Here's Why Experts Warn Against Unpacking Your Luggage Right After Travel

Unpacking after vacation? Not so fast! Experts reveal why waiting to unpack could save you from a bedbug invasion

Sophia

• Published in Interesting
• October 30, 2024

Bedbugs, scientifically known as Cimex lectularius, are small but remarkably resilient pests that have plagued humans for thousands of years. These insects trace their origins to ancient cave dwellings, where they originally fed on bats and later adapted to rely on human blood as people shared the same spaces.

Now, they’re adept at thriving in human environments, making beds, luggage, and clothing their ideal hideouts.

Roughly the size of an apple seed, bedbugs have spread globally, becoming a notorious problem for travelers as modern transport provides easy pathways for them to spread.

Though bedbugs don’t transmit diseases, their bites can cause physical discomfort, allergic reactions, and significant psychological distress due to the difficulty of exterminating them and the social stigma they bring.

Once these insects enter a home, they can be incredibly challenging to eradicate.

One of the key challenges with bedbugs is their extraordinary adaptability. They can survive for months without feeding and lay eggs resilient enough to withstand various conditions. During travel, they can easily hitch a ride by hiding in the crevices of luggage and clothing, waiting for a chance to infest new spaces.

Recently, a viral TikTok video from a Virginia doctor raised awareness about why unpacking immediately after a trip could invite these unwelcome hitchhikers into your home.

Dr. Jason Singh, a primary care physician from Virginia, shared an eye-opening TikTok video on bedbug prevention that has since attracted over 750,000 views.

His advice? Avoid unpacking your suitcase immediately upon returning from a trip, especially if you stayed in a hotel.

According to Dr. Singh, bedbugs can easily hide in luggage, spreading into your home and leading to a full-blown infestation.

These pests lay eggs that hatch within six to ten days, releasing nymphs that need to feed soon after. By leaving your suitcase closed and undisturbed for at least two weeks, Dr. Singh suggests, you might starve any bedbugs hiding within, reducing the risk of an infestation sneaking into your home.

His video resonated with viewers, sparking conversations about travel habits and post-trip precautions.

Pest experts, like entomologist Eric Braun, support Dr. Singh’s suggestion and offer additional tips.

Braun recommends placing all travel clothes directly into the dryer on high heat for 30-45 minutes as soon as possible. The intense heat kills both adult bedbugs and eggs, reducing the risk of an infestation.

Additionally, Braun advises travelers to avoid storing luggage on beds or floors while staying at hotels; instead, he suggests using the bathroom or placing luggage on luggage racks.

If you suspect bedbugs in your suitcase, store it in a sealed plastic bag or outside until you can address it.

Taking these steps can save you the cost and hassle of a professional exterminator, which is often the only effective solution for large infestations.

By taking these simple precautions, travelers can significantly reduce the risk of bringing bedbugs home and prevent a peaceful homecoming from turning into a costly, stressful ordeal. As Dr. Singh’s PSA highlights, sometimes a bit of post-trip “laziness”—like letting your suitcase sit undisturbed—can be a surprisingly effective strategy for keeping unwelcome guests out.

A few careful steps, such as avoiding immediate unpacking, placing clothes directly into the dryer, and storing luggage off the floor while traveling, can go a long way in maintaining a pest-free home. These small actions offer an easy way to ensure that your travel memories are filled with adventure, not unwanted infestations.

Sophia