When thinking about hotel rooms, the first thing most of us imagine is a vacation. Finally, some time to relax and unwind. Who doesn’t like to order room service and never have to clean their room or make the bed?
And indeed, staying in a hotel room can be an amazing experience, but on the other hand, there are some little-known facts about the rooms and their hygiene that all of us should be aware of.
Since so many people are passing through those rooms, it is only normal for some things to get dirty. And now you don’t need to be afraid of staying in a hotel ever again because the housekeeping staff is usually doing its job well.
But, it’s always alright to be skeptical, and that’s why we are about to reveal to you the dirtiest secrets that are hiding inside hotel rooms.
The bathtubs are not as clean as they seem
It’s been a long trip, but finally, here you are. You have arrived at your destination. You are tired, but hopefully, your hotel room looks pretty good. The first thing you can think of is that you only want to sleep. But before sleeping, you want to take a hot, relaxing bath.
You enter the bathroom, and you see it: that spotless bathtub is waiting for you. Now, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but just so you know, those bathtubs are actually pretty gross.
Various studies have found that the sponge used by the housekeeper to clean around is the dirtiest item in the hotel. And since the bathtub has been cleaned with it, even if it looks spotless, it is probably full of germs and bacteria.
What are those white sheets hiding?
To be honest with you, I have never encountered a hotel room that had sheets on its bed that were any color other than white. The duvet on top was often another color, but the sheets never were.
And now you might think, “Is that a coincidence, or is there something more behind this?” Obviously, there are some good reasons that make white the favorite color of hotels. First of all, if the sheets are white, they can’t hide any stains. So, if the bed is not clean, you can immediately report it to the management, and you will get new bed sheets.
On the other hand, they take advantage of psychology, and those spotless white sheets can make you think that the whole room is clean and fresh when in reality that is not true. In conclusion, the next time you enter a hotel room, don’t let yourself be fooled by the clean sheets.
Beware the bedbugs!
The biggest villain of the hotel industry is probably the bed bug. Everyone is scared of them, from travelers to hotel management. All are trembling in front of the mighty bed bug. And for good reason. Bed bug infestations are nasty and can completely make a room unlivable, sometimes even for years.
And, do you know what is one of the most common places that might have bed bugs? If you said hotel rooms, you are correct. Yep, according to exterminators, bed bug infestations are the third-most common in hotels.
The first thing you should do after checking into a hotel room is to immediately take off all the sheets from the bed and take a look at the mattress, especially at its rim. If you see any bloody stains, bug eggs, or even alive bugs, inform the management and run. Just find another location to stay. If they have bed bugs in one room, there is a high chance that other rooms are infested too.
Ditch that duvet
I once used to work as a housekeeper at a resort, and that’s why I know many of the dirty secrets of this industry. And one of the most important things that you can do when entering your room at a hotel, besides checking for bed bugs, is to put that blanket away.
Seriously, that duvet is probably washed two times per month, and that is only the case when you are lucky. They usually only wash them if something was spilled on them or if they are really, really dirty.
And this is also true for the decorative pillows that you can often find lying nicely on the bed or any other decorative item. It doesn’t matter if the previous guest has been smoking or if they had a pet in the room; the staff will not wash them.
Next time you stay in a hotel room, don’t use the blanket because it is probably full of germs. Hopefully, the bedsheets are usually changed between the stays, so you can at least count on that.
Better skip that cup of coffee in the morning
I know that many of us need the boost that coffee gives us in the morning, but if you have a coffee machine in your hotel room, I advise you not to use it. Many times, the hotel staff doesn’t bother to properly clean the coffeemakers, and because of that, they become a hotspot for bacteria and germs. Dark, hot, and humid. This is definitely the best place for mold to form.
If I think about it, it’s actually vile how many times the coffee machine is forgotten and never gets cleaned. Now, I want to give you a pro tip. If you really want that coffee in the morning, you can go to the hotel’s restaurant and ask them for a fresh cup of coffee. It is better this way, and you will know for sure that the coffee machine is probably cleaner than the one you have in your room.
Most items that are not bedsheets are rarely cleaned
In reality, no one really cleans any of those rooms as well as they should. Usually, most of the rooms are deep cleaned only twice a year! I know that this is not great news, and that’s why I want you to be informed beforehand.
Do you know those glasses that you can find in any hotel room? I would never drink from them if I couldn’t wash them properly, and I would advise you to do the same. Also, TV remotes rarely get lost. The same goes for phones or AC remotes. Before using any of these items, you should probably clean them with some antibacterial wipes.
Also, if your room has a couch or chairs, be pretty sure that they don’t get cleaned at all. This is because it is hard to clean the fabric, and it takes a lot of time.
Another item that is often neglected is the ice bucket. I know that an ice bucket might add a little bit of glamour to the room, and it sounds luxurious to use one, but those buckets are usually never clean. I remember that one time, I was staying in a really nice room, and out of curiosity, I opened the ice bucket. And what a surprise! It was full of pistachio shells. Not a pleasant surprise at all.
And if you want to get the best tips for your next vacation, you should also check out: 6 Exclusive Senior Discounts for Cheaper Vacations
