Watch Out for These Filthy Items in a Hotel Room

This is my 100th issue! Woo-hoo! Time is flying✈️

While I'm always down for a good party, I’m not one to celebrate myself. Even my birthday tends to be lowkey…

Yet, looking back, I’m internally celebrating how fulfilling this travel blog has been. While it’s been a pain in the ass too at times, (Writer’s Block is a B****), I wouldn’t change anything.

I am grateful.

Traveling can be very stressful on the body. You often feel exhausted and are surrounded by people, aka. vehicles for germs! Your body is exposed to new bacteria that it may not be used to. Public spaces, like hotel rooms, can harbor bacteria even in the cleanest of accommodations. Housekeeping may not have the time or capacity to clean everything thoroughly, leaving some spaces and items more susceptible to storing bacteria than others.

What am I trying to say?...Hotel Rooms can be dirty.😬

Does that mean you should avoid them?...

Of course not!

Here are some areas in hotel rooms to be on the lookout for:

Ice Bucket - It’s surprising that Ice Buckets can be filthy, but it’s true. Ice Buckets are rarely cleaned and they’re sometimes used for the strangest things such as soaking one’s feet, throwing out waste and even as a receptacle for vomit! Don’t use any ice buckets without a liner.

Remotes - Remotes are one of the dirtiest items in a hotel room. Thankfully, some hotels have started to wrap them in plastic. To be extra safe, clean the remote with a Clorox wipe.

Doorknobs and Light Switches - Housekeeping often overlooks these high-touch objects, which guests use frequently, making them likely to harbor bacteria.

Throw Pillows - Throw pillows should be tossed aside. How often do you think they are washed? It is best to avoid pillows with vibrant colors, as colors fade with washing. Therefore, those vibrant pillows are either brand new or cleaned infrequently. So, stick to white pillows to ensure that they’re clean.

Floor - The floor is one of the dirtiest places in a building considering the high traffic it receives. This is especially true for carpeted floors, which are not steam cleaned regularly. To avoid bringing back souvenirs like ringworm from your trip, it's advisable to wear a pair of flip flops in your hotel room.

Overall, consider avoiding high-touch items as they tend to be the dirtiest. Surprisingly, some of the dirtiest things are the ones you least expect. So, use critical thinking to identify and avoid them. It's unlikely that housekeeping has the time to consistently clean everything in great detail.

What other hotel items are dirty?