Every time you take a trip, your luggage may pass through many hands, including those of the airline crew, a taxi or bus driver, the hotel bellhop, or a tour operator.
“Think about all the places you’re dragging your luggage — through streets and different environments — and how many people are touching it if you’re flying or staying in hotels,” says Jan Louise Jones, program coordinator for hospitality and tourism management at the University of New Haven. All that exposure to other people and places can cause dirt, dust and germs to accumulate on your bags. And who wants to touch those nasty things, much less bring them home? That’s why it’s important to clean your luggage.
“Cleaning luggage is about more than just appearance — it’s about health as well,” says Jason Tetro, a microbiologist in Edmonton, Alberta, and author of “The Germ Code” and “The Germ Files.” “Luggage is a vector for the transfer of pathogens [infectious agents that cause disease], which means it could transmit infections to you.”
Here are tips from experts on how to clean your luggage properly.
How to clean the outside of luggage
When you’re traveling, as soon as you get to your destination Tetro recommends at least cleaning the luggage’s handle — “because that’s the one thing everybody touches,” he says — and the zipper tabs with an antimicrobial wipe or a clean rag or microfiber cloth and a little disinfectant, such as hydrogen peroxide.
Regardless of where you’re staying, you should . Use the luggage rack or the top of the dresser, or place bags in the bathroom so you don’t spread dirt and germs to the bed. And when you get home, put the luggage on the floor or in the bathroom, for the same reasons.
Once you’re home, clean the outside of the suitcase, including the handle and zipper tabs. “To clean hard-sided luggage, rub it down with either an antibacterial wipe or a rag with a mix of dish soap and water,” says Kristin DiNicolantonio, senior director of stakeholder communications at the American Cleaning Institute in Washington, D.C. A damp eraser sponge can help remove any scuff marks.
Soft suitcases made of nylon, canvas or polyester “are going to absorb more of the environment around them,” DiNicolantonio says. You can use the same tools: an antibacterial wipe or a mix of soap and water and a clean cloth to clean it. “Work the solution gently into the fibers of the luggage with a soft brush such as a toothbrush or plastic bristle brush to pull up any dirt and stains,” she says. Then, “wipe away the excess moisture and residue before letting the case dry in the sun or an airy spot.”
Don’t forget about the bottom of the bag and the wheels. “Remove any debris such as carpet fibers, dirt and hair from the wheels so that each wheel turns and spins freely along its axis,” DiNicolantonio says. You can use scissors to cut out anything that’s really lodged in there. Once the wheels are free and clear, wipe them and the bottom of the bag with a disinfecting cleaner or an antibacterial wipe.
How to clean the inside of luggage
There’s no need to clean the inside of your luggage while you’re traveling, unless something spills, in which case you’ll want to clean the lining with soap and water and a washcloth or a disinfecting wipe. But toting around shoes and dirty clothes could leave dirt or, even worse, a funky smell inside. Tetro recommends placing stinky items in plastic bags. It will help keep odors from transferring to other items and prevent your luggage from absorbing those unpleasant smells.
Once you’re home and unpacked, vacuum the inside of the bag, including the pockets and corners, or take the suitcase outside, open it and shake it to get rid of lingering dirt, crumbs or other debris. “Some companies now use antimicrobial ingredients in the fabrics,” Tetro says, which can reduce concerns about transporting germs.
Next, sanitize the inside of your luggage so your clothes don’t adopt a stale smell the next time you travel, says Leslie Reichert, the Green Cleaning Coach and author of “The Joy of Green Cleaning.” She recommends combining half a cup of witch hazel or rubbing alcohol with eight to 10 drops of an essential oil (such as lavender or lemon) in a spray bottle. Spray a light mist of the solution throughout the inside of the suitcase or duffel bag, then leave the luggage open to let it dry, she says.
Between trips, Reichert recommends giving the inside of your luggage a quick wipe down with a damp rag or a disinfectant every two to three months to keep it fresh and clean.
And after cleaning your luggage, remember to clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Besides helping you avoid exposure to germs that could make you sick, taking these steps can benefit your luggage, too. “It helps with preservation,” Jones says. “It can keep your luggage in better condition inside and out.”