Visiting a clean, tidy hotel room evokes a sense of ease and comfort. However, this sense of ease may be overshadowed by a potentially hidden risk that has come to light and caught the attention of some medical experts — bed bugs.
Doctor Jason Singh, a family doctor, posted a video on social media that attracted much attention. In this video, he specifically mentioned an often-overlooked hidden danger unwary travelers face — bed bugs! Dr. Singh points out that many travelers are accustomed to putting clothes in the hotel dresser, but this may increase the risk of coming in contact with any bed bugs present.
He explained: “It’s not only beds, but also dressers that may breed these difficult-to-remove small creatures. Hotel dressers, especially wooden or seamed ones, are likely ideal habitats for bed bugs.”
According to a survey conducted by Sleep Doctor in February 2024, about one in seven American travellers had encountered bed bug-infested mattresses within the past year — alarming data.
Dermatologist Hannah Kopelman agrees. She told Newsweek that cracks or holes in furniture can be hiding places for bed bugs. To reduce the risk, she recommends that travellers put clothes in plastic bags or hang them in closets, away from direct contact with the ground or dressers.
The tenacity of bed bugs
Research from the Cleveland Clinic further confirms the tenacity of bed bugs. These little bugs can survive for months without food and are good at hiding in all furniture. Once they invade an area, it is challenging to eliminate them.
Bed bugs are mainly active at night and feed on human blood. Last year, an outbreak in Paris attracted widespread attention. Videos circulating on social media documented the disturbing phenomenon.
A 2023 survey by the pest control company Orkin found that Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia had the worst bed bug problems in the United States. Based on statistics from Orkin’s bed bug cases between December 2021 and November 2022, the study highlights the importance of being vigilant when staying in hotels, especially in these tourist hotspots.
Dr. Kopelman proposed a unique but effective luggage storage method to avoid this problem. She said: “The bathroom is an ideal place to store luggage because there are few crevices where bed bugs can hide.”
Anthony O’Neill, a pest expert with over 20 years of experience, shares this view. He told Best Life that the hotel bathtub or shower is the safest place to store luggage. “Bed bugs cannot crawl on smooth surfaces and are easily spotted on light-coloured bathtubs,” he explained.
Dr. Singh’s video sparked heated discussions among netizens. Some say they never use hotel cabinets, while others share their methods to fight bed bugs. One netizen shared: “I always carry alcohol spray to clean my drawers thoroughly every night and morning and repeat the next night.”
Dr. Kopelman offers some practical advice to prevent accidentally transporting bed bugs home. She said: “Plastic bags are a good tool to use after washing clothes to help isolate any bed bugs that may be present.”
Lastly, she recommends that travellers store their clothes in the hallway, garage, or other cool place for at least two weeks after returning home to avoid bringing luggage directly into the bedroom and minimize the risk of spreading bed bugs.
Translated by Patty Zhang and edited by Amanda and Mari
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