When you check into a hotel, freshly ironed sheets and a sparkling bathroom can give you a false sense of cleanliness. However, seasoned travelers and hotel industry professionals know that some of the dirtiest places in a hotel are often in obvious places.
Between high staff turnover rates and limited staff numbers, there is often not enough time to thoroughly clean every room every day. Enza Laterrenia, housekeeping manager at Canne Bianche Lifestyle & Hotel, explains to Travel+Leisure that under normal circumstances, a room is cleaned in about 30 minutes.
Maria Diego, a Travel + Leisure A-List consultant and self-proclaimed germaphobe, says she always takes action as soon as she arrives in her room. “Having worked in hotels, the first thing I throw in a far corner of the room is decorative pillows and any decorative coverings that are at the bottom of the bed,” she says. “These are never washed.”
For travel consultant and coach Rani Cheema, hotel room phones are the most unhygienic items. “If there’s a real phone and I have to pick it up, I get disgusted with the handset,” Cheema says.
In terms of cleanliness, carpets are another item of concern. “They tend to hold dust and bacteria, which makes them one of the most challenging items to disinfect,” says Laterrenia.
Cheema, however, notes that many high-end hotels are adapting. “There are a lot of five-star hotels that no longer have carpets, so they have wooden floors or a carpet, and that’s it,” she says.
Some of the most neglected surfaces are those that are hidden. “I’m also wary of bars inside drawers or cabinets, anything that can be left for long periods of time or handled by guests without the cleaning teams knowing,” Diergo says.
Laterrenia reveals that certain areas are often overlooked during standard hotel cleanings. “Hard-to-reach areas such as high ceilings, chandeliers, ceiling fans, curtain rails and shower heads are often neglected.”
So next time you check into a hotel, toss decorative pillows and bedspreads aside, wipe down surfaces that are frequently touched and be selective in your use of the bathtub. If in doubt, it doesn’t hurt to do a quick clean yourself.
