The primary definition of the word gross is: very obvious and unacceptable, blatant. If you’re thinking of a public restroom at a gas station you’re on the right track of what I’m talking about. Is that hotel room you’ve booked likely to be much cleaner though? Just what “amenities” in the room are really safe to use? Let’s dive in to the risks that may await you!
Bed Bugs
This has become a much more common problem than it ever was in my childhood memories. While even 5 star hotels are not immune, it seems the popularity of Airbnbs has produced many more encounters for travelers. These critters are generally brought in by other guests either on their person or clothing or luggage. Know how to check both the bed and any item that may have been used to hold luggage or clothing to protect yourself.
Bottled Water
Unfortunately that bottle of water may look like it’s brand new, but is it really? I recently posted about someone who had found a way to obtain “free” bottled water on cruises by refilling the bottle and then using super glue to put the cap back on to make it look like the “for purchase” bottle was untouched. Shameful! This can also be dangerous if the water used to refill the bottle is contaminated or the bottle itself was not clean when refilled. Make a careful examination of the bottle cap and ring when opening a bottle of water to be sure it hasn’t been tampered with.
TV Remote and Switches
Hotels are often short-staffed these days, meaning the same housekeeping worker may have many more rooms to clean each day than in the past. Do you trust that the TV remote was wiped down after the last guest in the room? Some studies have shown that TV remotes can have up to 8 times more bacteria than an average public toilet. The first runner up to this is light switches. Keeping some anti-bacterial wipes in your bag to give these items a little wipe down can help protect you.
Glasses & Coffee Maker
Do you enjoy a nice cup of coffee first thing when you wake up? Or are you a tea drinker like me? Either way I’m guessing you’ve spotted those little single serving coffee makers now common in hotel rooms. Recommendations for cleaning a coffee maker involve running a solution of vinegar and water through the brew cycle for 30-60 minutes, followed by rinsing with just water through the brew cycle, twice. This should be done once a month if the machine is used daily. Do you think housekeeping staff have 90 minutes to clean the coffee maker in each room, ever? Me neither. Those coffee cups and glasses in the bathroom might not have come fresh out of a dishwasher either. For me, I always wash out any cup or glass with soap & hot water myself before using it. And I get my hot water for tea in the restaurant.
Towels and Linens
What could be better than stepping out of the shower and wrapping yourself up in a clean, fluffy towel. What if that towel isn’t so clean and in fact was used by the previous guest, folded and put back to look clean and unused? I know, eeewww. I always place all of the towels in a heap in the tub or shower when I am leaving a hotel room to ensure the next guest gets all fresh towels. While you’re checking towels, you might also want to take a look at the sheets to make sure those were changed prior to your arrival as well.
Drapes and Bedspreads
The luggage caddy may or may not be hiding bedbugs from a previous guest’s bags, so where do most people place their roller bag they’ve drug through airports, parking garages, and streets? There’s a reason why cruise ships place those large protective mats over the foot of the bed on embarkation day. Hotels often skip this step though, so keep that in mind when you’re laying out your clean clothes or sitting on that comforter and maybe opt for folding it down first. Drapes are difficult and time-consuming to clean, making them a potential breeding ground for bugs.
Bathtubs
Ever find hair in the tub before you’ve even used it? Me too. Beyond that, the cleaning solutions used may or may not have been thoroughly rinsed away. If the tub is jetted you may wonder how long has there been water standing in the pipes that go to the jets, growing bacteria. You could fill the tub, add some bleach and run the jets and then drain it and refill it to sanitize it before using it. But, how many of us travel with bleach? If the water drains slowly there is the added risk of fungus spread on the shower floor. I never take a bath in a hotel tub of any kind and perhaps the use of shower shoes could reduce the risk of getting athlete’s foot from the shower.
Grossed Out Yet?
If I have left you faint of fear to ever travel again, I apologize. The truth is that most of these things can be easily dealt with. I hope I have made you at least aware of something you didn’t previously think of so you can enjoy traveling safely! – René
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