Just what does “clean” in a hotel really mean? Sure, hotels do their bit to keep things spic & span, but they often cut a few corners and they don’t want you to know about them. There’s more than meets the eye! Here are thirteen secrets about hotel cleanliness that could make you rethink your next stay—or at least pack some extra sanitizer.
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The Germ Headquarters
How many people have flicked through channels on that remote before you? It’s not exactly a pleasant thought. Despite being something that gets touched a lot, remote controls aren’t always on the cleaning crew’s priority list. Perhaps you should give it a quick wipe-down with a sanitizing cloth before binge-watching.
Not So Fresh
Those fancy pillows and thick bedspreads look great but they’re cleaning nightmares. Since they’re bulky & a hassle to wash, sometimes they don’t get cleaned as they should so you might want to toss them aside. You don’t want to get sick simply because you hit the hay in the wrong place.
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The Quick Rinse Saga
Those glasses & mugs in your room look clean, right? Unfortunately, some hotel cleaners give them just a quick rinse under the tap instead of a proper wash. If the thought makes you squirm, you may want to wash them yourself—or perhaps even use your own. It’s not worth the risk of germs.
A Cleaner Surprise
As you might expect, your hotel room bathrooms often get more love than other parts of the room. Cleaners usually hit these areas with stronger stuff because…well, we all know how dirty bathrooms can get! This makes them some of the cleaner spots in your room. Still, a once-over with a wipe can’t hurt.
The Overlooked Germ Spots
Touched by nearly everyone but cleaned by very few, light switches & door handles are germ magnets. After all, you’re guaranteed to touch them every day. Giving them a quick wipe with a disinfectant wipe can make your stay a little safer as it should kill off any germs remaining. It’s easy enough to do.
A Touchy Subject
Just like light switches & door handles, elevator buttons see a lot of action—but not as much cleaning. Most of the time, hotel cleaners will give them a brisk wipe yet that’s not enough to actually disinfect them. As such, giving them a dab of hand sanitizer before pressing them is a good idea.
A Dusty Tale
Hotel carpets have to deal with a lot of foot traffic and they can hold onto dirt & more, even with regular vacuuming. As such, you may want to keep your socks on or stick to wearing slippers indoors. This way, you can stop your feet from becoming a little too acquainted with the floor’s history.
The Forgotten
If they’re not cleaned out regularly, the filters in the room’s air conditioning & heating units can gather dust. Worse still, they can become clogged with allergens that could make you sick. Anyone sensitive to air quality should seriously consider asking the front desk when these were last serviced.
Not Just Water Worries
The majority of hotels will treat pool water with chemicals, yet the chairs & tables around it might not get the same attention. You should do a quick look around to check everything’s clean before settling down. Better yet, you can scrub these pieces of furniture yourself before sitting down.
A Mix of Clean and Not-So-Clean
Housekeeping carts are a mix of new supplies & used linens or trash. Unfortunately, this can lead to some unwanted cross-contamination without anybody realizing it. Try watching how the staff handles these items so that you can fully understand the hotel’s cleanliness practices. If they’re particularly careful about cleaning the cart, they’re probably very clean elsewhere, too.
A Hidden Bacteria Haven
In-room coffee makers might not see a thorough cleaning as often as they should and this makes them the perfect place for bacteria to multiply. Before you use them, you should give them a proper rinse. You might even want to get your morning cup from a nearby café as it’s a far safer bet.
Workout Buddies You Didn’t Want
While you’re getting your sweat on, just think about how many people did the same thing before you. You could be picking up their germs! As such, bring along your own wipes for a quick clean before you start so that you can keep your workout healthy—in more ways than one. It’s definitely worth doing.
Not the Treasure Trove You’d Hope
Any items that you’ve left behind that the hotel stored in the lost & found are unlikely to be in the cleanest conditions. And once you’ve claimed them, it’s not like the staff are going to clean them for you! Make sure to thoroughly clean anything you retrieve before you use it so you can wipe away any germs.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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