How to Avoid Germs in Hotel Rooms

As clean and fresh as hotel rooms seem to be upon first entry and as much as we want to ignore the fact that hundreds of other travelers slept in the bed and showered in the bathroom, it’s an inescapable fact germs may dwell in the most unexpected of places. If you’re a germophobe or you just want to make sure you don’t check out with some weird new illness, here are a few ways to sanitize before you stay.

Wipe down surfaces. This may seem a bit extreme but it’s one way to guarantee killing germs the cleaning staff may have left behind. It also requires bringing along a travel-sized pack of disinfecting cleaning wipes, which may or may not be a priority when it comes to maximizing space in your luggage. When choosing which surfaces to wipe, consider the TV remote control, the minibar handle, the room telephone and all doorknobs.

Inspect the bathroom. If the cleanliness level of the bathroom is not up to snuff, it may be a sign the rest of the room isn’t, either. Call the front desk to request another run-through by the housekeeping staff. It’s also worth cleaning the glassware in the bathroom as reports revealed housekeeping staff doesn’t necessarily change out seemingly unused glasses between guests.

Use the slippers. Walking barefoot in hotel rooms can be questionable as carpet fibers can contain all sorts of invisible particles. Wear socks or use the hotel-provided slippers.

Check the bed … for signs of bedbugs. These can live and grow on the sheets, mattress and bedspread, so a thorough inspection upon arrival can save you potential itching and scratching later on.