Bed bugs—Michigan's vampires of the insect world, are out there turning our state into an involuntary blood bank. And guess what? These little pests aren't a seasonal issue; they're active all year long, sucking hotel cleaning budgets and legal funds dry.

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Bed bug infestations are expensive to resolve for homeowners, but for hotels in Michigan dealing with the issue, it can get really, really pricey.

The Unreal Cost of Bed Bugs in Michigan Hotels

A pest control expert lifts a hotel mattress layer to reveal signs of a bed bug infestation
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Let's talk numbers, shall we? On average, a single bed bug 'incident' costs Michigan hotels an average of $6,383. Sound expensive? Considering the cost of mattress replacement, deep cleaning treatments, and the loss of a room for the time it takes to clean and the revenue attached.

Then there's the public relations nightmare and negative social media frenzy that is a bed bug infestation that can scare away future guests. But wait, there's more.

Lingering Backlash of a Hotel Bed Infestation

A hotel bag boy places luggage on a guests bed. There is a circle with a line through it noting this is something you shouldn't do if you want to avoid bed bugs in Michigan hotels.
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Beyond the cleaning cost and lost revenue, nearly half of hotels face lawsuits over bed bug infestations. With litigation calculated in, you can add $17,177 to the tab.

RELATED: Why You Need to Know How To Remove a Tick Safely in Michigan

That's a jaw-dropping $23,560 for one incident. That much money is wasted because of an animal the State of Michigan describes as being no bigger than an apple seed.

How Often Do Michigan Hotels Deal With Bed Bug Problems

An overhead shot of a person packing their bags as they're leaving a Michigan hotel. In the bag is a graphic of a bed bug surrounded by a circle with a line through it.
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According to Orkin, 8 out of 10 hotels have faced bed bug issues in the last year, so knowing what to look for before you dive onto your hotel bed and potentially take bed bugs home with you, here are the steps you should take to spot them before you get settled in, just remember to S.L.E.E.P.:

  • Survey the room for ink-colored stains, shed exoskeletons, or a sweet, musty odor
  • Lift the sheets, curtains, and cushions looking small, oval-shaped bugs
  • Elevate your bags using the luggage stand, don't let them touch the floor or the bed
  • Examine your bags while you're packing up and one more time when you get home
  • Place all dryer-safe clothes in the dryer for at least 30 minutes on high heat

If you think you've brought some home with you, call the professionals, getting rid of bed bugs in your home is a tall, time-consuming, and expensive way to go.

America's 50 Most Bed Bug Infested Cities For 2024

The pest control experts at Orkin have crunched the data from 2023 to determine which city is 2024's Most Bed Bug-Infested in America. Using residential and commercial call volumes as a benchmark, let's countdown to the itchiest city in the USA.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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Michigan's Falls may be filled with color, but while we're looking up and admiring the trees, bugs are slipping in through tiny little crevices in your home that are essentially little welcome mats for the state's top 5 winter pests. When you're battling bugs, you go to someone who's in the trenches, so I asked Bob Yoakman, Mason, Michigan's Bug Man, for tips on how to keep Michigan's 5 Most Common Winter Bugs at bay.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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If you think these are the creepiest insects in Michigan, you're not alone. Here are the 11 bugs that make a Mitten state resident want to take a shower.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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