As record-breaking heatwaves continue, more people are seeking refuge in hotels to escape the heat. However, experts are warning about the hygiene conditions inside hotel rooms, urging caution.

On August 5, the New York Post cited research from the University of Houston, reporting, "In some hotel rooms, bacterial levels have been measured at up to ten times higher than hospital standards," and adding, "Rooms may appear clean on the surface, but a surprising amount of bacteria and viruses can be lurking beneath."

According to the report, the average cleaning time per hotel room is only about 30 minutes. The head of housekeeping at a hotel in Italy said, "We hardly ever touch decorative cushions or bedding." Items like cushions on the bed or carpets may look clean but can actually be breeding grounds for bacteria.

Getty Images

원본보기 아이콘

Getty Images

원본보기 아이콘

Experts say that the TV remote is a particular item to watch out for. It is a common room amenity that is touched by many guests but rarely disinfected or cleaned. One expert stated, "The TV remote is the item with the highest concentration of bacteria in the hotel room," explaining, "Many guests handle it frequently, and its bumpy design makes it difficult to clean properly." The expert added, "There can be hundreds of microorganisms per square inch on a TV remote."

Getty Images

원본보기 아이콘

Reference photo of a hotel room to aid understanding of the article. Unrelated to the main text. Pixabay

원본보기 아이콘

Getty Images

원본보기 아이콘

Ice buckets and glasses, which come into contact with food and drinks, can also pose serious hygiene issues. In fact, last year, a hotel in Las Vegas experienced a norovirus outbreak after a contaminated virus spread via an ice bucket. The problem is that many hotels do not replace cups and ice buckets, but simply rinse them with water. Experts recommend boiling water in an electric kettle and using it to rinse personal cups or amenities once more for safety.

The bathroom is not a safe zone either. According to a 2023 survey, bathtubs harbor a large number of bacteria, with up to 40 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. The report added, "Some studies have found that hotel bathrooms are even dirtier than airplanes." A travel expert advised, "Unless it is a five-star luxury hotel, it is best to avoid using the bathtub. Especially for jacuzzi tubs with jet functions, internal disinfection may not be thorough, so it is better not to use them."

Getty Images

원본보기 아이콘

Experts recommend several steps for safer hotel stays: ▲Remove decorative cushions and carpets as soon as you arrive ▲Disinfect TV remotes, switches, and telephones yourself with alcohol swabs or disinfectant wipes ▲Wash bathroom mats, towels, glasses, and ice buckets before use ▲Store your luggage so it does not come into direct contact with the bed.