Checking Luggage After Travel: A Calm Routine for London Homes

Coming home from a trip should feel like a relief. A short, steady routine on arrival helps you keep it that way. It takes about half an hour and costs almost nothing.

Luggage is one of the ways bed bugs travel between places. A study on heating luggage, reported by the University of California, Irvine, begins from the point that luggage transport is one way these insects spread. Because of this, what you do in your hallway matters.

Do not panic, and do not skip the routine

Most trips end without any trouble. However, a good routine is insurance, not a sign that you expect the worst. Therefore keep it light, and do it the same way each time.

The NHS advice is clear on one point. It says not to take luggage or clothing indoors without checking it carefully if you have come from somewhere where you know there were bed bugs. The NHS page on bedbugs is a good reference to keep to hand.

Before you leave your accommodation

The best checks start before you pack. On arrival at a hotel, put your case on a hard surface, such as a luggage rack or the bathroom floor. Avoid the bed and upholstered chairs.

Look at the mattress seams and the headboard. Our post on how to check a London flat for bed bugs shows the signs to look for, and the same method works in a hotel room. If you see signs, ask for another room well away from the first, and tell the staff.

Pack your dirty clothes in a sealed bag. For example, a spare carrier bag or a zip bag works fine. Seal it before the clothes go into the case.

On the journey home

Your habits on the way back also count. On a train or coach, keep your case on the floor beside you or on a rack, not on a seat. Meanwhile, keep a bag of laundry sealed until you reach home.

Hold off on putting the case on the bed to repack for a second trip. Instead, leave it in the checking spot until you have finished. As a result, one slip does not bring a problem into your bedroom.

Also think about what travelled with you besides the case. Coats, rucksacks, camera bags and shoes all spent time near the bed or floor in your room. Check them with the same torch and card, and wash what you can.

The arrival routine at home

Since the hallway is where most cases land, choose a spot that is easy to inspect and far from where you sleep. A hallway with a hard floor, a utility area or a bathroom all work well. Avoid the bedroom, the sofa and any carpeted area.

Follow these steps in order:

1. Leave the case closed at the door while you gather a torch, a plastic card and a laundry bag.
2. Open the case over a light-coloured sheet or towel so anything that falls out shows up.
3. Take clothes out one item at a time and put them straight into the laundry bag.
4. Check the empty case, then wash or wipe everything that touched it.
5. Keep handbags, rucksacks and shoes with the case during the check.

How to inspect the case

Run your torch along every seam, zip and fold. Pay attention to the lining, the wheel housings and the pockets. Soft-sided cases have more places to hide than hard shells, so take extra time with them.

Look for live insects, pale cast skins and tiny dark spots. The NHS lists small brown spots on bedding or furniture as a sign, and the same kind of marks can show up on fabric. A vacuum with a crevice tool can help clean the seams, and you should empty it into a sealed bag outside afterwards.

Washing and drying clothes

Heat is the simplest tool you have. The NHS advises washing at 60C and then tumble drying on high heat for at least 30 minutes. Clothes that cannot take a hot wash can often go straight into a hot tumble dryer, but check the care label first.

Moreover, use the dryer for items you only wore once, since heat does the work, not water. A dryer needs to be properly hot, so avoid a delicate or air-fluff setting.

Many London flats have no dryer. In that case, use a local launderette and carry your clothes in a sealed bag. Take them out of the bag only when you reach the machine, and carry them home sealed again.

What not to do

It is tempting to reach for a cure-all. However, some quick fixes cause more harm than good.

• Do not use sprays on clothes or cases. Shop-bought products may not work, and fumes in a small flat are a health risk.
• Do not heat a case in an oven. The research used controlled equipment and set temperatures. Home methods can start a fire or damage your belongings.
• Do not leave bags on the bed. Even a short rest on a duvet can move an insect to your sleeping area.
• Do not store the case under the bed. Keep it in a place you can see and check.

The UC Irvine research found that heating soft-sided luggage to between 158 and 167 degrees Fahrenheit for six minutes killed all the bed bugs on the outside, as published in Pest Management Science. That is a lab result, not a kitchen method. Hence the safest plan at home is inspection, vacuuming and hot washing.

If you find something

Stay calm and photograph what you see. Put the item in a sealed container with the date, and keep the case away from the bedroom. Wash and dry the contents hot, then check your home using the steps in our urgent bed bug help guide.

If you live in shared housing, tell your landlord or managing agent in writing. Our guide for renters and landlords explains who normally handles what. Our post on bed bugs in London flats and shared buildings shows why neighbours may need to know.

To decide who should handle treatment, read our post on council or private treatment in London. If the trouble began with a find from a market or a house clearance, our post on second-hand furniture and bed bugs covers that route.

Local guidance

Council pest services differ across London, so check your own borough’s current page. Residents in west London can read the Hammersmith and Fulham area guide. In the south east, see bed bug guidance for Lewisham.

East London readers can use the Havering area guide, and south west readers can use bed bug advice for Kingston upon Thames. Travellers in the north can read what Camden residents should check.