{"id":867,"date":"2026-07-25T13:11:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T13:11:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labortemedi3.site\/?p=867"},"modified":"2026-07-25T13:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T13:11:08","slug":"why-you-should-put-luggage-in-your-hotel-rooms-bathtub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/labortemedi3.site\/?p=867","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Put Luggage in Your Hotel Room\u2019s Bathtub"},"content":{"rendered":"
Oh, my dear friend, if there is one thing that can quickly turn a wonderful, relaxing vacation into a stressful nightmare, it\u2019s bringing home uninvited guests!<\/span><\/div>\n
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At 73, living alone, I cherish my peaceful, cozy home as my absolute sanctuary. Between keeping a proactive eye on my circulation, researching early warning signs for my health, and monitoring those sudden, unexplained purple blotches on my arms, the very last thing I want to deal with after a trip is a pest infestation. And as we know, the stress of dealing with pests spikes our cortisol levels, which constricts our blood vessels\u2014the absolute last thing we want when we\u2019re trying to keep our circulation steady!<\/span><\/div>\n
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So, before my next trip, I put the kettle on, brewed a calming cup of my favorite ginger tea (wonderful for keeping the blood flowing after sitting in a car or airplane!), and looked into the science behind this famous travel hack.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Grab your favorite cozy sweater, and let\u2019s talk about how to protect your home and your peace of mind while traveling!<\/span><\/div>\n
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The “Kitchen Science” Reality: Why the Bathtub?<\/span><\/h2>\n
The reason you should place your suitcase in the bathtub the moment you enter a hotel room comes down to one tiny, resilient hitchhiker: <\/span>the bedbug<\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Bedbugs are notorious for hiding in hotel rooms. They love dark, tight crevices near where humans sleep. They hide in mattress seams, behind headboards, in upholstered chairs, and\u2014surprisingly\u2014on the folding metal luggage racks that hotels provide!<\/span><\/div>\n
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Here is why the bathtub is the ultimate “safe zone” while you inspect your room:<\/span><\/div>\n
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1. The “Porcelain Fortress”<\/span><\/h3>\n
Bedbugs are incredibly small, flat, and excellent at hiding in fabric, wood, and carpet. However, they are remarkably bad at climbing smooth, hard, slippery surfaces like polished porcelain, ceramic, or fiberglass. By placing your luggage in the tub, you are putting it in an environment where bedbugs simply cannot climb up to reach it.<\/span><\/div>\n
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2. The Visual Contrast<\/span><\/h3>\n
Most bathtubs are white or very light-colored. Bedbugs are reddish-brown and about the size of an apple seed. If a stray bedbug happens to be in the tub (which is very rare, as they prefer to stay close to their human food source in the bedroom), you will spot it instantly against the bright white background.<\/span><\/div>\n
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3. Away from the “Danger Zones”<\/span><\/h3>\n
When we are tired from traveling, our first instinct is to toss our suitcase on the bed, the sofa, or the carpeted floor to unpack. These are the exact places bedbugs are most likely to be waiting. The bathroom is typically the least infested room in a hotel because bedbugs want to be near the bed, not the toilet!<\/span><\/div>\n
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My Proactive, 3-Step Hotel Room Inspection<\/span><\/h2>\n
You don\u2019t need to travel with anxiety! I use this gentle, hands-off, 5-minute routine the moment I walk into my room. It gives me total peace of mind so I can actually relax and enjoy my trip.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Step 1: The Bathtub Drop<\/span> Before I even take off my coat, I carry my suitcase directly into the bathroom and place it in the dry bathtub. (If the tub is wet from the previous guest, I just lay down a clean, dry hand towel first).<\/span><\/div>\n
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Step 2: The Mattress Seam Check<\/span> I walk over to the bed and pull back the sheets and blankets. I inspect the four corners of the mattress seams, looking for tiny rust-colored spots (which are bedbug droppings) or the bugs themselves. I also take a quick peek behind the headboard if it\u2019s not bolted tightly to the wall.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Step 3: The Upholstery Scan<\/span> I give the fabric chairs and the sofa a quick visual once-over. If everything looks clear, I can safely bring my suitcase out of the bathroom and use the luggage rack or a hard dresser top!<\/span><\/div>\n
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The “Avocado Lover’s” Post-Travel Circulation Recovery!<\/span><\/h2>\n
