Experts advise placing your suitcase in the bathtub rather than on the bed or luggage rack when you check into a hotel.
This advice may sound odd, but it’s because of creepy-crawly creatures that live on things like beds.
While you’re settling in, the bathtub is thought to be a safer place to stay away from these bugs.
Why should you put your luggage in the bathtub?
We have one word to describe you: bedbugs. Bedbugs are infamous for using your clothing and even your bags as a means of transportation to go to your next location, which might be your home.
e to check your hotel room, you may keep those bothersome pests away from your personal items by placing your baggage in the bathtub rather than on the bed.
When looking for bedbugs, especially in hotel rooms, entomologist Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD, suggests keeping luggage in the restroom.
She makes sure they are out of the room before moving her bags into the main area, but she doesn’t put them on the bed.
According to a 2024 Orkin study, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia are the top U.S. cities for bedbug infestations.
Travel expert Marla Cimini also highlights that bedbug issues are prevalent in hotels of all price ranges.
Why is the bathroom a safe place for luggage?
Because individuals spend less time in bathrooms than other parts of the hotel room, they are the least likely to have bedbugs, according to Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD. Additionally, there are fewer areas for bedbugs to hide in bathrooms, and bathmats and towels are routinely cleaned in between visitors, which eliminates possible hiding locations.
The bathroom is a safer place for your luggage because bedbugs prefer natural surfaces, which are not provided by tubs or tiles.
In the event that your hotel bathroom lacks a bathtub, what should you do?
An excellent substitute for the bathtub is to place your luggage in the shower stall. Just be sure to remove it before turning on the shower!
How to check for bedbugs on the bed
Here’s how to perform a fast but comprehensive search:
- Examine the top of the bottom sheet after folding the top sheet all the way back.
- Examine the folds for evidence after unbuckling the bottom sheet from the corners and edges.
- Examine the mattress’s tufts on top, along any zippers, and along the seams.
- Examine the box spring after sliding the mattress aside.
- Examine the headboard, paying particular attention to any tufting or fabric components. Examine the wall behind the bed and behind the headboard.
How can you get rid of bedbugs on your items?
One of the following methods can be used to eradicate bedbugs from the luggage:
- Steam-clean a hard- or soft-sided suitcase.
- Vacuum every inch of it, using the tips we outline here.
- If you’ve got a big freezer in the garage, put the whole suitcase in it (make sure it’s set below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Leave it there for several days, then vacuum it out.
