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6 Dirty Things in Your Hotel Room to Clean After Check-in
Hotel Room are not as clean as you think! Most housekeepers just do a quick sweep. They change the sheets, sweep the floor and replace the towels. But that’s so not enough. This article is going to gross you out but it’s better that you know now so that you can travel with less germs (but maybe more paranoia – sorry).
Hi, I’m Alexa and I’m a hotel reviewer. You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve been privy to behind the scenes. As an expert in hotels around the world, let me tell you some dirty truths you need to know…
1. Sanitize The Remote Control
Imagine the guy who laid in that bed before you eating cheetos and stuffing his hands down his pants while watching TV.A 2020 Inside Edition investigation found that in most hotels they investigated, TV remotes were not cleaned. Clean the remote! I carry antibacterial sanitizing wipes with me in my backpack and wipe down the remote before I use it.
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2. Remove the Bed Runner
Yes, the housekeepers change the bed sheets, but you know what they don’t change? That decorative and useless cloth fabric draped across your bed. Think of all the activities that have occurred on top of that bed runner. You wouldn’t want to take a blacklight to it. Literally, just toss it in the corner of the room.
3. Remove the Decorative Pillows
Yes, the housekeepers change the bed sheets, but you know what they don’t change? That decorative and useless cloth fabric draped across your bed. Think of all the activities that have occurred on top of that bed runner. You wouldn’t want to take a blacklight to it. Literally, just toss it in the corner of the room.
4. Wipe Down the Toilet Handle and Door Handles
If it doesn’t visibly look dirty, the housekeeper might skip disinfecting these…and that’s a problem because most germs live on the places we touch. Give yourself piece of mind and do a quick wipe down.
5. Don't Use the Glasses
Especially the ones in the bathroom by the sink. Again, if the housekeeper doesn’t SEE a reason to change a glass – they won’t. If they assume the previous guest didn’t use it, they won’t change it. But what the housekeeper may not see is tiny particles from sneezing, dandruff, or the toilet flushing.
Don’t use the cups in your room unless they are covered in plastic.
6. The Coffee Machiene
THE WORST. These coffee machines harbor mold and germs because they sit damp day in and day out. They’re so bad that most hotels have begun removing them from the room. Don’t use the coffee maker in the room….unless it’s an espresso maker (those are cleaner). Instead, go to the lobby and get a coffee.
If you’re staying in a really nice hotel like the Four Seasons (where everything is magic and rainbows and clean) then let you’re paranoia wash away. if you’re backpacking Southeast Asia or going to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico, you best believe that their housekeeping staff doesn’t get paid enough to give a shit about the door handles. This clean sweep will take you less than 5 minutes and will help you avoid getting sick from the germs of guests before you.
I’m sorry that I’ve forever ruined hotel room for you. You will never be able to enter a hotel room without thinking about this article. Carry those wet wipes, however, and you’ll be just fine.
For more hotel tips and tricks, follow me on Instagram @sologirlstravelguide.
And be sure to share this article with your travel friends. Spead the knowledge!
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I'm a bestselling author, hotel reviewer and pickleball player. I teach women how to travel the world solo without going broke or getting kidnapped.
In 2011, I left Seattle with just $200 in my pocket to travel the world solo. Today, I'm the founder and creator of The Solo Girl’s Travel Guide, the #1 travel guide book series for women - and the author of The One-Way Ticket Plan.
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