponder without graphs.

 

Theory #4: Bulk Trash Pick-Up Regulations/Trash Picking

Bed bugs often move from one location over another by traveling with pieces of furniture. If picking up furniture off the side of the road, or “trash picking”, was a habit that one community was more known for over another, that would make a difference in the amount of bed bugs they would have.

 

Theory #5: Landlord Cleaning Standards

After tenants leave, the unit typically has to be cleaned according to specific city standards and regulations, to prevent things, like bed bugs, from spreading. If a community does not follow these standards or their is a lack of follow-through with landlords and cleaning standards, this would also manifest the spread of bed bugs. Although it may be in one location, people travel to other places and can bring the bed bugs with them.

Are there any other theories that you have as to why these cities were prone to more bed bugs over another? Share them with us!

For now, the lessons to take away from this series of articles…

1. Anyone can get bed bugs.
2. Don’t trash pick.
3. If you are moving into a rental unit, make sure it was cleaned properly beforehand.

 

If you find yourself needing some bed bug eradication, call Bed Bug BBQ now for a FREE inspection:  (216) 232-2760.