Discovering a new hotel room is always thrilling, but before you make yourself at home, remember to put your luggage in the bathtub.
Although it may sound unusual, travel and hygiene experts say the bathtub is actually the safest place for your suitcase in a hotel room. Most travelers instinctively drop their luggage on the bed, floor, or luggage rack, but that habit can increase the risk of bringing bedbugs home.
Bedbugs thrive in warm, soft areas like mattresses, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Hotels, regardless of cleanliness or star rating, are ideal environments because of the constant turnover of guests. According to pest control experts at Orkin, bedbugs are excellent hitchhikers that can crawl into luggage overnight if it’s left near beds or walls.
The bathtub, by contrast, offers smooth, hard surfaces that bedbugs struggle to climb. Bathrooms are also cleaned more thoroughly and are used less frequently, making them one of the least likely places for infestations. Entomologists recommend placing luggage in the tub while inspecting the room for signs of bedbugs, such as dark stains or insects in mattress seams.
Keeping your suitcase elevated, using sealed bags for clothing, and drying clothes on high heat after travel can further reduce risk. It may feel strange, but letting your suitcase rest in the tub could spare you months of frustration later.
