Olga Dobrovolska/
It’s common knowledge that placing your suitcase on your hotel bed is a risky move, as it could expose you to bedbugs. However, there’s an additional compelling reason to rethink where you place your luggage. Recent research by Insure and Go reveals that your suitcase could be harboring a host of unwanted guests, including harmful bacteria and black mold. Yuck!
This concern is quite prevalent, as 38% of us often place our suitcases on a bed or table when packing or unpacking.
In the study, 10 suitcases—both hard-case and soft-case—were sampled at a London airport train station, with various swabs collecting samples from different areas of the suitcases. The results were shocking: the wheels of the suitcases had nearly 58 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat, including E. coli and staphylococcus bacteria, along with black mold. Microbiologist Amy-May Pointer, who led the study, stated, “The testing confirmed that suitcase wheels are the dirtiest part of a traveler’s bag. The wheels are essentially rolling through a germ-infested world, carrying an entire ecosystem, and come into constant contact with various surfaces—pavements, streets, airport bathroom floors, train station platforms—and are rarely cleaned.”
Other germ hotspots included the base of the suitcase, which carried significantly more bacteria than a public toilet seat, and the handles of airport luggage carts, which are infrequently cleaned and touched by many.
Soft-sided suitcases were found to be more susceptible to carrying bacteria, fungi, and other microbes.
This finding might not be surprising—when was the last time you sanitized your suitcase? Roller bags are rolled over countless surfaces, from your home to the streets and even the airport bathroom, and then are packed closely with others, whether in the overhead bin or the checked luggage.
To reduce the germs on your suitcases, Pointer suggests several strategies:
When in particularly dirty or wet environments, consider lifting your suitcase to avoid contamination—and Pointer advises steering clear of airport bathrooms to minimize exposure to E. coli and other common bathroom bacteria.
Upon reaching your destination or returning home, quickly wipe down the exterior of your suitcase with antibacterial wipes, a soapy cloth, or a disinfectant spray, focusing on the wheels and bottom. Regularly cleaning your suitcase will help decrease the number of harmful microorganisms it carries.
Using the hotel’s luggage rack is an ideal place to store your luggage without risking contamination of other surfaces, particularly your bed or table!
Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water—or use hand sanitizer—after handling the suitcase to prevent spreading bacteria. (You wouldn’t want to introduce E. coli to your airport snack!) This will help keep you healthy, a crucial factor when you’re on vacation and hoping to avoid illness!
