When you go on vacation, the last thing you don’t want to bring back home are bed bugs. Unfortunately, these tiny pests can easily hitch a ride in your luggage if you’re not careful about where you store it in your hotel room.

🧳 Going on Vacation? Give Your Luggage a Little Tub Time!

Traveling can be exciting, but it also comes with its share of worries, especially when it comes to bed bugs. In 2023, a global bed bug epidemic hit hotels hard, with Paris being one of the most affected cities. Though the crisis has subsided, it has left travelers with a valuable lesson: when you check into a hotel room, do not — under any circumstances — place your luggage on the bed or the floor. Instead, put it where you least expect: inside the bathtub.

🚿 Why the Bathtub?

At first, tossing your bag in the bathtub might sound odd. After all, it’s where you’d expect to find soap, not suitcases. But there’s a good reason for this unconventional tip. By placing your luggage in the bathtub, you keep it clear of any fabric surfaces like carpets, bedding, or drapes that could harbor tiny, unwanted guests — namely bed bugs. These pesky critters love to hide in soft, fabric-filled environments and can easily hop into your suitcase, only to hitch a ride back to your home.

🗣️ Expert Advice

Lydia Mansel, a travel writer and founder of Just Packed, explains why she always uses the bathroom as her go-to luggage spot:

“Travel can be anxiety-inducing as it is — delayed flights, lost luggage — so I try to make sure I do everything I can to avoid adding bed bugs to the mix. 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. 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.”

Mansel adds an extra tip: leaving a note on top of your suitcase for housekeeping. This ensures that your luggage stays in the safe spot you’ve chosen, rather than being moved to a luggage rack, which could also be a hiding spot for bed bugs.

🛡️ More Ways to Protect Your Luggage

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also offers several tips for travelers to avoid bed bug infestations:

Choose a Hard-Sided Suitcase: Bed bugs have a harder time attaching to rigid materials than to fabric, so opting for a hard-sided suitcase can offer extra protection.
Use Resealable Plastic Bags: Packing your clothes and personal items in resealable plastic bags can help create an additional barrier against pests.
Inspect Your Room Upon Arrival: Bring a small flashlight to thoroughly check the room, especially around the bed, mattress seams, and upholstered furniture. Look for any signs of bed bugs or their markings.
Keep Clothes in Your Luggage: If you’re only staying for a night or two, it’s best to keep your clothes in your luggage and avoid unpacking. The bathroom is an excellent storage spot for this purpose.

Daniel Clarke, a travel expert and director of Parklink, suggests going a step further by cleaning your storage areas before unpacking:

“Having been ‘stung’ in the past by having ants enter my backpack on one trip and bed bugs while on a different vacation, I have now learned I need to either clean the hard storage surface first — I carry antibacterial wipes for this — or if I have a bathtub in the room, then that is the better option to keep my luggage. 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.”

💭 Final Thoughts

Traveling should be a time of enjoyment and discovery, not a source of stress over potential bed bug infestations. By simply placing your luggage in the bathtub, you can protect your belongings from pests and enjoy your trip with peace of mind. The bathtub is likely one of the cleanest spots in your hotel room, and it can also help you avoid unwanted surprises when you return home.

So, next time you check into a hotel, give your luggage a little tub time. You’ll thank yourself later! 🛁🧳✈️