Why You Should Always Put Your Luggage in the Bathtub When Checking Into a Hotel
Exploring a new hotel room is always exciting, but before you get too comfortable, there’s one crucial step you should take: place your luggage in the bathtub.
It may sound unusual, but according to industry experts, the safest spot for your belongings is the tub. This simple precaution can help you avoid bringing home unwanted stowaways.
A Common Mistake
What’s the first thing you do upon entering a hotel room? Maybe you test the bed’s comfort, check out the minibar, or inspect the bathroom toiletries.
More than likely, before doing any of that, you instinctively place your suitcase on the bed or a luggage rack. However, travel and hygiene experts warn that this habit could be one of the biggest mistakes travelers make.
Instead of setting your suitcase on the bed or floor, opt for an unexpected but much safer location—the cold, hard, and (hopefully) clean surface of the bathtub.
The Reason? Bedbugs.
No matter how luxurious or well-maintained a hotel is, its rooms can still harbor bedbugs. These tiny pests are experts at hitching rides, often hiding in luggage and spreading from one place to another.
“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,” explains pest control company Orkin.
Hotels provide ideal conditions for bedbugs due to high guest turnover, making it difficult to completely eliminate them. The pests are notorious for staying close to their food source—humans—making beds, carpets, and upholstered furniture prime hiding spots.
A Bedbug-Free Zone
Because bedbugs thrive in warm, soft surfaces, leaving your suitcase on the bed or floor only increases the risk of infestation.
The bathtub, however, is an unlikely hiding place for these pests. Bedbugs struggle to climb smooth surfaces, and since hotel bathrooms are generally cleaned more thoroughly than other areas, your luggage is far less likely to come into contact with them.
Entomologist Dr. Katelyn Kesheimer told Reader’s Digest that she always places her luggage in the bathroom while inspecting her hotel room for bedbugs.
“Once I know the room is clear, I bring my luggage out. But I never put it on the bed—just in case,” she advises. “Since humans, the bedbugs’ food source, spend little time in bathrooms, they are the least likely places for infestations.”
The S.L.E.E.P. Method
To minimize the risk of bringing bedbugs home, Orkin recommends using the acronym S.L.E.E.P.:
- Survey the room for signs of an infestation. Look for dark, ink-like stains on bedding, mattresses, and box springs. Be familiar with what bedbugs look like at different life stages.
- Lift and Look in common hiding spots, including mattresses, box springs, bed skirts, and nearby furniture. Also, check behind baseboards, framed pictures, and even peeling wallpaper.
- Elevate your luggage. The safest place? The bathtub.
- Examine your suitcase when repacking and after returning home.
- Place all dryer-safe clothing in the dryer for at least 20 minutes on the highest setting to kill any potential hitchhikers.
Extra Precautions to Keep Bedbugs Away
Even if you don’t spot any bedbugs, it’s wise to take extra precautions:
- Luggage: Keep your suitcase in the tub throughout your stay to prevent bedbugs from sneaking inside.
- Clothing: Store clothes and shoes in resealable bags to prevent exposure. Avoid unpacking into closets or drawers, as these areas can also harbor pests.
- Personal Items: Bedbugs don’t just hide in clothes—they can also take refuge in books, fabric toiletry kits, and other non-metal items. Keep your belongings contained and sealed.
They Can Survive for Over a Year
It may seem like a hassle, but bedbugs are incredibly resilient. They can survive for months—or even over a year—without feeding. If they get into your suitcase or clothing, they can infest your home long after your trip.
While placing your suitcase in the bathtub may feel odd, it’s a small step that can significantly reduce your risk of bringing these unwanted pests home.
Next time you check into a hotel, skip the bed, ignore the luggage rack, and let your suitcase rest in the tub.
Do you have any travel tips to avoid bedbugs? Share your thoughts in the comments and spread the word!
