The five dirtiest spots in a hotel room - and how to avoid them
Checking into a hotel room should be exciting.
But if you're a bit fussy about cleanliness, opening that door can bring a big dose of dread.
(In fact, if that's you, you should probably stop reading now.)
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Experts have revealed the five dirtiest spots in a hotel room. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Experts have revealed the five dirtiest spots in a hotel room.
Here are the filthiest things - and how to tackle them.
Bedspreads and decorative pillows
They might be the finishing touch for a room, but there are nasty things lurking.
Unlike sheets, which are washed, bedspreads, decorative pillows and throws often don't see the laundry for weeks - or even months, housekeepers say.
That goes for duvets too.
Eek.
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"At one hotel I worked at, they would only wash the duvet that was white if it had an actually dirty-looking spot on it," one former hotel cleaner told Reddit.
"The hotel I just started at is even worse. They have brown duvets that literally never ever get washed."
To avoid this germ-fest, you can bring disinfectant spray, or, as 9Travel likes to do, fling any cushions or extra blankets off the bed completely.
Telephone and TV remote
It's no myth that the TV remote control is filthy.
Hand holding a television remote control and surfing programs on television. watch, turn on or off the TV in the living room or bedroom on the black-screen nightstand. Copy space Getty Images/iStockphoto
Studies have found those as well as surfaces like room phones and light switches can harbour cold and flu viruses, E. coli, and even traces of, well, the nice way to put it is faecal matter.
Yuk.
Anti bac wipes should get rid of anything, though.
Some travellers even put the remote into a sandwich bag so they don't have to actually touch it while enjoying Netflix.
Bathroom
It might look clean - but it's probably not.
Shower heads can harbour the bacteria behind Legionnaires' disease, a potentially severe respiratory infection.
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It might look clean - but it's probably not. Getty
One study found a hotel showerhead had 25,000 times the bacteria of a toilet seat, while shower curtains and bathtubs had 60 times the amount.
So much for that relaxing soak.
Some housekeeping staff are claimed to have used the same cloth to wipe toilets, sinks, and bathroom counters, too.
And don't think about using those glasses.
"They're probably not fresh. Housekeeping most likely rinsed them out in the sink then wiped them down," one cleaner claimed on Reddit.
Grab those anti-bac wipes again. You're going to need them
You can also clean the shower by running hot water for a minute or so before you get in.
Shower gel is handy to wash out the bath, too.
Ice buckets
A romantic night in might be ruined if you read this one.
Guests may have used that ice bucket for far less appetising purposes. Getty
Guests may have used that ice bucket for far less appetising purposes - like makeshift vomit bowls after a wild night.
Since these buckets are often just rinsed out and put back in place between stays, bacteria can linger.
Best use a plastic liner before filling it with ice, or avoid altogether.
Coffee maker
That convenient in-room coffee maker might be brewing more than just caffeine.
Leftover coffee oils can turn rancid.
The warm, damp environment inside the machine also creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, mould and yeast, the people behind the research, Locksmith Dartford, said.
Agh.
Probably best to splash out on a coffee from the nearest cafe, or get one at breakfast.
