Latest news with #hotelcleanliness
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Travel experts reveal grimiest spots in hotel rooms and how to avoid them
Hotel rooms may look sparkling clean when you first arrive – but surprising levels of bacteria and viruses can be lurking in overlooked places. Beyond the usual suspects like sinks and toilets, common 'touchpoints' such as remotes and light switches are also crawling with germs, studies say. University of Houston research found hotel rooms had up to 10 times more bacteria – including fecal strains – than are allowed in hospitals. One reason? Hotel staff often spend just 30 minutes cleaning each room, and some decorative items may be skipped entirely, according to Enza Laterrenia, head of housekeeping at Canne Bianche Lifestyle Hotel in Italy. Here's where the germs are hiding – and what experts say you should do as soon as you check in. 1. Decorative items 'Having worked in hotels, the first thing I fling off to a far corner of the room are decorative pillows and any decorative runner that goes along the foot of the bed,' Maria Diego, a San Diego-based travel adviser, told Travel & Leisure. 'These never get washed.' Duvet covers can also be a hotspot. 'Most hotels do not wash the big duvet. They only wash the sheets,' a former hotel staffer wrote on Reddit last year. Maria Diego, a San Diego-based travel adviser, says the first thing she does upon entering a hotel room is toss the decorative pillows and bed runner into a corner - because 'these never get washed' 2. High-touch surfaces Diego said she's cautious around remotes, light switches, phones, and other commonly used surfaces. Rani Cheema, a Los Angeles travel adviser, singled out the room phone: 'I am grossed out by the receiver,' she said. 'No one's cleaning that.' Carpets are another offender. According to Cheema, many high-end hotels are now replacing them with hard floors or area rugs for hygiene reasons. 3. Bathtubs Studies have shown that hotel bathrooms can be dirtier than airplane lavatories – particularly the countertops. But the bathtub is even worse. A 2023 investigation by found that tubs can harbor up to 40 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. 'I also won't take a bath in a hotel unless it's a super-luxe five-star hotel, and only if it's a non-jet bathtub,' Diego said. Jetted tubs, experts warn, can be difficult to disinfect and may house hidden bacteria. 4. Hard-to-reach and overlooked spots Curtain rods, ceiling fans, showerheads and bedside lamps are often missed during cleanings, Laterrenia said. 'When I enter a room and notice a dusty charging port next to the bed or a bedside lamp caked in residue, that tells me the basics may have been done, but the details were missed,' Lori Carter told Fox News Digital. 5. Glasses and ice buckets Glassware may not always be replaced between guests. In some cases, housekeeping has been found simply wiping them down. 'Personally, I never use mugs or glasses in the room without rinsing them out first,' Carter said. 'I usually boil water in the kettle and give each item a thorough rinse.' 'It's not about fear, it's about good habits,' she added. And the ice bucket? That could be the next breeding ground. During one norovirus outbreak at a hotel, guests vomited in ice buckets, helping the illness spread, Brian Labus, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Travel & Leisure last year. Experts recommend only using buckets with liners – or bringing your own cooler and drinkware if you're worried. If anything seems off, Carter added, don't hesitate to alert the front desk. 'The staff can have the room cleaned again or move you to another room,' she said.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
These Are the Dirtiest Parts of a Hotel Room, According to Housekeeping
Here's what to avoid next time you check Points Hotel rooms, even the nicest luxury digs, often look squeaky clean—but some areas of your room may be cleaner than others. High-touch surfaces like phones, remotes, light switches, and carpets can harbor germs. Oft-overlooked items such as barware, ceiling fixtures, and bathtubs may be overlooked during standard housekeeping you check into a hotel room, the crisp linens and sparkling bathroom might give a false sense of cleanliness. However, seasoned travelers and hospitality professionals know that some of the dirtiest places in hotel rooms are often hidden in plain sight. Between high turnover rates and limited staff, there's often not enough time in the day to deep clean every room every day. Enza Laterrenia, head of housekeeping at Canne Bianche Lifestyle & Hotel, explains that under standard conditions, a room is cleaned by a housekeeping pair in about 30 minutes, highlighting the time pressure housekeeping teams often face. Decorative Pillows Maria Diego, a Travel + Leisure A-List advisor and a self-proclaimed germaphobe, says she always takes action immediately when she gets to her room. 