Why should you put your luggage in the bathtub when you check into a hotel?

Asked by: Madie O'Keefe  |  Last update: June 18, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (71 votes)

You should put your luggage in the hotel bathtub because it is a slick, smooth surface that bed bugs cannot easily climb. It acts as a quarantine zone, keeping your belongings safe and preventing the bugs from crawling into your bags while you inspect the room for pests.

Why would someone keep luggage in a bathtub?

Rather, it's to keep your luggage away from any fabric surfaces, like bedding or carpets, where bed bugs—the bane of all travelers—may be hiding.

What is the washcloth trick in hotels?

The washcloth trick is a viral hotel security hack where a traveler places a washcloth into the door latch or loops it through the deadbolt mechanism before closing the door. It is designed to act as an extra barrier to prevent unwanted entry and enhance safety by creating a tighter, harder-to-pick seal on the door.

What is the most stolen item in hotels?

Towels are the most frequently stolen item from hotels, with over 88% of hotel staff reporting them as commonly taken due to their portability. Other frequently stolen items include bathrobes, hangers, toiletries, pens, and batteries.

Why would you put tape over outlets in a hotel room?

Taping over hotel room outlets is a common travel hack used primarily to child-proof the room or block annoying, bright LED lights from electronics, ensuring a better night's sleep. It is a simple, low-cost safety measure, often using painter's or electrical tape, to keep curious children safe from electrical dangers or to cover standby lights.

Once You Arrive at a Hotel, Put Your Bags in the Bathtub First

42 related questions found

Why put a towel under a hotel door?

Putting a towel under a hotel door is a common travel hack used to block light, reduce noise, and stop drafts or odors from the hallway. It is also used as a security measure to prevent smoke from entering the room during a fire or as a minor deterrent against intruders trying to slide tools under the door.

Why is there no room number 420 in hotels?

The number itself, in any form, is an attraction for pot smokers. Indeed one hotel at least has taken to indicating its room 420 with a sign that reads 419+1 in a bid to avoid links with marijuana.

What is the most commonly forgotten item in hotel rooms?

Most common items left behind

  • Mobile phones. As much as cell phones are a very important entity in people's lives, they are weirdly the most forgotten. ...
  • Passports. These documents are often left at the hotel safe where guests prefer its safety. ...
  • Clothing. ...
  • Underwear and beachwear. ...
  • Toys and tablets. ...
  • Keys. ...
  • Chargers. ...
  • Jewellery.

What is the most shoplifted item from Walmart?

Cosmetics (lipstick, mascara) and small electronics are widely reported as the most frequently stolen items at Walmart, often targeted for their high value and ease of concealment. Other heavily targeted, high-shrinkage items include laundry detergent, baby formula, trading cards, and over-the-counter medications.

Where do thieves look for valuables in a hotel?

“Hotel rooms follow standard layouts, so thieves can search them efficiently,” Asaad said. “Bathroom drawers and bedside furniture are universally familiar spots, making them obvious targets.” Zipped suitcase pockets: Don't fall into a false sense of security by placing valuable items in a zippered pocket.

What is the mirror trick in hotels?

The "mirror trick" in hotels is a safety method used to detect two-way mirrors—which allow someone to watch from behind—by placing a fingernail against the glass. If there is a noticeable gap between your fingernail and the reflection, it is a normal mirror; if the finger and reflection touch directly, it may be a two-way mirror.

What does a white towel on a door mean?

That's when the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) decreed: A white cloth tied to the door handle, along with a raised hood, was the official way for any driver, nationwide, to call for help.

Why put a water bottle under the bed in a hotel?

People toss a water bottle (or any small object) under the bed to quickly check for anything—or anyone—hidden underneath without having to crouch down and look. Here's why it works: If the bottle rolls freely across and comes out the other side, the space is likely clear.

Why should you never tie a ribbon around your luggage?

You should not tie ribbons on your suitcase because they can cause luggage to get lost, damaged, or delayed by getting caught in automated baggage handling systems. Ribbons often obstruct barcode scanners, causing bags to be diverted to manual processing, which can result in missed flights.

What is the germiest place in a hotel room?

TV Remote Controls

It might be small, but the TV remote is a major hotspot for germs. Why it's dirty: The remote control is one of the most handled items in a hotel room, touched by virtually every guest, yet it rarely gets disinfected as thoroughly as high-touch surfaces like countertops or door handles.

What suitcase do flight attendants say not to use?

Flight attendants generally advise against using cheap, flimsy, or oversized suitcases, particularly those with poor-quality zippers, broken wheels, or non-removable lithium batteries. They strongly recommend avoiding hard-shell luggage that cracks easily under pressure, and suggest steering clear of bags that exceed airline size limits, as these cause gate-check delays.

What is a code black at Walmart?

A Code Black at Walmart signifies a severe weather emergency, such as a tornado warning, severe thunderstorms, or flash flooding in the immediate area. It indicates that the store is in danger, activating a shelter-in-place protocol where employees and customers are directed to safe, interior areas.

Who is the famous female shoplifter?

Shirley Pitts. Shirley Sally Pitts, later Shirley Sally Hawkins (24 November 1934 – 16 March 1992), was an English fraudster and thief known as the "queen of shoplifters".

What is the most stolen food from grocery stores?

According to a study of retailers around the world, cheese is the most stolen food in grocery stores, trumping other high-theft items like meat, chocolate, alcohol, seafood and baby formula. In fact, 4 percent of cheese on store shelves ends up stolen.

Why put tape over electrical outlets in hotel rooms?

Taping over hotel room outlets is a common travel hack used primarily to child-proof the room or block annoying, bright LED lights from electronics, ensuring a better night's sleep. It is a simple, low-cost safety measure, often using painter's or electrical tape, to keep curious children safe from electrical dangers or to cover standby lights.

What is your most clever hotel room hack?

Hotel Travel Hacks

  • Use a trouser hanger.
  • Keep the power on.
  • Slip 'em a $20 note (for an upgrade)
  • Pack your favourite tea.
  • Turn your shower into a steamer.
  • Make (real) use of the shower cap.
  • Use the heated towel rack as a clothes dryer.
  • Make use of those sugar packs.

What not to take from a hotel room?

Here's a list of things in a hotel room that you should leave behind:

  • Slippers and Bathrobes: Bathrobes and slippers are not free to take home unless explicitly stated by the hotel. ...
  • Towels and Linens: Hotels spend a lot of money on high-quality towels and linens, therefore taking them is theft.

What does 13 mean in hotels?

Hotels often omit the 13th floor or Room 13 due to widespread triskaidekaphobia superstition. About 85% of buildings with Otis lifts do not feature a labelled 13th floor. Avoiding Room 13 reduces guest discomfort and potential lost revenue for hotels.

What states still allow smoking in hotel rooms?

Background: Most states in the U.S. permit hotels to allow smoking in some guest rooms, and only five (Indiana, Michigan, North Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin) require that all hotel and motel rooms be 100% smoke-free (State and local 100% smokefree hotel and motel guest room laws enacted as of July 3, 2017).

Why does Elon Musk like the number 420?

Musk testified during a trial that any associations with cannabis were coincidental; however, in the SEC filing, he admitted that he had recently discovered the number's importance within the cannabis culture and thought his girlfriend would find it funny.