Packing for travel is a process that requires, most of the time, care: the traveler needs to follow the rules regarding what can be carried and struggle to fit everything he or she needs – or would like – to take in a reduced space.
It also requires strategy, as it is important to ensure that nothing essential is forgotten in the closet or that items that will be required at the airport, such as passports, are in an easily accessible place.
But what about disassembling it?
Many travelers arrive home in no hurry to unzip and face the accumulated mess of the rest days.
Besides, throwing dirty clothes in the hamper and worrying about the suitcase on the next trip is much simpler.
Experts told Condé Nast Traveler that this is not the best conduct, however: it can open your home to microorganisms that are bad for you.
“Cleaning your suitcase isn’t just about looks – it’s about health, too. It may seem strange to think that a suitcase can lead to an infection, but remember that [it] is just a vehicle for transmission,” opined microbiologist Jason Tetro, author of “The Germ Code” and “The Germ Files.”
He recommends disinfecting your suitcase between trips and even during the tour “to reduce the risk of [germs] ruining a wonderful trip.”
YOUR SUITCASE ALSO TRAVELS WITHOUT YOU
Dr. Jan Jones, from the Department of Tourism and Hospitality at the University of New Haven in the US, agrees and points out that your suitcase often passes through places and conditions you can’t even imagine.
“It is possible that several people have picked up a traveler’s suitcase several times during their journey from one location to another,” he recalls.
This is because a checked bag goes through the conveyor at check-in and is handled by several airline employees in different airport areas.
In addition, when it arrives on the plane, it will have contact with many other bags and objects in the cargo compartment, which often also carries animals.
So even if a piece of luggage looks clean, there is a higher chance that it is quite dirty.
Therefore, the expert suggests wiping the bags with disinfectant wipes as soon as you arrive at the hotel or home and, immediately after cleaning, washing your hands carefully.
The ideal, by the way, is to keep the wipes in your hand luggage or a disinfectant gel hanging on the outside strap of your suitcase so that you don’t get dirty looking for the product.
Good care, according to Jan, prevents mold and helps the suitcase last longer.
CAREFUL AND IMMEDIATE CLEANING
Tetro also doesn’t recommend surrendering to post-trip laziness back home and leaving cleaning for later.
“I suggest cleaning as soon as possible because there is potential for [microorganism] growth if the suitcase environment is hot and humid,” he explains.
The writer further stresses that care should always be taken, no matter where you’ve been.
“Travel means you’re going to encounter surfaces you don’t know if they are safe; it could be a roadside hotel, a cruise ship cabin, or a five-star hotel.”
DO IT IN PARTS
According to experts, good cleaning considers the particularities of each part of the suitcase.
Here are the recommended ways to sanitize them:
Handle or stem (in suitcases with wheels):
Precisely because you touch these parts with your hand, they are the most important to be disinfected: from there begins the chain of disease transmission.
Jason Tetro recommends stretching the entire handle of the suitcase with wheels and wiping it with soapy water. The same goes for other models.
After this step, the ideal is to pass some kind of disinfectant – look on the label for those capable of killing bacteria, fungi, and even viruses with ingredients such as bleach, hydrogen peroxide, ammonium quaternary, and phenolic compounds – not only on this part but on any other side handles and portions where you hold your suitcase.
Let the product act for the time recommended on the label is crucial.
However, products that require more than two minutes for their action, according to Dr. Jim Arbogast – vice president of hygiene sciences and public health advancements at GOJO Industries – are not the most indicated because they require multiple applications for a satisfactory result.
The wheels or bottom portion
Despite the closer contact with the floor, the bottom portion of your suitcase – with wheels or not – is not as dirty as the handles, so experts assure you that cleaning does not need to be as laborious on this part.
“I would only clean the wheels if they were visibly dirty or I knew they had been through something high-risk,” Arbogast told Traveler.
The recommended cleaning formula for this area is a cloth with soap and water – an antibacterial liquid hand soap or a kitchen detergent.
Inside
The inside of the suitcase is the most difficult to get rid of germs because it has a porous surface.
Therefore, you need to use a vacuum cleaner beforehand to remove dust or crumbs, especially in the corners.
If there are stains, apply a cloth wet with soapy water or fabric remover and rub it in. Let it rest for five minutes, and then use warm water to rinse.
If odors are present, experts recommend using removers with activated carbon, which should be kept on the surface for a few days before removing.
If the situation is not so difficult, antimicrobial disinfectant sprays or wipes can do the trick after vacuuming.
Exterior
Here, you must first consider what type of outer material your suitcase is, as how to clean it may vary. Check it out:
Suitcases with hard “shells.”
If your suitcase is firmer and appears to have a protective shell or cocoon, it can be washed like a pet! Yes, this is the official recommendation.
“You can treat it like a dog and give it a good spray of water with a hose,” teaches Tetro.
You can also apply soap to the area.
If there are stains, it’s worth investing in a stain cleaner. With plastic, nylon, and vinyl shells, you can also resort to a cloth soaked in half a cup of washer water per gallon (3.8 L) of water.
Leave it on for five minutes and then rinse.
“Soft” or cloth suitcases
In theory, fabric suitcases can also be given a light spray, but extreme care must be taken not to soak them.
Those who want to avoid this headache can use disinfectant wipes with more than 60%-70% alcohol.
From time to time, it is also recommended to take a good bath in the washing machine.
They should still be stored in a cloth or plastic bag to protect them from dust.
“Also, be sure to clean your hands before and after sanitizing your bags to prevent cross-contamination,” Arbogast concludes.
Here, the routine perfected in the pandemic applies a good soap or alcohol gel.
With information from UOL