The Unwelcome Guests: Bed Bug Infestations Soar in These Michigan Cities

When I was a kid my mom would say "Good night, don't let the bed bugs bite" when she would tuck me and my brother into bed.

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As a kid I didn't know what bed bugs were or why they would bite me but I wasn't worried about dealing with them.

Fast forward many years and as an adult I now know what bed bugs are and I definitely don't want to ever come into contact with one.

Recently four Michigan cities found themselves on a list that no city wants to be on.

They are among the worst cities in the country for bed bugs.

Before we go over the list, let's take a look at these nasty little bugs.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are tiny, reddish-brown insects that are about the size of an apple seed.

Bed bugs are flat and wingless and feed on the blood of people and animals, usually at night while their host is sleeping.

While bed bugs don't spread diseases, their bites can be cause discomfort.

Bed bugs are great at hitchhiking, they can easily spread from one place to another in luggage, clothing, or furniture.

How To Remove Bed Bugs?

Hopefully you never find yourself dealing with bed bugs, but if you do, here is what you should do.

Bag everything washable: Immediately strip all bedding, curtains, and any clothes on the floor. Put them directly into sealed plastic bags.

Wash all the bagged items in the hottest water setting your washing machine allows.

After washing, dry everything on the highest heat setting in your dryer for at least 30 minutes. The heat is what kills the bed bugs and their eggs.

Vacuum everything: Thoroughly vacuum your mattress, box spring, bed frame, carpet, rugs, and any upholstered furniture

You should also consider buying specialized bed bug-proof encasements for your mattress and box spring.

These zip-up covers trap any bugs inside, and cause them to die.

Read More: 25 Things Michigan Is Known And Famous For

Worst Cities In Michigan For Bed Bugs

Orkin just released its annual list of the bed-buggiest cities in the U.S.

The bed bug cities list is based on treatment data from the metro areas where Orkin performed the most bed bug treatments from May 2024 to May 2025.

Coming in at #48 was Lansing (up four spots from last year)

Flint found itself on the list at #16: Flint (up seven spots from last year)

The final two Michigan cities landed in the top 10.

Coming in at #7 was Grand Rapids (up seven spots from last year)

And the worst city in Michigan, and coming in at #3 in the country was Detroit (up three spots from No. 6 in 2024)