Why Keeping Your Luggage in the Hotel Bathtub is a Smart Travel Tip
Traveling can be one of the most exciting experiences in life. Whether you’re heading out for a long-awaited vacation, a quick weekend getaway, or an important business trip, there’s always a sense of adventure when you step into a hotel room for the first time.
Most of us have a routine when we check into a hotel. We swipe the key card, open the door, toss our bags on the bed or luggage rack, and take a moment to relax after a long journey. But have you ever paused and thought about where you’re placing your luggage? I hadn’t—until an unsettling experience completely changed my perspective.
The Moment That Changed Everything
It happened a few years ago when I checked into what seemed like a cozy, clean hotel. The room looked nice enough: crisp white sheets, soft lighting, and the faint scent of cleaning products in the air. I felt relieved and ready to settle in. I dropped my suitcase by the bed and started scrolling through my phone to read some reviews of the place.
That’s when I saw the word that made my heart sink: “bedbugs.”
The review described a guest’s nightmare encounter with tiny pests crawling out from the mattress at night, biting them while they slept, and ultimately hitching a ride home in their suitcase. I froze. My mind went into overdrive, imagining these tiny, unwelcome travelers sneaking into my luggage and invading my home. It was horrifying.
I immediately sprang into action, determined to protect my belongings. That’s when I discovered a simple, yet brilliant travel hack: placing my luggage in the hotel room’s bathtub.
Why Bedbugs Are Every Traveler’s Nightmare
If you’ve never encountered bedbugs, consider yourself lucky. These small, reddish-brown insects are expert hitchhikers. They hide in the tiniest crevices—mattresses, headboards, furniture seams, curtains, and even behind picture frames. Once they latch onto your belongings, they can easily travel home with you, leading to an infestation that is difficult, stressful, and expensive to eradicate.
Bedbugs don’t discriminate. They can be found in budget motels, luxury resorts, and even cruise ships. They thrive wherever people sleep and store their things, making hotel rooms a prime target. What makes them especially tricky is that they prefer warm, cozy places close to where people rest. Your suitcase filled with soft clothing? That’s their dream vacation spot.
This is where the bathtub comes in as an unlikely hero. Bedbugs avoid smooth, cold, slippery surfaces like bathtubs. By placing your luggage there, you create a temporary safe zone, keeping your belongings out of reach while you inspect the rest of the room.
Think of it as giving yourself a head start. While you check the mattress seams, headboard, and other hiding spots for signs of bedbugs, you don’t have to worry about your suitcase becoming their new home.
The Cleanest Spot in the Room
Even if bedbugs aren’t on your radar, hotel rooms aren’t always as spotless as they appear. Housekeeping staff do their best, but with quick turnover between guests, some areas don’t receive the deep cleaning they truly need.
Floors and carpets, in particular, can harbor dirt, bacteria, and who-knows-what from countless previous visitors. Shoes, spilled drinks, food crumbs—all of these things leave behind residue that you probably don’t want near your clothes or personal items.
The bathtub, on the other hand, is one of the few places in the room that housekeeping staff almost always scrub thoroughly. Since it’s a bathroom fixture that comes into direct contact with guests, it’s regularly sanitized and disinfected. This makes it a much cleaner and safer spot for temporarily storing your luggage than the floor or bed.
By placing your suitcase in the tub, you’re adding an extra layer of protection—not just from pests, but from unseen dirt and germs lurking elsewhere in the room.
An Unexpected Layer of Security
Another bonus of using the bathtub for your luggage is the added security it provides. Hotel rooms can be busy spaces, especially if you’re traveling with family or sharing a room with friends. Accidents happen—a spilled drink, a leaky water bottle, or even a curious child or pet rummaging through your bags.
The bathtub acts like a mini fortress. It keeps your suitcase safe from unexpected mishaps and out of the way of foot traffic. If a beverage tips over on the nightstand, or if someone accidentally knocks over toiletries, your luggage stays dry and untouched in its protected spot.
This tip is especially helpful if you’re staying somewhere temporarily while attending a wedding, conference, or other event where you’ll have valuable clothing or electronics with you. It’s a simple step that can save you from a ruined outfit or damaged gadgets.
Make It Part of Your Check-In Routine
Over time, I’ve turned this bathtub hack into a standard part of my hotel check-in routine. As soon as I enter a room, here’s what I do:
Step 1: I place my luggage directly in the bathtub before unpacking anything.
Step 2: I carefully inspect the bed area, starting with the mattress seams, looking for any signs of tiny black dots or shed insect skins.
Step 3: I check the headboard, nightstands, curtains, and even behind picture frames. Bedbugs are clever, and these are common hiding spots.
Step 4: Once I’m confident the room is clear, I move my luggage to a safe area, like a luggage rack or a clean corner away from the bed.
This process only takes about five minutes, but it can save you hours of stress—and potentially hundreds of dollars—down the line.
If you do find suspicious signs during your inspection, immediately notify hotel staff and request a different room. Keep your luggage in the tub until you are sure you’re in a safe, clean space.
Common Questions About This Hack
“Is it weird to put my suitcase in the bathtub?”
Not at all! While it might feel unusual the first time, remember that the tub is one of the cleanest surfaces in the room. Many seasoned travelers swear by this trick.
“What if someone needs to use the shower right away?”
No problem. Simply move your luggage temporarily to a clean towel on the bathroom floor, then put it back in the tub once the shower is done.
“Does this work for backpacks or carry-ons?”
Absolutely. Any type of travel bag can benefit from this extra layer of protection.
Peace of Mind While You Travel
Traveling comes with enough worries—delayed flights, lost reservations, unpredictable weather. The last thing you want to add to that list is the possibility of bringing pests or hidden dirt back home with you.
This simple bathtub hack provides instant peace of mind. It’s quick, free, and incredibly effective. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without it.
By adopting this habit, you’re not only protecting your belongings, but also ensuring a more hygienic, stress-free travel experience. It’s a small effort that pays off in a big way.
So, the next time you roll your suitcase into a hotel room, resist the urge to drop it on the bed or carpet. Instead, head straight for the bathroom, place it safely in the tub, and take a few minutes to inspect your room like a pro traveler.
Your future self—and your bug-free home—will thank you.