When you step into a hotel room, the pristine appearance of fresh linens and a gleaming bathroom can be deceptive. Yet, experienced travelers and hospitality insiders know that some of the dirtiest places in hotel rooms are frequently lurking in plain sight. With high guest turnover and often limited staffing, housekeeping teams face immense pressure, making it difficult to perform a deep clean on every room, every day. Enza Laterrenia, head of housekeeping at
Is your "clean" hotel room hiding a dirty secret?
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Decorative elements
According to Maria Diego, a self-proclaimed germaphobe, her first action upon entering any hotel room is immediate. "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 reveals. Her reasoning is simple: "These never get washed." Laterrenia confirms this, noting that many hotels indeed wash their decorative soft furnishings infrequently, if at all. These seemingly innocent accents, designed to enhance the room's aesthetic, can accumulate dust, dander, and unseen contaminants from countless guests, making them prime candidates for avoidance.
High-touch hotbeds
For travel advisor and coach Rani Cheema, the hotel room phone stands out as one of the most unsanitary items. "If there's an actual phone and I need to pick it up, I'm grossed out by the receiver," Cheema admits. "I think it's ... the mouth part, because no one's cleaning that." This sentiment is echoed by housekeeping professionals, who identify carpets as another significant culprit. Laterrenia points out, "They tend to trap dust and bacteria, making them one of the more demanding items to sanitize." The dense fibers of hotel carpets can indeed harbor a surprising array of microorganisms and allergens.
However, Cheema observes that many higher-end properties are beginning to adapt to this concern. "There are a lot of 5-star hotels that no longer have carpeting, so it's hardwood floors or an area rug, and that's about it," she notes, signaling a shift towards easier-to-clean flooring options. Despite these improvements, even in luxury accommodations, the thoroughness of cleaning has its practical limits. Diego remains cautious, stating, "At higher-end hotels, major touch points like switches, remote controls, phones, get a wipe before every check-in, but I'm still cautious about these spots." It's a reminder that while visible cleanliness is often a priority, the microscopic world tells a different story on frequently handled surfaces.
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Hidden contamination zones
Some of the most overlooked surfaces are precisely those that are tucked away from plain sight. "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 advises. These items, seemingly pristine, might not be part of the daily sanitation routine and could have been handled by many previous occupants. She also expresses a particular caution regarding bathrooms. "I also won't take a bath in a hotel unless it's a super luxe 5-star hotel, and only if it's a non-jet bathtub," she specifies, highlighting concerns about potential residual contaminants in jetted systems.
Adding to this list, Laterrenia reveals that certain areas are frequently neglected during standard hotel cleanings due to their accessibility. "Hard-to-reach spots – such as high ceilings, chandeliers, ceiling fans, curtain rods, and shower heads – are often overlooked," she explains. These elevated fixtures can accumulate dust and grime over time, escaping the regular wipe-downs.
So, for your next hotel stay, consider these tips. Upon arrival, swiftly remove decorative pillows and bed runners. Take a moment to wipe down high-touch surfaces like light switches, door handles, and the remote control. Be discerning about using in-room barware and consider avoiding bathtubs unless you're in a top-tier luxury establishment. If you're flying, smart planning can extend beyond the hotel room. Utilizing ParkingNearAirports.io for your airport long-term parking booking can alleviate stress, allowing you to focus on pre-trip details. They offer convenient airport parking reservations and frequently feature attractive parking discounts that can make your entire journey smoother and more cost-effective. When in doubt about your hotel room's cleanliness, a quick personal wipe-down of key areas can provide extra peace of mind.
