Well, as is usually the case – it seems that what we’ve taken for granted as the truth may well be wrong.
Dr Jason Singh, who has amassed almost 100,000 followers on his TikTok page @drjaysonisfresh, regularly shares medical tips for his followers.
A recent video discussing suitcase etiquette has gone viral, gaining thousands of views and likes.
He captioned the video: “Doctor explains why you should not unpack suitcases right away.”
We’re listening…
He began: “Hear me out. Especially if you’ve been staying in a hotel. And that’s because of bedbugs.
“Bedbug eggs typically hatch within 6-10 days and the nymphs require a blood meal shortly after hatching to continue their development.
“If your suitcase remains closed and undisturbed for at least two weeks, any bedbug egg or nymph present will likely die due to starvation or desiccation.”
He continued: “So now you have a reason to be lazy just like me!
“Let your suitcase just hang on the side. Let’s be honest, what kind of psycho unpacks right away?”
People were clearly shocked by the advice.
One person wrote: “Everything goes right to the washing machine. The case gets sprayed down. Who waits 2 weeks?”
Another said: “I unpack soon as I walk in. Wash everything and then Lysol the suitcase.”
Others felt vindicated by the doctor’s orders.
One said: “So me not unpacking for a month is a good thing.”
Another added: “I haven’t fully unpacked from my 2019 summer vacation.”
While a third chimed: “So me procrastinating is doctor approved, perfect.”
Why is holiday accommodation a hotspot for bedbugs?
It isn’t really an issue of cleanliness from holiday destinations who end up with bedbugs but the fact that a lot of different people are staying there each night is what attracts the insects.
Going on vacation means you run the risk of bringing these bedbugs home with you and, once they’re in, it’s tricky to get rid of them.
How can we avoid bringing home bedbugs?
Believe it or not, the best way to avoid bedbugs is by keeping your luggage in the bathtub.
According to experts, this is a great method because the parasites don’t like spots that are easily flooded, so they tend to avoid hanging out in bathrooms.
However, if you do suspect that you’ve stayed somewhere with bedbugs, then you should avoid unpacking your clothes straight away.
If you can’t wait two weeks, then experts advise putting the clothes on a hot cycle (Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty)
What should we do if we bring bedbugs home?
Instead, experts advise to leave your suitcase unopened for two weeks, which gives the critters time to die.
Although, if you really can’t get by without access to your things for that long, then sticking anything washable on a hot cycle should do the trick.
It’ll kill any bugs and their eggs that are lurking in your clothes, and will hopefully keep your house free of bedbugs.
Sources: tyla.com; uniladtech.com
