Protecting Yourself from Dirty Hotel Rooms

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

23 Jul 2008 11:56 PM

By now I'm sure you are aware that neatly folded towels and wrinkle-free bedspreads don't equate to a germ-free hotel room. In previous blogs I have discussed the studies that prove hotel staff typically don't have the same standards of cleanliness that most of us have for our own homes. I even shared a study, which showed that a virus can live on objects like faucet handles and ice buckets for at least a day (not exactly what you want greeting you when you wheel your suitcase and kids into a $200 per night suite).

With summer vacation season in full swing now is the time to learn some tactics to keep your family safe while staying overnight in a place where hundreds of travelers have gone before. Sure, a dirty bedspread, a scummy toilet and a soiled bathroom floor won't put your life in jeopardy, but studies prove prolonged exposure to an unclean hotel room could affect your health (the most common afflictions being colds or stomach viruses).

Consider following these tips so your next trip to Disneyland isn't ruined by high fevers and constant visits to the toilet.

Do Your Homework. Before you even book your hotel room read reviews on the property you are planning to visit. Since price, location and brand name don't guarantee cleanliness your best bet is to find out what fellow travelers are saying about your chosen hotel. Most travel and hotel review sites have cleanliness as a category for evaluation. TripAdvisor, Orbitz and Travelocity all offer reviews that discuss hotel rooms' clean factor.

Get Rid of the Bedspread. This point has been driven home a number of times. Since most hotels rarely wash bedspreads or comforters it's a good idea to strip off the cover before hitting the hay. Other alternatives include calling your hotel and asking how often they wash their bedspreads or bringing your own blanket from home.

B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Cup). Thanks to a hidden camera investigation by a local TV station that showed hotel cleaning crews simply rinsing soiled glassware under the tap before placing them out for new guests it is now law in both Missouri and Kansas that hotel room glasses and cups must be sanitized. Kansas' law goes even further to state that washing of glassware must take place outside of the room. That's great if you are staying at the Holiday Inn in Wichita, but if you are vacationing in the other 49 states there is no guarantee your cup is clean. Travel experts recommend bringing your own cup to drink from or asking room service to supply you with paper or Styrofoam cups to drink from.

Limit Exposure. Health experts say germs tend to congregate in certain places within a hotel room including the phone, doorknobs, the toilet handle, the ice bucket, the remote control and bathroom faucet handles. If you are truly freaked out about being exposed to germs you could wipe down frequently touched surfaces with portable antibacterial cloths. Another option that comes highly recommended by those in the medical community is to wash your hands. Studies show frequent hand washing has been proven to reduce the transfer of colds and viruses, and will prevent bacteria getting from whatever it is you're touching (e.g. a sticky remote control) to your mouth, eyes or nose.

Related Articles:

Hotel Happenings: Dirty Rooms and the Dreaded Wake Up Call

The Hotel Wake Up Call-Not So Dreaded Anymore

Combating Hotel Room Germs

Hotels--How Clean Are They?

Hotel Room Woes

Travel Tips--Hotel's Unwanted Guests

Bye Bye Bathtubs!

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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