Why You Should Put Your Luggage in the Hotel Bathtub

After a long travel day, there’s nothing better than finally getting to your hotel, checking in, and heading to your room to relax. But before you flop down on the bed or open up your suitcase to grab some fresh clothes, there’s one thing you should do first, and that’s put your luggage in the hotel room’s bathtub or shower.

No, it’s not because suitcases are covered in germs and you should be mindful about where you put them (although that’s another consideration). Rather, it’s to keep your luggage away from any fabric surfaces, like bedding or carpets, where bed bugs—the bane of all travelers—may be hiding.

How to Protect Your Luggage From Bed Bugs

From delayed flights to lost luggage, travel is already anxiety-inducing enough without adding these pervasive pests to the mix. Checking your hotel room for bed bugs should be the first thing you do when you walk in the door, but sequestering your suitcase should come even before that, according to travel writer and Just Packed founder Lydia Mansel.

“Whenever I check into a hotel, I immediately put my luggage either in the bathroom, the entryway, or any space away from the bed and not on the carpet,” says Mansel. “This way, my belongings are far enough away from any furniture where bed bugs usually reside—and I significantly lower my chances of bringing them home.” She also recommends leaving a note for housekeeping on top of the suitcase, asking them to leave the bag in the tub: “I’ve occasionally had my bags moved and placed on luggage racks—which can also be home to bed bugs—so the note ensures my luggage stays where I left it.”

Daniel Clarke, travel expert and director of U.K.-based holiday home rental platform Parklink, agrees: “The bath can easily be washed down first and is likely to be one of the cleanest surfaces in the room due to its frequency of cleaning,” he says. “The bathtub not only proves itself to be an efficient use of space if you have a small room, but I have found no unwanted bugs or insects have stowed away in my bags since storing my luggage there.” If your hotel room doesn’t have a bathtub, the shower works fine as well.

According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, another way to protect against a bed bug infestation is with the right type of luggage. Hardside suitcases are best, as “it is more difficult for bed bugs to attach to rigid materials than to fabric,” says the department. Packing your clothing in resealable plastic bags and bringing a small flashlight to help you inspect your room upon arrival are other handy tips.

How to Check Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs

Once your luggage is safely out of the way, take some time to inspect the room and ensure it’s bug-free.

Starting with the bed, pull off the bedding and sheets to check the box spring and mattress for signs of bed bugs. These can be dark stains, shells, eggs, and of course, the bugs themselves. Examine pillows and check behind the headboard if possible. From there, move on to upholstered furniture, checking in seams and crevices. Since bed bugs can also hide in drawer joints and dark spaces, be sure to look inside your bedside tables and dressers. The last thing you want is to unpack your suitcase into an infested dresser.

Even if your search yields nothing, you still may not feel comfortable moving your luggage or unpacking. If you’re only staying for a night or two, you can keep your clothes in your luggage and forgo unpacking altogether. If you do want to unpack, consider going the extra mile and clean storage spaces, as Clarke does in accommodations without a bathtub. “Having been ‘stung’ in the past by having ants enter my backpack on one trip and bed bugs while on a different vacation,” he shares that he now carries antibacterial wipes to clean hard storage surfaces before use.

Check Your Suitcase Before Leaving

Even if you’re fairly confident your room is free of bed bugs, it never hurts to check your suitcase before checking out. Use a flashlight to inspect along the zipper, in the corners, and inside any pockets.

For extra peace of mind, you can even buy a bed bug heater. As soon as you get home, just pop your suitcase in this heated hamper and it’ll kill off any hitchhikers.