Today I’m showing you all a different side of me.
My name is Carrie and I’m a germophobe. Or maybe I’m just “germ conscious”.
Either way, germs gross me out.
All jokes aside, I think we can all agree that hotel rooms can be the perfect place for unwanted germs. Think about all the previous people who have used that room and what they’ve done in it.
That’s enough to give me the creeps.
There is hope for germophobes out there. You can travel and use hotel rooms without fear!
Here’s how:
Fighting Germs Starts Before You Book The Hotel
Research your hotel and the rooms before you book. If you see some of these words describing the room, you’ll be more likely to end up with a nice clean room. Look for phrases like:
- Newly built hotel
- Newly renovated
- Modern furnishings
- Clean looking room
- Good customer reviews
Look at the customer reviews and see what they say about cleanliness (or a lack thereof). In general, if most of the reviews are favorable you’ll be okay. Keep in mind that every hotel will have a bad review or two. Look at what the majority of people are saying about the hotel. If only 50% of the reviews recommend the hotel, you may want to look somewhere else.
Affiliate links to great stuff I use & recommend are included in this post. My full disclosure is here.
The Top 5 Dirtiest Things In A Hotel Room & How To Clean Them
When it comes to fighting germs, Lysol is your best friend. The hubby and I always bring a can of Lysol when we stay in a hotel. As soon as we walk in the hotel room, we spray Lysol on:
- The TV remote–this will probably be the grossest thing in the room
- The headboard and bedspread
- All doorknobs
- The entire toilet
- Counter and sink in the bathroom
Disinfecting wipes can also come in super handy to wipe off flat surfaces like the bathroom counter and desktop.
Going through the above steps will help you sanitize your hotel room in less than 5 minutes!
Other Helpful Tips
Not Everything On The Bed Gets Washed
The bed sheets will get washed in between each customer. But have you ever thought of the bedspread? Those are usually kept in the room and only cleaned when absolutely necessary since they’re harder to wash. Don’t bank on them being clean because most of the time they won’t be.
Use Sheets To Cover Furnishings
The couches and furnishings in a hotel room can’t be thrown into a washing machine. So there’s a great germ potential there. Ask the front desk for an extra flat sheet. Cover the couch or chair with the sheet before you sit on it. That way you’re sitting on a surface that’s been washed and sanitized.
If you don’t have an extra sheet, spray off the surface with Lysol and that will kill the germs.
Flip-Flops!
Speaking of surfaces that can’t be easily sanitized, a hotel room floor is probably the most disgusting surface of them all. Never walk on a hotel room floor with your bare feet! Bring a pair of flip-flops to wear when walking on the floor. You can also wear socks or shoes to use for the same purpose.
If you weren’t a germophobe or germ conscience before you read this, you probably are now. I apologize for that!
What grosses you out about a hotel room?
Shared at: Skip The Housework Saturday, You’re Gonna Love it Tuesday, Inspiration Monday, Weekend Wind-Down, Saturday Sharefest, and Share Your Creativity.
The first thing I clean in a hotel room is the air conditioner filter. It is usually disgusting and all the air you are breathing is going through it.
That’s a great idea, Dave! I’m going to have to remember that next time.
There is a hotel about 30 miles from us that we stayed in during a youth camp with our church. I got headlice from this hotel. My hair is waist length. Imagine the horror! I told my husband never again will i stay in that hotel or any with the same name. It took foorrrrevvveeeerrrrrr to kill and remove all the lice. It was genuinely embarassing.
That sounds awful! Head lice is one of those things I hope to never get from a hotel!
I hate hotels. I recently purchased on line a silk sleeping bag liner that even has a slit for you to insert your own pillow. It closes by Velcro for easy in and out. The price was worth it. Love it.
That’s a great idea!
For those with allergies or asthma, Lysol would be detrimental. Both lemon and vinegar are germ-killers and cause no harm. I use these products at home, and can just bring a spray bottle with me when we travel. We usually have a kitchen, so all dishes are washed before being used. We are happy with Residence Inns, and they go out of their way for those with allergies.
I like your idea for a more natural disenfectant, Suzanne! I’ve had good experience with Residence Inns too. Thanks for the tip!
Oh! Hotel rooms gross me out! I get anxious even thinking about having to stay at an old hotel! Especially difficult when your husband has no problem with this issue whatsoever! He’ll pick a hotel because it looks rustic! Aaargh!
I always bring my own pillow so I can at least rest my head without worrying.
Yes they gross me out too! Bringing your own pillow makes a huge difference!
I am the same way, can’t handle second rate hotels but my husband is cheap
Maybe you can get a good deal on a first rate hotel so you both will be happy!
Last year my husband, our 4 month old at the time & I went to Panama. We stayed at a best western with no elevator, the floor was disgusting, I said never again! Thankfully I had my baby socks & her walker!
There’s nothing like a bad hotel experience that motivates you to get a clean one next time! I’ve been there and don’t want to go back!
