A curious hotel guest’s discovery of a strange white substance under their bed has ignited a viral debate.
The post, showing the peculiar sight, has received over 28,000 upvotes on Reddit. The traveler posted a photo, asking, “My hotel bed stands in these trays filled with some kind of white powder. What is that? They are under all four bed legs [and] wheels.”
The comments section quickly provided an answer, revealing a common hotel safety measure that most travelers never see. The white powder is a natural pest-control product, and the trays are a simple but effective barrier.
The Science of Diatomaceous Earth
The white powder, according to Redditors, is diatomaceous earth, a natural substance made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms. Its use in the hotel room is a form of pest control, typically targeting bedbugs.
One user explained how the substance works. “The powder rubs away on the exoskeleton of the bedbug which causes it to lose moisture and die,” they wrote, adding that it doesn’t need to be ingested by the bugs.
“Instead, insects and other arthropods need to put their bodies in direct contact with the diatomaceous earth. The product scrapes the insect, removing oils and fats from the outside of the insect’s body. The removal of these substances can cause the insect to dry out. The scrapes themselves can also aid in this drying and dying process,” the user added.
While effective, the substance isn’t without its risks, as the same user said: “Diatomaceous earth is a relatively safe product, it isn’t without risks; some formulations can be very irritating to your respiratory tract … Powdered formulations can be harmful if breathed in, and some formulations require a respirator. Just don’t disturb it and you’ll be fine.”
A Cause for Concern or Peace of Mind?
The discovery led to a debate among travelers. For some, it was a major red flag, indicating an ongoing infestation problem that the hotel was trying to handle without professional help.
“Leave,” one person wrote. “It’s diatomaceous earth. They clearly are having issues with bedbugs and have chosen to deal with it themselves instead of calling a professional.”
Other commenters, however, saw the trays as a proactive measure, noting their use in other parts of the world for different purposes.
“Same but different, in Egypt we had the legs of our bunks in coffee cans that had about two inches of laundry detergent in them,” one user posted. “This was to catch the scorpions, camel spiders and any other creepy crawly from climbing up and snuggling with you.”
Ultimately, the trays are not a complete solution. As one person pointed out, they only prevent bugs from climbing up and down the legs.
The viral post serves as an important piece of travel advice, with one commenter offering a simple takeaway: “A very strong sign you should not lay your rucksack on the floor.” The presence of diatomaceous earth may raise questions, but, for many, it simply acts as a reminder to be cautious and aware of your surroundings to ensure a pest-free trip.
Newsweek reached out to u/Silver_Sort_9091 for comment via Reddit.
Read the full article here
