Named the most dirty places in hotel rooms
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Do you want to avoid unnecessary contact with harmful microorganisms during your stay in the hotel? Then do not include TV and light in the room, according to a recent study, it is on the surface of the TV remote and the switches of light that you can find most of the microbes.
Researchers from the University of Houston took samples of bacteria from several traditional interior items of a hotel room in three US regions: Texas, Indiana and North Carolina. The toilet and the handle of the waste tank were quite expected to be among the most populated bacteria in the hotel room. However, a big surprise for scientists was to find no less severe pollution on the remote control and switches of bedside lamps.
It is clear that no one expected to find in the hotel rooms a sterile operating frequency, researcher Jay Neal, a microbiologist from the University of Houston, shared his thoughts with the portal Livescience, but the corresponding hotel services definitely have something to improve in their work.
In addition to the listed items, the highest level of contamination was found on the maid's cleaning cart, especially on a mop and sponge. And this is also a serious problem, because in this way the bacteria travel from room to room, the research results say.
The lowest level of bacteria was found on the front of the bed, curtain rail curtains and bathroom door handles.
Scientists conducted a general bacterial contamination test and a separate test for E. Coli, which in most cases is the cause of digestive problems.
Both tests showed that the level of pollution in hotel rooms is 2-10 times higher than the parameters permissible for medical institutions.
Of course, the very presence of bacteria does not mean that the person who comes into contact with them does not fall ill, but makes the probability of such an outcome much higher.