WASHINGTON -- Bad news for the nation's capital: We have some of the worst bedbugs in the country.
According to Terminix, Washington D.C. had the eighth most cases of bed bugs in the U.S.
Philadelphia had the most, while Denver had the fewest.
Another study from the Washington Post and Orkin Pest Control released early this year found Baltimore had the most bedbugs, and Washington D.C. had the second most cases.
Below is the Top 10 list, per Terminix:
1. Philadelphia
2. New York
3. Dallas-Fort Worth
4. Indianapolis
5. Cincinnati
6. Los Angeles
7. Cleveland
8. Washington, D.C.
9. Chicago
10. Boston
According to Terminix, one in five Americans have experienced an encounter with bedbugs.
Though bedbugs are commonly found in bedding and mattresses, it's important to remember that they also travel from point A to point B on objects such as purses, jackets and luggage.
Here are some tips from Terminix on preventing a bedbug infestation:
- Check hotel headboards, mattresses and box springs for live bedbugs, their exoskeletons and dark blood spots
- Also look for newly hatched nymphs, which are cream-colored and the size of letters on a penny
- Look for small, translucent eggs, which may be in the tucks and folds of sheets
- Hang all clothing and don't leave anything lying on the bed or furniture
- Avoid storing clothing in a hotel’s furniture drawers
- Store suitcases on a luggage away from the bed
- Vacuum suitcases when you return home
- Immediately wash clothing in hot water
- Store luggage in a sealed plastic bag in a garage or basement, away from bedrooms
Terminix based its rankings on the number of services rendered in each city in the past year.
Stephanie Metzger, WKYC, contributed to this story.