Brits warned to avoid grim hotel room item covered in dead skin cells and sweat

Posted on : 11/20/2023
Brits warned to avoid grim hotel room item covered in dead skin cells and sweat
Travel 

Brits are being urged to avoid touching hotel rooms' dirtiest surfaces that could be home to 15 litres of sweat and 9.6 million dead skin cells from previous guests.

The experts at MattressNextDay have issued a stark warning for Brits to avoid the 'germ motorways' to be found in rooms, particularly soft furnishings. While bedding is cleaned after each guest's use – such as the pillows, sheets and duvets – the team have warned that other soft furnishings may not get cleaned as regularly.

In fact, the likes of the throws and comforters you can find on the beds tend to be cleaned monthly rather than after each use, meaning they can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

READ MORE: 'Embarrassing' Grammy nominee confronted as she refuses to stop 'tacky' singing on plane

READ MORE: 'I'm a flight attendant – people's sneaky tactics to get into First Class never work'

Considering the average person sweats up to 500ml each night and sheds around 320,000 dead skin cells, that means that over a month these soft furnishings can garner up to a staggering 15 litres of sweat and a jaw-dropping 9.6 million dead skin cells. Grim.

Also to be avoided are fabric headboards, curtains and drapes which can attract bed bugs – so always check for the warning signs before you unpack your suitcase. Luckily, before you cancel all holidays and never leave your house again, the good news is that there are ways to prevent yourself from being affected by any of these germ hotspots.

The experts at MattressNextDay recommend:

  • To prevent bacterial transfer, neatly fold the throw or comforter and stow it in an unused corner of the room.
  • Choose hotels that offer white linens, as they make stains and dirt more visible.
  • Keep your suitcase off the bed to avoid germs hitching a ride from the wheels.
  • Avoid placing damp towels on the bed to discourage further bacteria breeding.
  • When using a chair or sofa, consider sitting on a clean towel for added protection.
  • Keep your clothing away from soft furnishings to minimise contact.
  • Before settling into bed, consider changing your socks to prevent bacteria from being tracked onto the carpet.

Martin Seeley, the CEO at MattressNextDay said, "While this information may be unsettling, it's essential to be aware of these potential hygiene issues in hotel rooms. It doesn't mean you should stop staying in hotels altogether, but being informed and taking these precautions can help you sleep better, especially if you're prone to allergies triggered by dust mites that can affect your sleep quality."

While soft furnishings do get cleaned, there's one item that can get overlooked. One travel insider told the Daily Star the dirtiest place in a hotel room can be the TV remote, because of the sheer number of people who touch it. Thankfully a quick wipe down of both devices should clean it up quickly – and since Covid, some hotels do include it as a 'high touch point' item that they specifically clean in between guest uses.

Source: Read Full Article