No traveler takes delight in knowing he or she is sharing a mattress with bed bugs. But frankly, if you believe germ experts bed bugs are the least of your worries when you are spending the night away from home.
Warning: Hotel rooms are not as clean as you might think.
At least that’s what doctors at the University of Arizona contend. The germ experts recently tested several hotel rooms and found they are teaming with bacteria. (Yes, again!) Researchers found germs on the carpets and the bedspread, and clusters of bacteria on the rooms’ light switches. And this was at a $350 per night suite.
Hotel cleaning people regularly change sheets, but according to germ experts, it’s unlikely that they are wiping down hard surfaces such as doorknobs and light switches, alarm clocks, or ice buckets—the places where germs thrive. According to doctors, cold viruses, e. coli and other bacteria can live on hard surfaces for a day or longer. This means if the person who stayed in the room before you had a cold, there’s a chance you’ll get sick too.
So, what can you do to avoid getting sick on vacation (especially after shelling out 350 bucks for a luxury suite)? Germ experts recommend bringing along a container of anti-bacterial wipes, such as those made by Clorox and Lysol. (Note: Baby wipes are not anti-bacterial and will not protect you from germs.) Then, walk around your hotel room and give the aforementioned hard surfaces, including sink faucets, a quick wipe down.
Next, remove the hotel comforter or bedspread. These items are not routinely washed, so germ experts suggest you take them off the beds and stash them in the corner. If you’re cold, request an extra blanket (these are typically washed regularly along with the bed sheets).
This next tip is one experts say is critical to remember: NEVER use the whirlpool function in a hotel bathroom. Researchers say in their study, 100% of water samples taken from whirlpool tubs tested positive for agents that can cause body rashes, urinary-tract infections, and pneumonia. The culprit: dirty pipes. Germ experts say at home you would regularly flush these pipes with bleach, but that’s simply not happening in hotels.
Finally, germ experts say they cannot emphasis enough how important it is to wash your hands regularly. Also, if you want to avoid getting sick you may want to wash your feet as well, especially if you aren’t wearing shoes in your hotel room. Studies show many hotel guests have contracted athlete’s foot after using dirty shower stalls. Experts say you can protect yourself by wearing flip-flops in the shower and socks or slippers around your hotel room.
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