Cleaning Your Hotel Room

Okay, so the maids do the hard work, but there are a few places that historically go un-sprayed and un-wiped … and it may not be what you think. Even high-end hotels can’t compete with your own sanitary standards and hygienic hopes.

From putting an ice bag over the remote control before turning on the TV to bringing your own cup for the bathroom sink, here are some tips for making sure your hotel room is spic and span.

Remove the comforter

All hotels wash the sheets and pillowcases, but bedspreads aren’t as easy to wash and some hotels have admitted to not bothering with the extra step. Luckily, most hotels are doing away with these unnecessary toppers, but when in doubt, ditch the comforter and adjust the thermostat so you can get by with just the sheets.

Wipe the remote

Hotel toilets are generally the cleanest part of the room. The dirtiest item? The remote control. Maids rarely, if ever, clean these and it only takes so much imagination to realize what germs and grime have graced these objects. Either wipe it with a sanitary cloth or place an ice bag over the remote before turning on the TV.

Bring your own glass

Insider reports discovered refillable glasses are rarely cleaned properly, and most have just been rinsed or, worse, wiped with the same cloth used to wipe the counters … or toilets. Best bet here is to leave the glass where it lays and BYOG (bring your own glass).

Hit the café

Unless it’s a single-pod coffee maker, it may be best to head to the local café for your morning coffee. Hotel managers have leaked stories about items like crayons, cigarette butts and even human waste in in-room coffee pots. Also, avoid using swizzle sticks that don’t come pre-packaged … you never know what hands or mouths have already touched them.