Most travelers worry about bed bugs hiding in hotel beds or dirty rooms. But the real risk often starts with your suitcase. Without knowing it, you could bring home a hidden infestation just by placing your bag in the wrong spot. The truth is, bed bugs don’t just live in beds, they love luggage, and they’re experts at hitching a ride.
How Your Suitcase Becomes a Bed Bug Target
Hotel rooms, even clean and high-end ones, are common hotspots for bed bugs. These tiny pests hide in soft, dark places like mattresses, carpets, furniture, and yes, the seams and folds of your suitcase. If your bag is left on a bed, carpet, or fabric chair, it becomes an easy hiding place for bed bugs looking for their next ride home.
Even a short stay can lead to big problems. Bed bugs can crawl into your clothes, shoes, and bag lining without you ever noticing. Once they’re in, they’re incredibly hard to get rid of. Many people don’t realize they’ve brought them home until bites or signs appear weeks later.
The Travel Hack That Helps: Keep Your Luggage in the Hotel Shower
Here’s a simple trick that more travelers are using to stay protected: store your suitcase in the hotel bathtub or shower.
Why does this work? Bed bugs are not drawn to smooth, cold, hard surfaces like bathtubs. These areas offer no hiding spots or warm fabric, which means they’re one of the safest places to keep your luggage while you settle in.
Experts recommend placing your suitcase in the bathroom as soon as you enter your hotel room. From there, you can do a quick inspection of the room without giving bed bugs a chance to sneak into your things. Some travelers even leave their luggage in the tub for the entire stay, just making sure to move it before using the shower.
Protect Your Luggage and Room with Premo Guard
While the shower trick helps, it’s not foolproof. To truly protect yourself from bed bugs while traveling, use Premo Guard Bed Bug and Mite Travel Spray before, during, and after your trip.
Start by spraying the outside of your suitcase, especially around zippers, seams, and handles. This helps prevent bugs from crawling into your bag during transit. Once you arrive at the hotel and place your luggage in the tub, do a quick inspection of the room.
How to Do a Bed Bug Inspection:
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Pull back the sheets and check the seams and corners of the mattress and box spring.
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Use your flashlight to look behind the headboard and around nightstands.
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Look for dark specks, reddish stains, or shed skins, these are all signs of bed bugs.
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Check inside drawers, under cushions, and around baseboards or cracks in the furniture.
Once you confirm the room is clear, spray Premo Guard on key surfaces, including:
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The edges and seams of the mattress and box spring
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The bed frame and headboard
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Inside drawers
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Chairs or luggage racks you plan to use
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Closet corners or baseboards near where you’ll unpack
Let the spray dry before placing any belongings on treated surfaces. Premo Guard is made with plant-based, non-toxic ingredients, so it’s safe to use around fabrics, personal items, and children. It kills bed bugs and mites on contact and helps prevent any new ones from settling in.
After Your Trip: Use Premo Guard Laundry Additive
Once you’re home, don’t skip the final step. Wash all your travel clothes and soft items with Premo Guard Laundry Additive. This product works in both hot and cold water to kill bed bugs, mites, and eggs that might have clung to your clothing during the trip.
Stay Ahead of Bed Bugs with Smart Travel Habits
Bringing home bed bugs is expensive, stressful, and incredibly frustrating. But the good news is, with a few simple steps, you can avoid the risk altogether.
Here’s your easy travel checklist:
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Keep your suitcase in the hotel tub or shower
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Inspect the room before unpacking
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Spray your luggage and hotel surfaces with Premo Guard Bed Bug and Mite Spray
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Wash your travel laundry with Premo Guard Laundry Additive
With these habits and the right products, you can enjoy your trip without bringing unwanted guests back home.
