As it turns out, our suitcases can be the carriers of more than just our clothing.
After a long travel day, many people just want to hop into bed or start catching up on everything they’ve missed. However, for most people, that’s a mistake. Many travelers are concerned about staying healthy before and during a trip, but too many overlook a few simple steps post-trip that can help them avoid everything from bacteria to bed bugs.
“With a few simple precautions when you return [from a trip], you can help keep yourself and your family healthy,” advises Dr. William Woo, a family medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente in Anaheim, California.
As it turns out, our suitcases can be the carriers of more than just our clothing. By simply remembering to clean your suitcase after a trip, you can help prevent bringing viruses and bacteria into your home.
Suitcases Can Pick up a Range of Bacteria and Mold
While you are out shopping for souvenirs, your suitcase may be busy carrying germs that it picked up on its way to your destination. When traveling, it’s common to place your suitcase on airport floors, hotel room carpets, inside car trunks, and atop luggage racks.
“All of these can harbor bacteria, viruses, and fungi,” warns Dr. Philip Robinson, an infectious disease specialist and Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Hoag, a healthcare system in Southern California. “Studies have shown that luggage wheels and bottoms can carry high levels of germs.”
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One study showed that luggage wheels are teeming with bacteria and are up to 58 times dirtier than a public toilet seat. Among other contaminants, the study found Staphylococcus species, a common skin bacterium; Serratia marcescens, often found in moist environments such as bathrooms; and black mold growing on the wheels of suitcases. Allowing bacteria and mold to fester in your home can make you sick, Robinson explains.
Your Suitcase May Have Picked up Hitchhikers
While it’s less common to unwittingly carry home critters as stowaways in your suitcase, it is possible.
“Bed bugs are a real risk, especially in high-turnover lodging, and suitcases can act as a vehicle for bringing them home,” Robinson says. In addition to bed bugs, “scorpions, beetles, and random mystery critters like spiders, ants, or that thing you swear wasn’t moving until it did,” can hide in your luggage and hitch a ride home, Woo says.
Although it may seem like a hassle, thoroughly cleaning your suitcase when you arrive home can help keep you healthy and may prevent bed bugs and other critters from invading your space.
How to Clean the Outside Of Your Suitcase
Cleaning your suitcase doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. First, Woo recommends checking your luggage before bringing it into your home. If you notice any critters or visible grime, it’s wise to address them before bringing your suitcase inside.
Otherwise, you could create a much bigger problem that’s harder to address. Woo suggests performing a quick inspection for bedbugs before setting foot in your house. If you find any signs of bedbugs, Woo recommends placing all items in a sealed plastic bag and keeping them there for two weeks or washing them in water at 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and drying them on a heat setting.
If your initial inspection doesn’t reveal anything alarming, it’s time to bring your suitcase inside and start cleaning. Robinson recommends paying special attention to the bottom of your bag, as well as its wheels, handles, and zipper pulls.
“They are among the most contaminated surfaces,” because they are high-touch areas, he explains. Using disinfecting wipes to clean these surfaces is the easiest and most effective option for most people, Robinson says. However, he adds that soap and water are also very effective. Whichever method you choose, “use enough friction to remove grime, not just a quick swipe,” Robinson advises. Next, if you have hard-sided luggage, Robinson advises wiping down the entire exterior with disinfecting wipes, a cloth dampened with soap and water, or a mild disinfectant.
Cleaning soft-sided luggage is a bit more involved, but it’s not difficult.
“Vacuum seams and pockets thoroughly. If the manufacturer allows, spot-clean with warm water and detergent,” Robinson recommends. Once you finish vacuuming, seal the vacuum bag in a plastic bag and throw it out immediately, Woo advises. That’s important because some critters can survive in vacuum bags and possibly escape.
Regardless of the cleaning method you use, Robison recommends allowing luggage to fully dry before storing it to prevent mold and mildew from growing on your suitcase. Additionally, if you inadvertently left any germs behind, they may proliferate more easily on damp surfaces, he explains.
Why You Should Clean the Inside of Your Suitcase
Although the inside of your suitcase may not pick up as many germs as its exterior, it’s still a good idea to clean your suitcase inside and out.
“The interior of a suitcase comes into direct contact with clothing, shoes, toiletries, and personal items, all of which can carry germs from airports, hotel rooms, public transportation, and restrooms,” Robinson says. Just like the outside of your luggage, “over the course of a trip, the inside of a suitcase can accumulate bacteria, viruses, dirt, allergens, and occasionally pests, even if nothing looks visibly soiled.”
If you skip cleaning the inside of your suitcase, those contaminants may spread throughout your home or contaminate clean clothing the next time you travel.
Robinson recommends using a similar approach to cleaning a suitcase’s interior as its exterior. For hard-sided interiors, use disinfecting wipes or soap and water. For fabric-lined suitcases, vacuum thoroughly and spot clean. Then, ensure the inside of the bag is fully dry before closing or storing it.
Although cleaning your suitcase may seem like a pain, it’s an essential part of staying healthy so you can enjoy your next trip.