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The dirtiest places in hotel rooms have been named
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Want to avoid unnecessary contact with harmful microorganisms during your stay at a hotel? Then don't turn on the TV or lights in your room - according to a recent study, the surface of the TV remote control and light switch keys are where the most germs can be found.
Researchers at the University of Houston took samples of bacteria from several common hotel room furnishings in three U.S. locations: Texas, Indiana, and North Carolina. The toilet and flush handle were, predictably, among the most germ-infested hotel room items. But the big surprise for the scientists was to find equally heavy contamination on the remote control and bedside lamp switches.
While no one expected to find the sterile frequencies of an operating room in a hotel room, University of Houston microbiologist Jay Neel told Livescience, there's definitely room for improvement in the hotel's facilities.
In addition to these items, the highest levels of contamination were found on the cleaning cart of the maids, especially the mop and sponge. And this is also a serious problem, since this is how bacteria travel from room to room, the study says.
The lowest levels of bacteria were found on the headboard, curtain rods and bathroom door handles.
The scientists conducted a general test for bacterial contamination and a separate test for E. coli, which is the most common cause of digestive problems.
Both tests showed that pollution levels in hotel rooms were 2-10 times higher than the parameters acceptable for medical institutions.
Of course, the mere presence of bacteria does not mean that a person who comes into contact with them will necessarily become ill, but it makes the likelihood of such an outcome significantly higher.