Staying in a hotel is always an exciting experience, whether you’re traveling for business or leisure. Exploring your temporary home, checking out the amenities, and settling into your new space can be part of the adventure. However, before you get too comfortable, there’s one crucial step you should take to protect yourself and your belongings from an unexpected threat—bedbugs. According to travel and hygiene experts, the safest place to store your luggage in a hotel room is not the bed, the luggage rack, or even a closet—it’s the bathtub.

At first, the idea of placing your suitcase in the tub might seem strange, but it’s a simple and highly effective way to prevent bedbugs from hitching a ride back home with you. These tiny pests are notorious for infesting hotel rooms, even in high-end establishments, and they are incredibly skilled at hiding in soft, warm areas such as mattresses, carpets, and upholstered furniture. Unfortunately, many travelers unknowingly bring them home, leading to infestations that can be difficult and costly to eradicate.

Bedbugs are excellent hitchhikers, moving quickly across surfaces and climbing onto anything left on the floor or bed. According to pest control company Orkin, hotel rooms are ideal environments for these pests due to the constant turnover of guests and the difficulty of completely eradicating them from such spaces. While you may assume that luxury hotels are immune to infestations, bedbugs do not discriminate—they can be found in accommodations of all types and price ranges.

Since bedbugs thrive in soft, textured surfaces, placing your luggage on the bed, carpet, or even a cushioned chair increases the risk of them latching onto your belongings. Once inside your suitcase, they can be transported back to your home, where they quickly spread to bedding, furniture, and even clothing. This is why experts strongly recommend using the bathtub as a safe, temporary storage space for your luggage upon arrival at a hotel.

Why is the bathtub such an effective bedbug deterrent? First, bedbugs struggle to climb smooth, slippery surfaces, making it difficult for them to access your suitcase. Second, hotel bathrooms are typically cleaned more thoroughly and frequently than the main sleeping areas, reducing the likelihood of bedbugs being present in these spaces. Finally, since bedbugs rely on human hosts for food, they tend to stay close to areas where people sleep, rather than in bathrooms where human activity is minimal.

Entomologist Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD, shared with Reader’s Digest that she always places her luggage in the bathroom while inspecting her hotel room for signs of bedbugs. She thoroughly examines the mattress, bed frame, and other potential hiding spots before bringing her suitcase into the main living area. Even then, she avoids placing it directly on the bed or floor.

To further minimize your risk, Orkin suggests following the S.L.E.E.P. method when staying in hotels:

• Survey the room for signs of bedbugs, including dark, ink-like stains on bedding, mattress seams, and furniture.
• Lift and look in common hiding spots, such as the mattress, box spring, bed skirt, headboard, and behind baseboards or wallpaper.
• Elevate your luggage by keeping it off the bed and floor. The bathtub is the safest option.
• Examine your belongings while repacking and once you return home.
• Place any dryer-safe clothing from your suitcase in the dryer on high heat for at least 20 minutes upon your return.

Beyond placing your luggage in the bathtub, there are additional precautions you can take to protect yourself from bringing bedbugs home. Consider packing your clothes and shoes in resealable plastic bags to create an extra barrier against these pests. Avoid unpacking into hotel drawers or closets, as these areas may harbor hidden bedbugs. Instead, live out of your suitcase and keep it closed whenever possible.

Be mindful that bedbugs are not just limited to clothing and luggage. These resilient insects can hide in books, cloth toiletry bags, and other non-metal personal items. To reduce the risk of an infestation, keep your belongings contained and avoid placing them on soft surfaces.

One of the most unsettling facts about bedbugs is their ability to survive for extended periods without a food source. Kesheimer warns that bedbugs can live for months, even up to a year, without feeding. This means that if they manage to sneak into your luggage, they could remain hidden for a long time before making an unwelcome appearance in your home.

While placing your suitcase in the bathtub might seem like an unusual travel hack, it is a small and simple step that can save you from a major headache down the road. By taking this precaution, you significantly reduce the chances of bringing home these unwelcome pests, ensuring that your travels leave you with fond memories rather than an infestation.

The next time you check into a hotel, resist the urge to drop your luggage on the bed or floor. Instead, opt for the safest spot—the bathtub. A few moments of caution could save you from the hassle, expense, and stress of dealing with bedbugs after your trip. What are your go-to travel tips for staying bedbug-free? Share your thoughts and pass this information along to fellow travelers!