Definitely needed these tips since we were planning on a vacation. And as the neat one in our group, i tend to double-check and make sure that the room we will be staying at is okay. if not, your tips will really come in handy that’s for sure!
Glad this was helpful! Enjoy your trip, Kaye!
Stopping by from SITS sharefest:) I love this post. I am such a clean freak and something about hotel rooms really grosses me out… Actually, a lot of things about them do!
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Another area of concern in a hotel room is the Ice bucket. They don’t usually get washed between guests room bookings and people use these for all sorts of things besides holding Ice. ( I have worked in housekeeping). Opt to use your own cooler or make absolutely sure you use the plastic bag included.
And when you step out of the shower….have those flip-flops ready because you will almost always contract athletes foot as the mops go from room to room to room when the housekeepers clean, therby spreading germs from each bath to the next. :/
Candy you bring up a great point about the ice buckets. It is certainly true they deserve a good cleaning before use! And yes I also use flip flops right out of the shower as well. It never hurts to stay clean, right?
I work in housekeeping for Wyndham hotels and our team actually uses the Swifters for mopping, therefore each pad gets thrown away after each bathroom floor. We were also all trained to wipe each ice bucket daily with our Lysol wipes we carry on our carts. Another comforting tip you might enjoy, is we use a clean cloth for each surface in the room. For example, one for the sink and counter, one for the toilet, and one for the shower and tub (I personally use two each surface, one for wet wiping and one for dry wiping). We take your personal comfort and safety as serious as you. Those that don’t, aren’t in this industry for long, that I can assure you. 😀
It’s wonderful to know there are good people like you that take cleaning seriously. I appreciate all your hard work Kristen–thank you for all the unseen things you do for your guests!
Hi Carrie
I am a only child,but I think you and I are sisters. My husband & I do a lot of road trips and I travel with Lysol and zip lock bags. After spraying the remote with Lysol I place it in a Large zip lock bag. I also will take old towels from home an place them on the hotel pillows. I also take my on paper cups “NEVER Drink Out Of A Hotel Glass”(yuk). Also use my old from home or buy cheap Dollar store towels to lay on the bathroom counter before I lay brush/comb,makeup,etc. down. Each towel is marked & the marked side is always the side that touches the counter top. they are rolled up place in a wal-mart bag. Before checking out the wal-mart bag is toss in the trash.
Wow–you guys have the germ fighting system down pretty good!
Stopping over from the SITS Girls! I worked at a hotel cleaning rooms one summer…actually I did it for like, 2 weeks and got transferred b/c I hated it so much. You’re totally right! Another tip I’d add is that if there are two beds in the room, sleep in the one closest to the door. Sometimes if both beds don’t look like they were used, they leave the sheets on the bed that wasn’t messed up…and most of the time that’s the bed farthest from the door. Blegh!
That’s a really good idea Kristi! I’ll have to remember that next time!
I have not seen any comments about the pillows.. I dont care if it has a pillowcase on it. Just makes me so germophobe. I bring a pillow or at least an extra pillowcase to cover theirs.
That’s a good idea as well, TJ! It never hurts to put your own pillowcase on over the hotel pillow!
I travel a lot for work and to be honest, I always remove the bedspread and bring my flip-flops to wear around the room…but for the rest of it – not so much. I guess I am not a germaphobe. But good tips nonetheless.
http://www.LivingHappierAfter.com
The bedspread seems to be the one thing that most people stay away from.
I’m not a germaphobe, but the comforter thing does gross me out a little. And this is good advice! Visiting from SITS Sharefest…pinning your post too!
I’m glad this was helpful & thanks so much for the pin, Michelle!
It’s nice to know I’m not the only germaphobe out there when it comes to hotel rooms. I bring Lysol and hand soap so that we don’t have to use the bar soap. I’m showing this to my husband! 🙂
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one too Dee!
Honestly I’m not a germaphobe at all. I always say some germs are a good thing. I just try not to think about it. I grew up with three brothers so maybe I’m just used to dirt and mess. I won’t use the comforters though because I agree that those are rarely ever washed!
You’re right–we all need some germ exposure! As long a I do a little clean and then not think too much about it I’m fine in most all hotel rooms.
I am germ conscious too and when I think back to all the hotel rooms I stayed in before I cared…shudder! This is a great list! Thanks for linking up with this week’s Weekend Wind-Down Party!
Nicole =)
It’s nothing to worry about–obviously you turned out just fine! It’s good to clean a couple things and then enjoy your stay!
Just want you to know that I am featuring this post on this week’s Weekend Wind-Down party! You can visit the party Friday night at 6pm, link up new content, and grab a feature button! Thanks for giving us great content to feature!
Nicole =)
I love the Weekend Wind Down party so it’s an honor to be one of the features! Thanks so much Nicole!!!
Yes, we have a Marriott Timeshare and when we used to visit, everything including the inside of the dresser drawers were sprayed with Lysol.
You bring up a great point that I should have mentioned. Over the years I’ve noticed that time share properties tend to be better kept up and cleaner than normal hotel rooms. I didn’t realize they sprayed the inside of the drawers, too! That’s great for this germophobe!