Traveling is incredibly hard on the body. Sitting for long periods in a car or an airplane causes blood to pool in our lower legs, which can lead to swelling, stiffness, and poor circulation.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Since I have a strong personal preference for avocados and incorporate them into almost every single meal (even though my children absolutely do not share my liking for them, which just means I get to enjoy the whole, glorious batch all to myself!), I rely on them to help my body recover the moment I get back to my hotel room or my own home.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Instead of just collapsing on the bed, I do a <\/span>3-Ingredient Avocado Oil Leg & Foot Massage<\/span> to get my circulation flowing beautifully and prevent those heavy, tired legs.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Ingredients You\u2019ll Need:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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  • 2 tablespoons pure, cold-pressed avocado oil:<\/span> Packed with Vitamin E and monounsaturated fats that deeply penetrate the skin, reduce inflammation, and support the health of the tiny capillaries in our legs.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • 3 drops of peppermint or eucalyptus essential oil:<\/span> These provide a wonderful, cooling sensation that helps soothe tired, aching muscles and stimulates blood flow.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • A warm, damp washcloth:<\/span> To prep the skin.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    Step-by-Step Instructions:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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    1. The Gentle Prep:<\/span> Wipe your legs and feet with the warm, damp washcloth to open up the pores.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. The Nourishing Blend:<\/span> Mix the avocado oil and essential oils in the palm of your hands, rubbing them together to warm the oil.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. The Upward Sweep:<\/span> Massage the oil into your feet, calves, and thighs. <\/span>Crucial science tip: Always massage upward, toward your heart!<\/em> This manually assists your veins in pushing pooled blood back up into your main circulation, reducing swelling and keeping your vascular system happy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      Pro Tips for Bringing Luggage Home Safely<\/span><\/h2>\n
      The bathtub trick protects you <\/span>at<\/em> the hotel, but you also need to protect your home when you return!<\/span><\/div>\n
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      \u2705 <\/span>The “Heat is the Enemy” Rule:<\/span> Bedbugs and their eggs are completely destroyed by high heat. When you get home, do not unpack your suitcase on your bed. Take it straight to the laundry room, unpack all your clothing directly into the washing machine, and run them through the dryer on <\/span>HIGH heat<\/span> for at least 30 minutes. \u2705 <\/span>Store Luggage Away:<\/span> Never store your empty suitcases under your bed or in your bedroom closet. Keep them in the garage, the attic, or a basement storage bin, ideally inside a large plastic trash bag tied tightly at the top.<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n
      Q: What if my hotel only has a walk-in shower with no tub?<\/span> A: No problem! Look for a hard, smooth surface away from the bedroom. A tile floor in the bathroom, a smooth glass table, or even the hard plastic seat of a desk chair is much safer than the bed, the sofa, or the carpet.<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Q: Do bedbugs live in the bathroom?<\/span> A: It is highly unlikely. Bedbugs are drawn to the carbon dioxide we exhale and our body heat while we sleep. They want to be within a few feet of the bed. The bathroom is simply a temporary, safe “quarantine zone” for your bags while you check the sleeping area.<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Q: Can bedbugs climb up the drain?<\/span> A: While it’s technically possible for a bug to wander out of a dry drain, it is incredibly rare. If it gives you peace of mind, simply place your suitcase on a plastic trash bag inside the tub, or lay a dry towel down first!<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Let\u2019s Travel with Confidence, Not Fear!<\/span><\/h2>\n
      I truly hope this little deep-dive into travel safety brings you peace of mind. It is so empowering to know the simple, science-backed habits that protect our homes and our health.<\/span><\/div>\n
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      By using the bathtub trick, doing a quick 5-minute room inspection, and treating our tired legs to a nourishing avocado oil massage, we can explore the world and return to our peaceful sanctuaries without bringing home any uninvited guests.<\/span><\/div>\n
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      Do you have a favorite travel hack or a special routine you use to stay comfortable on the road? I would absolutely love to hear it! Drop a comment below to share your wisdom, and please share this article with a friend who has a trip coming up.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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