After dragging your luggage through airports and hotel hallways, you may be tempted to flop it onto the bed the moment you reach your room, but there’s something else you should do before unpacking your bags. According to entomologists who study insect infestations, suitcases should be placed in the bathtub when you first enter a hotel, not on the bed or even the floor. Taking this precaution could save you from a potential bed bug attack. True to their name, bed bugs tend to nestle into the coziest parts of a room. This includes mattresses, sofas, carpets, and anything with upholstery. Bathrooms are generally spared from bed bugs, which is why they’re safe zones for your fabric bags and any clothing they contain. On the off chance that your hotel room is infested, the insects will treat your luggage like their own playground if given the chance. Even the metal racks built for suitcases can host bed bugs in their hollow legs. After putting your bags into the bathtub, you can scour your room for bugs without fretting about the fate of your wardrobe. Check any nooks and crannies in the room, including mattress seams, drawer joints, and bed frame and headboard crevices. You're looking for any signs the bugs leave behind—such as blood, droppings, and eggs — as wells as the tiny black bugs themselves. Once you've swept the room, including the luggage rack, you can remove the bags from the bathroom without worrying about bringing any six-legged hitchhikers home with you.
