Booking your next weekend trip? Beware of the germs!
With housekeeping required to clean numerous rooms in a short period, there is a possibility that they make a room look clean without actually cleaning it.
In fact, research by a travel logistics website TravelMath has revealed that average hotel room surfaces can be dirtier than a typical home, an airplane, and even a school.
These are the five dirtiest spots in a hotel room to watch out for, according to safety experts at Locksmith Dartford.
1. Bedspreads and decorative pillows
While sheets are washed between guest stays, bedspreads and decorative pillows often go unwashed for weeks.
Many hotels only clean them when they show visible stains or odours, which could have accumulated millions of dead skin cells, dried saliva, and bodily fluids.
An ex-hotel cleaner shared on Reddit:
“At one hotel I worked at, they would only wash the duvet if it had an actually dirty-looking spot on it.
“The hotel I just started at is even worse. They have brown duvets that literally never ever get washed.”
To reduce exposure, take the decorations off your bed, use disinfectant spray on fabric surfaces or bring a travel-size pillowcase.
2. Telephone handsets and TV remote
Before turning on your TV, you better clean it with an antibacterial wipe.
Studies have found that high-touch hotel room surfaces can harbour cold and flu viruses, E. coli, and even traces of faecal matter.
A swab test even detected a bacteria linked to respiratory and gastrointestinal infections on remotes.
3. Bathroom
That sparkling hotel bathroom might not be as clean as it appears.
One study found that a hotel showerhead had 25,000 times the bacteria of a toilet seat.
The precaution? Wipe down the surfaces with disinfectant wipes before use.
You might also want to run hot water to flush out bacteria before stepping into the shower.
4. Ice buckets
Many guests have used ice buckets for far less appetising purposes – like makeshift vomit bowls after a wild night out.
To stay on the safe side, ask housekeeping for a plastic liner before filling the bucket with ice, or opt for pre-packaged ice from the hotel bar.
5. Coffee makers and glassware
That convenient in-room coffee maker might be brewing more than just caffeine.
Leftover coffee oils can turn rancid, while the damp environment inside the machine creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Without regular deep cleaning of the water reservoir and internal components, your morning cup of coffee could come with an unwanted dose of germs.
Perhaps order your coffee at the bar instead.
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