The Disturbing Reason Tourists Should Avoid Hotel Luggage Racks

When you arrive at your hotel after a long day of travel, the first thing you want to do is toss your heavy bag on your bed, or even the convenient luggage rack provided by the hotel. But there is a creepy-crawly hazard that all travelers should be aware of. Bed bugs can pop up anywhere, even in a five-star hotel. Because so many travelers move through hotels every day, it's not ununusual for a guest to bring the pests in unintentionally. Bed bugs can squeeze themselves into several inconspicuous hiding spots around hotel rooms, which is why the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends inspecting all areas of your hotel room, even the luggage rack. This way, you can make sure you are keeping bed bugs out of your luggage.

Bed bugs travel by hiding in bags, boxes, and other items that are moved from place to place. This is why you'll want to check any hotel room you stay in, no matter how clean it appears at first glance. The thought of bed bugs hitching a ride on your backpack may convince you to swear off travel for the rest of your life, but there are several precautions you can take when entering a hotel room to prevent these sneaky critters from terrorizing your bedroom. The most important factor in avoiding bed bugs is to catch them early, before they leave red itchy spots on your skin.

When you arrive at your hotel room, refrain from placing your bag on your bed, luggage rack, or any upholstered surface in the room. These are the places where you are most likely to find bed bugs if they are present. There could even be bed bugs in the hotel dresser. While the luggage rack seems like an appealing means of keeping your bags off the ground, bed bugs may be hiding in the seams of the rack. Instead, immediately place your luggage in the presumably clean bathroom. Bed bugs are least likely to be found there due to the lack of upholstery.

Use a flashlight to inspect your hotel room to make the creatures easier to spot. Bed bugs are small, flat bugs that are reddish-brown in color. On average, they are about 5 to 7 millimeters long, or about the size of an apple seed. Check around the headboard, bed frame, and under the mattress of your bed. Pull back the sheets and inspect the corners and seams of the mattress for any signs of small blood stains, eggs, or bed bug exoskeletons that may have been shed during growth. Bed bugs can also be found on other furniture surfaces like chairs, picture frames, or dresser drawers. If you do locate bed bugs or evidence of bed bugs in your room, alert the front desk immediately and ask them to move you to a new room.

If you are still worried that you may have picked up an unfriendly hitchhiker or two, you can deep clean and inspect your luggage when you return from the trip. Put all your clothes in the dryer as soon as you arrive home. Run a dryer cycle on high for at least 30 minutes to fry any unsuspecting bugs. While you wait for your clothes to dry, inspect your suitcase in a well-lit area, preferably away from your bed, carpet or upholstered furniture. Pay special attention to the seams and pockets where bed bugs may be hiding. After drying your clothes, launder all your clothes with high water temperatures and high dryer heat. For an extra measure, you can store your items in airtight storage bins to suffocate any stragglers.

When facing the threat of bed bugs while traveling, it's important to be prepared rather than afraid to make sure you come home bed-bug-free. If you take preventative measures and act as a cautious hotel guest, bed bugs will have a hard time finding their way into your home.