Health
Hidden Hotel Spot Could Harbor Unwanted Guests
Clear Facts
- Bed bugs can hide in hotel room dressers, not just beds.
- Using closets or keeping clothes in your suitcase helps reduce risk.
- Bed bug bites can cause itching and allergic reactions but don’t spread disease.
After a relaxing shower in a freshly checked-in hotel room, nothing ruins your comfort faster than discovering itchy, red bumps from an unwelcome pest—bed bugs. While travelers know to scan mattresses, doctors and pest control pros are now raising the alarm about another often-overlooked spot.
It turns out, the dresser—especially if it’s wooden or has plenty of small crevices—can be a prime hiding place for these critters. Primary care physician Jason Singh, MD, recently shared a warning: “Hotel dressers, especially those that are made of wood or have joints and crevices, are a risk for bed bug infestation.”
He explained that while hotel furniture is wiped between guests, the tracks and joints inside dressers are rarely cleaned. “It’s not just beds that have bed bugs; hotel dressers can have them, too,” he emphasized. Setting your clothes in these drawers could put both you and your belongings at risk.
How can you avoid this age-old travel problem? Dr. Singh recommends skipping the dresser and utilizing the closet or hanging spaces. If that’s not possible, retrieve what you need straight from your suitcase instead of unpacking. Pest control expert Anthony O’Neill adds his own advice: keep your bags in the hotel bathroom or shower, where bed bugs can’t easily climb smooth surfaces and are easier to spot.
Many experienced travelers have adopted simple habits to stay bite-free:
“Keep your suitcase in the bathtub and get your clothes that you need from it,” suggested one retired pest control operator.
Another traveler shared, “I never unpack anything, even in luxury hotels.”
One person said, “I use a trash bag for dirty clothes and go straight to the washer after the trip.”
A creative tip: “I always bring alcohol spray and mist the drawers and bed every night.”
Although bites can cause discomfort, bed bugs are mainly a nuisance and don’t transmit diseases. Yet, bringing them home can result in expensive exterminator visits, plenty of stress, and the hassle of dealing with irritated skin.
Entomologist Nancy Troyano, PhD, explains why these insects thrive in hotels: “They prefer to hide in close proximity to their hosts, so they can sneak out at night and draw a blood meal without being noticed.”
For travelers—especially those who are older or value healthy, stress-free travel—simply keeping luggage out of dresser drawers, unpacking directly from your suitcase, and rolling clothes rather than folding them into hotel furniture can be smart strategies. The next time you check in, a few simple swaps can keep your trip pest-free and your peace of mind intact.