Checking into a hotel room is always an exciting experience. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, settling into a new space, exploring the amenities, and getting comfortable is part of the journey. However, before you put your suitcase on the bed, floor, or luggage rack, there’s one simple yet effective precaution that can protect you from an unpleasant surprise—place your luggage in the bathtub. While this might sound unusual, travel and hygiene experts insist that the bathtub is the safest place to store your belongings while you inspect the room.

At first glance, this advice may seem unnecessary, but it is a crucial step in preventing bedbugs from hitching a ride home with you. Hotel rooms, no matter how well-maintained or high-end, can be a breeding ground for these tiny pests. With frequent guest turnover, bedbugs have ample opportunities to find new hosts, and your luggage is the perfect vehicle for their next move. If you place your suitcase on the bed, carpet, or upholstered furniture, you increase the risk of bringing these unwanted guests into your home. The bathtub, however, serves as a protective zone, keeping your belongings safe from infestation.

Bedbugs are notorious for their ability to hide in soft, warm areas like mattresses, bed skirts, carpets, and even cushioned furniture. Once inside a suitcase, they can go undetected for long periods, traveling back with you and eventually settling into your home. According to the pest control company Orkin, bedbugs are highly efficient hitchhikers, capable of moving quickly across a room and attaching themselves to luggage in a single night. Hotels, with their constant influx of guests, provide an ideal environment for these pests to thrive, making it crucial to take precautions.

Unlike fabric-covered surfaces, bathtubs present a challenge for bedbugs. Their smooth, slippery surface makes it difficult for these tiny pests to climb, significantly reducing the chances of them reaching your belongings. Additionally, hotel bathrooms tend to be cleaned more thoroughly than bedroom areas, providing an extra layer of protection. This is why experts, including entomologist Katelyn Kesheimer, PhD, recommend placing your luggage in the bathroom while conducting a thorough room inspection. Kesheimer shared with Reader’s Digest that she always keeps her suitcase in the bathroom until she has checked for signs of bedbugs in the sleeping area. Even if she finds no evidence of an infestation, she avoids placing her luggage on the bed, opting instead for a safer spot.

To minimize the risk of bedbugs, Orkin suggests following the S.L.E.E.P. method:

• Survey the room for signs of bedbugs, such as dark stains or tiny eggs on bedding, mattresses, and furniture.
• Lift and look under the mattress, inside the box spring, along bed skirts, and even behind headboards and baseboards.
• Elevate your luggage away from the bed and walls. The bathtub is the best choice.
• Examine your belongings before packing up and when you return home.
• Place all dryer-safe clothing in a dryer on high heat for at least 20 minutes upon arriving home to kill any potential bedbugs.

Beyond keeping your suitcase in the bathtub, there are other precautions you can take to avoid bringing bedbugs home. Consider packing clothing and shoes in resealable plastic bags to create an additional barrier against these pests. Avoid unpacking your clothes into hotel drawers or closets, as these areas can also harbor bedbugs. Instead, keep your belongings contained in your suitcase and zip it closed when not in use.

Bedbugs don’t just cling to fabric—they are also known to hide in books, cloth toiletry bags, and other non-metal personal items. To further safeguard your belongings, keep these items sealed or stored in hard, non-fabric cases. Taking these extra steps may seem tedious, but they can prevent a costly and frustrating infestation.

One of the most concerning aspects of bedbugs is their resilience. Unlike other pests, they can survive for months—even up to a year—without feeding. According to Kesheimer, this means that if bedbugs make their way into your suitcase, they could remain hidden until they find a new food source, infesting your home long after your trip. This makes proactive measures all the more important.

While placing your suitcase in the bathtub might seem unconventional, it is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of bringing home unwanted guests. By making this small adjustment to your travel routine, you can protect yourself from the hassle and expense of dealing with a bedbug infestation.

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 little caution goes a long way in ensuring that your travel memories remain pleasant and bedbug-free. Have any other travel tips to avoid bedbugs? Share your thoughts and spread the word to help fellow travelers stay protected!