A Doctor Says Travelers Should Stop Putting Clothes in Hotel Dressers — Here’s Why
I’ve never been a big hotel-dresser person.
Part of that is because I’m convinced I’ll forget something in a drawer and only realize it once I’m already at the airport. I’ll use the hotel closet for things that wrinkle, but otherwise, most of my clothes stay in my bag.
Now, a doctor’s viral Instagram warning is giving travelers another reason to skip the dresser: bed bugs.
In a recent video, Dr. Jason Singh advised travelers to think twice before unpacking clothes into hotel dressers, especially wooden ones with joints, cracks, and crevices. His point was not that every hotel room is crawling with bed bugs. It was that beds are not the only place they can hide.
Bed bugs are not only a mattress problem
Most travelers who worry about bed bugs know to check the bed. That is usually where the mental checklist starts.
However, the CDC says bed bugs can travel by hiding in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, and furniture. The agency also notes that many people do not realize they are transporting them while traveling.
So, a drawer is not magically safe just because it is not a mattress.
It is also why I understand the growing caution around short-term rentals. In another recent story, people who switched from Airbnb back to hotels said bed bug concerns were part of why the hassle no longer felt worth it.
Wood furniture can have small gaps, cracks, and joints. Those are exactly the kinds of places most of us are not inspecting before tossing in pajamas.
What experts say to check in a hotel room
The EPA recommends inspecting hotel rooms for bed bugs while traveling. That includes checking the mattress and headboard area, plus looking over the luggage rack before using it.
Purdue Extension also recommends inspecting mattress seams, the headboard, and furniture around the bed for signs of bed bugs, including dark spots, cast skins, or live bugs.
That does not mean you need to tear apart the room like you are investigating a crime scene. But it is worth spending a minute with your phone flashlight before your suitcase is open on the bed.
And if you do see signs of bed bugs, do not unpack. Call the front desk and ask for another room.
Where I’d put clothes instead
Personally, I’d skip the dresser completely.
Keep most clothes in packing cubes (I use these*) or zipped in your suitcase. It is not glamorous, but it is easy, and it lowers the odds of your clothes touching something questionable.
For pieces that wrinkle, use the closet. I’ll hang dresses, jackets, and nicer tops, but I still avoid putting smaller items in drawers.
I would also avoid putting your suitcase directly on the bed. The EPA recommends using a luggage rack when packing or unpacking instead of placing luggage on the bed or floor.
Just inspect the rack first, especially the straps and corners.
The bathtub trick is not as weird as it sounds
Putting your suitcase in the hotel bathtub when you first walk into the room sounds a little dramatic.
I get it.
But the logic makes sense. A bathtub is usually a hard, smooth surface away from the bed and soft furniture. It gives you somewhere to put your bag while you check the room.
I do not think your suitcase needs to stay there the entire trip. But as a temporary landing spot, it is better than tossing your luggage onto the bed before you have looked around.
If there is no tub, I’d use the bathroom floor or another hard surface until I’ve done a quick check.
What to do when you get home
The hotel room routine helps, but the return-home routine matters too.
Purdue Extension recommends checking luggage seams and clothing before bringing luggage inside. If you are worried about possible exposure, washable clothing should go straight into the laundry.
For items that can safely handle heat, use the dryer. Purdue Extension says washing clothing in hot water with detergent and drying it on high heat for at least 20 minutes can kill all bed bug life stages on washable items.
I would also avoid unpacking your suitcase on your bed at home. Use a laundry room, garage, bathroom, or another hard-surface area if you are concerned.
The bottom line
I’m not going to pretend I have inspected every hotel room perfectly. I have absolutely tossed a suitcase somewhere questionable after a long travel day.
But skipping the hotel dresser is easy. Keep most clothes in your bag, hang the pieces that need it, and give the room a quick look before you settle in.
It is not the most glamorous travel habit, but it is better than bringing home the worst souvenir imaginable.
For more practical travel tips, packing advice, and the little lessons usually learned the hard way, follow me on Yahoo.
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I’ve never unpacked and used the dresser in a hotel
This is very important info