'Everybody touches it': Part of the plane seat travellers should always wipe clean
Some fliers have a strict cleaning regimen when they get on the plane.
Fearing any dirt left behind, they like to wipe clean all parts of their airline seat and even the area around it before they sit down for the flight.
However, a cabin crew member says if you're one of those germ-phobics you've probably missing something.
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The seatbelt is very dirty, says an expert. iStock
Charity Moore notices many people bring cleaning wipes and disinfectant on board when she flies in America.
They start with cleaning the tray table, the arms, and probably even wipe the actual seat. But, she says, they're ignoring one of the dirtiest, most-touched things.
"What you should be wiping that nobody wipes, is the seat belt. The metal part, because everybody touches it," Moore, who also appeared on TV show, Survivor, said.
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'Everybody touches it': Part of the plane seat travellers should always wipe Instagram
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"And you should be wiping the fabric part of the seatbelt, because everybody pulls on that. The amount of throw up, baby vomit, bodily fluids, liquids that have spilled, random stuff that ends up on those seatbelts, wipe them down."
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Plus, like many flight attendants, she said wearing shorts or a short dress or skirt is probably not advisable on a plane. Even if you do go all out on the cleaning.
"Wear full pants. None of your skin should be touching that seat. I don't care if you come on board and disinfect it," she says.
Meanwhile, according to a study, it's not just what's already on the aircraft clean freaks might need to worry about.
Apparently, the filthiest item you'll face when travelling is something you're bringing onboard.
Cleaning a plane seat can be a must for some travellers. Getty
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By the time you've hiked through the airport, touching stuff millions of hands have also fondled, one item came out on top - your passport.
JRPass.com conducted what they say was a "scientifically controlled experiment to find out which travel items carry the most bacteria."
However some other experts have a different take.
The seat pocket was branded the dirtiest spot in research by UK travel insurance company AllClear.
It surveyed 2000 people, with 30 per cent of respondents saying they store food and personal items in them.
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Researchers spoke to former flight attendants who say the pockets are rarely properly cleaned and they have witnessed passengers dumping dirty nappies and used sick bags in them.
The advice to passengers is to store snacks in resealable containers and to sanitise their hands if they use the pockets.
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