Checking into a hotel is always an exciting part of any trip. Whether you’re on a vacation or a business trip, settling into your temporary home is a small ritual many travelers enjoy. But before you place your suitcase on the bed or luggage rack, consider an unexpected spot: the bathtub.
Though it may seem strange, experts say the bathtub is the safest place for your luggage, helping you avoid an unpleasant and costly problem—bedbugs.
Why Should You Keep Your Luggage in the Bathtub?
The simple answer: bedbugs. These tiny pests can be found in even the cleanest and most expensive hotels. They are notorious hitchhikers that latch onto fabric surfaces like bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Once they get into your suitcase, you risk bringing an infestation back home with you.
According to pest control company Orkin, hotels are prime locations for bedbugs due to the constant turnover of guests. “Bedbugs are highly efficient hitchhikers. They can move quickly across a room and climb onto luggage or anything left on a bed or floor in just one night.”
Because bedbugs thrive in soft, warm environments, placing your luggage on the bed, carpet, or furniture increases your chances of picking up unwanted pests. The bathroom, particularly the bathtub, is a much safer choice.
A Bedbug-Free Zone
Hotel bathtubs provide an environment that is inhospitable to bedbugs. These pests struggle to climb smooth surfaces like porcelain, making it nearly impossible for them to reach your belongings. Additionally, hotel bathrooms tend to be cleaned more thoroughly and frequently than other areas of the room, making them less likely to harbor bedbugs.
Entomologist Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD, told Reader’s Digest that she always keeps her luggage in the bathroom while inspecting a hotel room for bedbugs. “Once I know it is clear, I bring my luggage out into the main room. But I never put it on the bed, just in case,” she explained. Since bedbugs rely on human hosts for food, they are rarely found in bathrooms, where human presence is limited.
How to Inspect Your Hotel Room for Bedbugs
To avoid bringing home unwanted guests, pest control experts recommend following the S.L.E.E.P. method:
- Survey the room for signs of bedbugs, including dark ink-like stains on mattresses, bedding, or furniture. Look closely at the crevices of the mattress, box spring, and bed frame.
- Lift and look in common bedbug hiding spots, such as behind headboards, under furniture, and along the edges of the carpet.
- Elevate your luggage by keeping it away from the bed and walls. The bathtub is the safest option.
- Examine your luggage carefully when repacking and once you return home.
- Place all dryer-safe clothing from your suitcase into the dryer on the highest heat setting for at least 20 minutes to kill any potential hitchhikers.
Extra Precautions to Protect Your Belongings
Even if you don’t find signs of bedbugs, it’s wise to take additional precautions:
- Store your suitcase in the bathtub throughout your stay to minimize the risk of bedbugs crawling in.
- Use resealable plastic bags for clothing and shoes to prevent bugs from latching onto your items.
- Avoid unpacking into hotel drawers or closets, as bedbugs can hide in wooden crevices.
- Keep personal items, such as books and toiletry kits, in sealed bags, as bedbugs are excellent at hiding in non-metal personal belongings.
Why It’s Worth the Effort
Although these precautions may seem excessive, bedbugs are incredibly resilient. “They can survive for months to over a year without a blood meal,” says Kesheimer. “If left in a suitcase or on clothing, they can infest later when they have access to food.”
Bringing home bedbugs can lead to expensive extermination treatments, discomfort, and inconvenience. A simple habit like storing your suitcase in the bathtub can drastically lower your risk of exposure.
So, next time you check into a hotel, resist the urge to place your luggage on the bed or carpet. Instead, opt for the bathtub—it’s an easy and effective way to keep your belongings safe from pesky stowaways.