After a bunch of years of working in hospitality, I’ve seen some weird stuff. Most of it isn’t going to hurt anyone, but it’s not something you want to think about too much!
I’d add to always use an ice bucket liner, and to make sure that the ice machine is clean if you’re planning to actually put ice in drinks or near food!
I love your point Crystal–we really don’t need to worry about it too much! Just taking a couple precautions will be helpful!
I had to add to that list… the towels 🙂 Last time I stayed a hotel I found blood on my “fresh” “clean” towels… I truly thought I would die!!!
ugh. Blood on towels is not my definition of clean!
Wow! These are some great tips 🙂 Definitely gonna take lysol with me from now on haha!!
XO Samantha
Glad this was helpful Samantha!
This post is a real eye=opener! I didn’t know they don’t wash all the blankets on the bed. I really don’t like hotel rooms tbh. I always bring my own stuff–linens, slippers, hair dryer etc. I also bring lysol lol. Very useful stuff. The remote is disgusting; I’d rather just watch tv on my phone 😉
My guess as to why they don’t wash all the blankets is the added work and cost. Sometimes we bring some of our own linens too!
Thank you for this! I am so OCD about cleanliness especially in public places. Pinning!
Thanks so much for pinning this!
I try not to think about all the germs when I’m in a hotel, Otherwise, I’ll never sleep. However, I always check the bed for bedbugs.
Checking for bed bugs is a great idea! And I agree– it’s important not to worry too much!
yes but bed bugs can live elsewhere, like in wood work around the bedroom not usually in the bed.!
Wow, I wish I had read this before my hotel stay in Chicago last week! YUCK! I’m kind of glad that we kept kicking the comforter off of us…who knows what was on it. :O
Well at least you’ll know for next time!
I like to think that I’m aware of and deal with the germs around me but this totally oppened up my eyes BIG time!!! I don’t know why I just assumed hotels would be kept clean, especially for all the money they charge! I’m really grossed out knowing they don’t wash the actual bedspread. Seriosly, what if someone did you know what directly on it? Gross! I’m definately taking precautions on our next hotel visit…thanks so much!!!
I hope this didn’t freak you out too much! Spending a couple minutes cleaning a few things will ease your mind.
Oh my I am such a germaphobe, and now I think I might be worse after reading this. haha This was a good reminder on what I need to do when staying at a hotel. 😉
Ha ha sorry to make it worse!
Hi Carrie – Were we separated at birth? My germ issues got worse after I was sick dealing with a compromised immune system. You didn’t mention specifically, but referenced the picture of the hotel desk – another area that people use all of the time (eat, change diapers, who knows what else) and it never gets cleaned. I always take a hand towel and spread it out over the counter by the sink to then place our toiletries on – at least it’s a small barrier! Great article! Hugs, Holly
That’s a great point–the hotel desk would make the perfect diaper changing station so it definitely needs a cleaning! It’s funny how this post has opened my eyes to even more things that need cleaning in a hotel room 😉
I’m always a little worried about germs in hotel rooms. These tips are great! Especially the flip flops one. I hate walking on the floor with bare feet. You just never know!
I know…bare feet on a hotel floor gives me the creeps! I have to give the credit to my hubby for that genius idea!
You’re absolutely right about the bed spread. I worked for a hotel for about 5 months on contract, now this hotel was a Fairmont which is a pretty recognizable high-end name hotel. During my time as a housekeeping supervisor I never once saw a bedspread washed. The only time we washed a SINGLE bedspread was because a child had peed on it. The pee soaked through the bedspread, sheets and onto the mattress and while we scrubbed the mattress, at the end of the day there is probably still pee inside of the foam of it that cannot be reached.
Another thing that bothered me was they don’t dishwash the glasses in the room properly. They will “wash” them by spraying them with ammonia based window cleaner (like Windex) and wipe them down with the same cloth they used on all the other surfaces in the bathroom. So I never use the complimentary glasses – always bring your own!!
I know–those bed spreads freak me out!
Thanks so much for sharing your your tip about the glasses! My in laws have a time share that comes with a full kitchen and we always run the dishes through the dishwasher before using them. I never thought Windex would be used to clean glassware. So gross!
I am such a germ freak! Great tips here!!
Glad to see I’m not the only one 🙂
I think I met my twin, Carrie! I’m a germaphobe as well and hotels stress me to the max! Our children are never allowed to walk bare feet or sit on the top bedding lol! So I totally “get” this post!
The hotel anxieties really heighten when kids come along! When the kids come with us to a hotel I’m in a constant state of saying “Don’t touch anything!” I’m relieved to find I’m not the only germaphobe out there!
I love the tip about bringing a can of Lysol! I usually do wear flip flops, but my kids are usually all over the floor… which is harder to control. great tips! I also hate to think about the comforter not being washed, www!
I know–my kids always want to be on the floor too! We used to put clean sheets on the floor to use for their play space. It will get easier to keep them off the floor as they get older 🙂