Why You Shouldn't Leave Your Luggage On A Hotel Room Floor

Key Takeaways

Never place your luggage on the hotel room floor, bed, or furniture, as these surfaces may harbor bed bugs and other unwelcome critters.

Store your suitcase in the bathroom or bathtub, where tile surfaces offer fewer hiding spots for pests.

Once home, inspect your luggage with a flashlight and clean the wheels before bringing it into your bedroom.

People who travel regularly have learned a thing or two about staying in hotels. There's one widespread piece of advice they share: Never leave your luggage on a hotel room floor. Yes, you should follow this rule whether you're staying in a four-star hotel or a roadside lodge with grubby, well-worn carpet. With the amount of traffic a hotel has, carpets can harbor dirt, dust mites, stains, bacterial, mold, and fungi. But that's not all you might find there. Yes, we're talking about bed bugs.

Where Bed Bugs Lurk In Hotel Rooms

Bed bugs are an unfortunate risk of staying at a hotel. No, we don't like to think about it either—but it can happen anywhere. Travelers can carry bed bugs from hotel to hotel in their luggage without even realizing. Bed bugs like soft surfaces and look for places to hide. That means they could crawl across a carpet and into your luggage.

Obviously, you also shouldn't throw your suitcase onto a hotel bed, chair, or sofa. Even luggage racks should be inspected carefully before you use them. Check our guide on How To Keep Bedbugs Away for tips on how to check your hotel room for bedbugs.

Where To Store Your Luggage In A Hotel Room

Experts say the safest place to keep your luggage is actually in the bathroom—assuming it's covered in tile. If not, keep your suitcase in the bathtub. You can also store your suitcase on a shelf in the closet (something you may have to do when you decide to take a shower).

When you get home, empty and inspect your suitcase carefully with a flashlight before you bring it into your bedroom. Then wipe the wheels of your suitcase with disinfecting wipes before putting it away.

Related: How To Clean Your Suitcase After A Trip, According To The Pros

Read the original article on Southern Living