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Life Tips 2025-05-30 01:31:12

Why Experts Recommend Putting Your Luggage in the Bathtub After Checking in: Turns Out It Has Many Unexpected Benefits

Placing your luggage in the hotel bathtub upon check-in is a simple yet effective strategy to protect your belongings from bedbugs—a growing concern even in high-end accommodations.

Introduction: The Hidden Hotel Room Threat

Stepping into a hotel room after a long day of travel often leads to a familiar routine: setting your suitcase down on the bed or luggage rack and beginning to unpack. However, this seemingly harmless habit could expose your belongings—and ultimately your home—to bedbugs, those notorious tiny pests that can hitchhike across cities and continents.
While many travelers focus on enjoying the comfort of their rooms, entomologists and travel experts warn that your first move should actually be to place your luggage in the bathtub. This advice, though unusual, is rooted in preventing the spread of bedbugs and safeguarding yourself against their unwelcome intrusion.

What Are Bedbugs and Why Are They a Concern?

Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood, typically at night. They thrive in warm environments close to human hosts and are experts at hiding in cracks, crevices, and soft furnishings. Bedbugs do not discriminate by hotel class; infestations have been reported in luxury hotels, budget motels, and private homes alike.
The real danger of bedbugs lies in their ability to silently infest personal belongings, especially luggage, allowing them to travel easily from one location to another. Once home, they can quickly establish infestations, resulting in physical discomfort, allergic reactions, psychological stress, and expensive extermination processes.

Why the Bathtub Is the Safest Spot for Your Luggage

Bathrooms, particularly bathtubs, are the least hospitable areas for bedbugs within hotel rooms. According to entomologist Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer, bathrooms offer minimal hiding spots due to their smooth, non-porous surfaces and are less frequented by humans for prolonged periods—the bedbugs' primary food source.
Bathrooms undergo frequent cleaning, with towels and mats laundered between guests, reducing the likelihood of pests lingering there. The ceramic or porcelain surfaces of tubs and tiles do not provide the warm, fabric-like environments bedbugs prefer.
Therefore, placing your suitcase in the bathtub creates a physical barrier that bedbugs find difficult to cross, significantly reducing the risk of infestation when you inspect your room.

The Importance of a Thorough Bedbug Inspection

Once your luggage is safely in the tub, a quick yet detailed bedbug inspection is critical for peace of mind and prevention.
What to Look For:

  • Live bugs: Adult bedbugs resemble small, flattened apple seeds, medium to dark brown in color.

  • Bug casings or exoskeletons: Shed skins left behind during growth stages.

  • Reddish-brown stains: Bedbug feces, often seen on bedding or mattress seams.

  • Eggs and nymphs: Small, whitish-yellow eggs and newly hatched bugs.

Inspection Steps:

  1. Fold back the top sheet and examine the surface of the mattress.

  2. Untuck the bottom sheet and inspect corners and folds.

  3. Check mattress seams, tufts, and any zippers.

  4. Slide the mattress to inspect the box spring underneath.

  5. Examine the headboard, particularly if it’s upholstered or tufted.

  6. Inspect behind the headboard and the wall immediately adjacent.

Expanding the inspection beyond the bed is equally important—check couches, armchairs, nightstands, drawers, closets, and even underneath rugs and luggage racks.

Alternative Places for Luggage: What If There’s No Bathtub?

In hotel rooms without bathtubs, the shower stall can be a suitable alternative for storing your luggage temporarily. Just be sure to remove your luggage before using the shower to avoid water damage.
Avoid placing luggage on beds, sofas, or fabric luggage racks before confirming the room is pest-free. Bedbugs can easily transfer from these soft surfaces to your belongings.

How to Protect Your Belongings During Travel

Bedbugs are notorious hitchhikers and can cling to the inside of suitcase zippers, tags, and folds without detection. Dr. Kesheimer recommends inspecting your luggage thoroughly both upon arrival and before departure.
Using a flashlight (such as your phone’s) to examine dark crevices can help detect these pests early. Additionally, choosing hard-shell suitcases reduces available hiding spots compared to fabric ones.

Dealing with Bedbugs: What to Do If You Find Them

If you discover bedbugs on your belongings, swift action is necessary to prevent spreading infestation to your home.

  • Enclose infested items in large plastic bags.

  • On returning home, immediately wash and dry all clothes at high heat (dryer for at least 45 minutes).

  • Steam clean luggage or use a vacuum with special attention to seams and folds.

  • Consider freezing items (below 0°F or -18°C) for several days to kill any surviving bugs.

  • Seek professional pest control advice for severe infestations.

Bedbugs can survive months to over a year without feeding, so ignoring a potential infestation can have long-term consequences.

Broader Context: Bedbug Prevalence in Cities and Hotels

Bedbugs are a growing problem worldwide, with infestations reported increasingly in urban areas and hospitality venues. The pest-control company Orkin’s 2024 study ranked Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia as the U.S. cities with the highest bedbug prevalence.
Travelers should be aware that even top-tier hotels are not immune, underscoring the importance of vigilance regardless of accommodation type.
Expert Insights on Bedbug Prevention

  • Marla Cimini, travel writer and consultant, highlights that bedbug issues are more common than travelers expect, making precautionary measures critical in all hotel stays.

  • Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer, entomology expert, emphasizes placing luggage in the bathtub as an effective first line of defense, combined with diligent inspection.

Final Recommendations: Smart Packing and Hotel Habits

To minimize risk during your travels:

  • Always place luggage in the bathroom—preferably the bathtub—until the room is inspected.

  • Conduct a thorough bedbug check before unpacking.

  • Avoid placing clothing or suitcases on beds or upholstered furniture.

  • Use hard-shell luggage to reduce hiding spots.

  • Keep garbage bags handy to isolate suspect items.

  • Upon returning home, immediately launder and treat your belongings as a precaution.

Conclusion: Why This Simple Tip Could Save You From a Nightmare

Though it may seem inconvenient or odd, putting your luggage in the bathtub is a simple, science-backed habit that can prevent the trauma and expense of dealing with bedbugs. The resilience and stealth of these pests make vigilance essential for every traveler.

With increasing bedbug outbreaks globally, adopting this practice alongside thorough inspections can protect not just your trip but your home from an infestation that is notoriously difficult to eradicate.

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