Checking in to a hotel? What you need to know.....

..... According to Renata McCarthy who is now a lecturer at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, but started out in the industry as a housekeeping manager for a major US hotel chain - in some cases, the cover that protects a duvet may not be changed from one guest to another if the bed has a top and bottom sheet... Not good! Skin cells (humans shed about 1.5 million cells or cell clusters an hour when they sleep), human hair, bodily secretions, fungi, bacteria, dust, dust mites, lint, insect parts, pollen, cosmetics and more can collect - with unhealthy results.

Another no-no are the bedspreads, according to Philip Tierno. Hotel bedspreads, or the quilts inside duvet covers, don't get thrown in with the sheets for a daily wash.


Also Philip Tierno, a director of microbiology and immunology at New York University's Langone Medical Centre, who has carried out hotel room research says some hotels can be a source of cold, flu and gastrointestinal viruses, which can be spread by touching unclean surfaces. So here are some helpful tips they have given:


* Turn down the bedspread or duvet cover and pull it to the end of the bed, avoid coming into contact with it as much as you can.

* Wipe down the sink faucets, bathroom countertop, toilet handle and shower faucets with a damp towel or hand disinfectant (the gel-type you can pick-up at the Duty Free at the airport).

* Wipe down all door handles and knobs including the entryway and bathroom, phone, TV remote, and refrigerator.

* Avoid using water glasses in the room. A recent investigation showed that many hotel chains do not clean the glasses at all. So it would be safe to assume that they are dirty and have merely been wiped to ‘look clean’ and could easily have been used by previous guests.

He actually travels with an impervious mattress and pillow cover to protect against the unseen debris that guests leave behind, literally buried over time, in those supposedly clean, fluffy and comfy beds. So be aware, and maybe think about taking your own, or ask the hotel if they use these types of beddings - it just might save you some unpleasentness on your next hard earned holiday!


To your abundant excellent health,

Dr Ike,
Functional Health Expert and Health Coach

Sources:


A microscopic look at hotel hygiene’ published online, 25.02.11, edition.cnn.com

Health Sciences Institute