When you check into a hotel, experts recommend putting your suitcase in the bathtub, not on the bed or luggage rack. This advice may seem strange, but it’s due to creepy-crawly bugs that can be found on surfaces like beds. The bathtub is considered a safer spot to avoid these pests while you settle in.

Why should you put your luggage in the bathtub?

We’ve got one word for you: bedbugs. Bedbugs are notorious for hitching a ride to your next destination (like your house!) on your clothes and even your bags. If you put your luggage in the bathtub of your hotel room instead of on the bed, you will ensure that those pesky pests stay far away from your personal belongings while you take the time to inspect your room.

Entomologist Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD, advises keeping luggage in the bathroom while checking for bedbugs, especially in hotel rooms. After confirming the room is clear of them, she moves her luggage into the main area but avoids placing it on the bed. Travel expert Marla Cimini also emphasizes that bedbug problems are common across hotels, from luxury to budget, with Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia ranked as the top U.S. cities for bedbug infestations, according to a 2024 Orkin study.

Why is the bathroom a safe place for luggage?

According to Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD, bathrooms are the least likely places to find bedbugs because people spend less time there compared to other areas in the hotel room. Additionally, bathrooms have fewer hiding spots for bedbugs, and towels and bathmats are regularly cleaned between guests, disrupting potential hiding places. Bedbugs also prefer natural surfaces, and tubs and tiles don’t offer these conditions, making the bathroom a safer spot for your luggage.

What should you do if there’s no tub in your hotel bathroom?

Setting your luggage in the shower stall is a perfectly suitable alternative to the bathtub. Just remember to take it out before you turn on the shower!

How to check for bedbugs on the bed

Here’s how to conduct a quick yet thorough search:

• Fold the top sheet all the way back, and inspect the top of the bottom sheet.
• Untuck the bottom sheet from the sides and corners, and look for evidence in the folds.
• Look in the seams of the mattress, along any zippers and in the tufts on the mattress top.
• Slide the mattress aside, and inspect the box spring.
• Check the headboard, especially if it’s tufted or made of fabric. Look behind the headboard and on the wall behind the bed.

How can you get rid of bedbugs on your items?

To get rid of bedbugs on the luggage, you can do one of the following:

• Steam-clean a hard- or soft-sided suitcase.
• Vacuum every inch of it, using the tips we outline here.
• If you’ve got a big freezer in the garage, put the whole suitcase in it (make sure it’s set below 0 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Leave it there for several days, then vacuum it out.