Experts warn not to leave your luggage on the hotel room floor - and where to put it instead
It's the first thing many people do when they arrive in a hotel room - place their luggage on the floor, open it up, and get situated.
Sometimes we might be organised enough (and in a place long enough) to warrant unpacking most of our items to put into the wardrobe.
But a lot of the time, you might be leaving your case, and all your belongings on the hotel room floor, which experts have warned comes with a risk.
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Experts are warning against leaving your luggage on the hotel room floor. Getty Images/iStockphoto
In fact, just this week experts at Southern Living doubled down on the advice that you should never leave your suitcase on the floor of a hotel room.
"You should follow this rule whether you're staying in a four-star hotel or a roadside lodge with grubby, well-worn carpet. With the amount of traffic a hotel has, carpets can harbour dirt, dust mites, stains, bacterial, mould and fungi," they shared.
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But it can get even worse than dealing with germs.
"Bed bugs like soft surfaces and look for places to hide. That means they could crawl across a carpet and into your luggage," the experts continued.
Even luggage racks should be inspected carefully before you use them, they warned.
Instead of in the hotel room, the bathroom is recommended as the best place to store your bag. Getty
Instead, they said the safest place to keep your luggage is actually in the bathroom.
"Assuming it's covered in tile. If not, keep your suitcase in the bathtub. You can also store your suitcase on a shelf in the closet," they wrote.
It's just one of the reasons cleaning your suitcase after a holiday is actually more important than you think.
Microbiologist Jason Tetro, aka "The Germ Guy," told HuffPost last year that luggage is a very common vehicle for the spread of infection.
"Luggage touches everything on the journey, so the best thing to do is keep the surface clean and safe," he told the publication.
It's a good idea to unpack and clean your case when you get home. Supplied
"Put it this way – ask yourself if you have cleaned your hands before you touched your face," he said.
"Most likely the answer is no. What was on that handle that could potentially make you sick? You won't know. No one can, really. So, it's best to take the precaution and ensure that you are not putting yourself at risk."
So how do you make sure the inside of your suitcase is clean?
Start by using a hairdryer or small vacuum to get rid of any debris (like sand or dirt), then use a disinfecting wipe or spray to go over the interior fabric.
You can also spray rubbing alcohol onto the surfaces and let it dry, which acts as a sanitiser.
Then, leave your luggage open to air-dry and prevent moisture buildup.