'Having worked in hotels, the first thing I fling off to a far corner of the room are decorative pillows and any decorative runner that goes along the foot of the bed," she says. "These never get washed." Laterrenia agrees, noting that many hotels wash their decorative elements infrequently. High-touch Surfaces For travel advisor and coach Rani Cheema, hotel room phones are the most unsanitary items. "If there's an actual phone and I need to pick it up, I am grossed out by the receiver,' Cheema says. 'I think it's ... the mouth part, because no one's cleaning that." From a housekeeping perspective, carpets are another culprit. "They tend to trap dust and bacteria, making them one of the more demanding items to sanitize," Laterrenia says. Cheema, however, notes that many higher-end properties are adapting. "There are a lot of five-star hotels that no longer have carpeting, so it's hardwood floors or an area rug, and that's about it," she says. Even in luxury hotels, though, thoroughness has its limits. 'At higher-end hotels, major touch points like switches, remote control, phones, get a wipe before every check-in, but I'm still cautious about these spots,' Diego says. Hidden Contamination Spots Some of the most overlooked surfaces are the ones tucked away. 'I'm also wary of barware inside drawers or cabinetry, anything that might be sitting for prolonged periods or handled by guests unbeknownst to housekeeping teams,' Diego says. She's also particular about the bathroom. 'I also won't take a bath in a hotel unless it's a super luxe five-star hotel, and only if it's a non-jet bathtub," she says." Laterrenia reveals that certain areas are often overlooked during standard hotel cleanings. "Hard-to-reach spots—such as high ceilings, chandeliers, ceiling fans, curtain rods, and shower heads—are often neglected.' So next time you check into a hotel, toss the decorative pillows and bed runners to the side, wipe down the high-touch surfaces, and be selective about using the tub. When in doubt, it doesn't hurt to do a quick clean of your own. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Solve the daily Crossword
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Travel + Leisure
14-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
These Are the Dirtiest Parts of a Hotel Room, According to Housekeeping
When you check into a hotel room, the crisp linens and sparkling bathroom might give a false sense of cleanliness. However, seasoned travelers and hospitality professionals know that some of the dirtiest places in hotel rooms are often hidden in plain sight. Between high turnover rates and limited staff, there's often not enough time in the day to deep clean every room every day. Enza Laterrenia, head of housekeeping at Canne Bianche Lifestyle & Hotel, explains that under standard conditions, a room is cleaned by a housekeeping pair in about 30 minutes, highlighting the time pressure housekeeping teams often face. Decorative pillows on a hotel Diego, a Travel + Leisure A-List advisor and a self-proclaimed germaphobe, says she always takes action immediately when she gets to her room. 'Having worked in hotels, the first thing I fling off to a far corner of the room are decorative pillows and any decorative runner that goes along the foot of the bed," she says. "These never get washed." Laterrenia agrees, noting that many hotels wash their decorative elements infrequently. A hand picking up a hotel phone. webphotographeer/Getty Images For travel advisor and coach Rani Cheema, hotel room phones are the most unsanitary items. "If there's an actual phone and I need to pick it up, I am grossed out by the receiver,' Cheema says. 'I think it's ... the mouth part, because no one's cleaning that." From a housekeeping perspective, carpets are another culprit. "They tend to trap dust and bacteria, making them one of the more demanding items to sanitize," Laterrenia says. Cheema, however, notes that many higher-end properties are adapting. "There are a lot of five-star hotels that no longer have carpeting, so it's hardwood floors or an area rug, and that's about it," she says. Even in luxury hotels, though, thoroughness has its limits. 'At higher-end hotels, major touch points like switches, remote control, phones, get a wipe before every check-in, but I'm still cautious about these spots,' Diego says. A rainfall shower head flowing water in a hotel of the most overlooked surfaces are the ones tucked away. 'I'm also wary of barware inside drawers or cabinetry, anything that might be sitting for prolonged periods or handled by guests unbeknownst to housekeeping teams,' Diego says. She's also particular about the bathroom. 'I also won't take a bath in a hotel unless it's a super luxe five-star hotel, and only if it's a non-jet bathtub," she says." Laterrenia reveals that certain areas are often overlooked during standard hotel cleanings. "Hard-to-reach spots—such as high ceilings, chandeliers, ceiling fans, curtain rods, and shower heads—are often neglected.' So next time you check into a hotel, toss the decorative pillows and bed runners to the side, wipe down the high-touch surfaces, and be selective about using the tub. When in doubt, it doesn't hurt to do a quick clean of your own.
