Is your hotel room clean?

Back in December I posted an article about the key card urban legend.

Click here for a web article from msn.com. It mentions the key card urban legend as well as "rule 240", an airline urban legend I've never heard of.

The same article mentions "dirty hotel rooms". Although I don't agree with the article's statement that housekeepers are under-paid and over-worked, the article's statement on cleanliness has merit. As a frequent traveler I don't use a "white glove" to determine if a room is unclean. However, I do use some common sense.

Consider the following:

There is usually a robe-hook on the inside bathroom door. What did the person who rented the room before you hang on that hook? A used towel? Are you confident the house-keeping staff cleaned it properly? The same can be asked about towel racks. At home we hang bath towels, hand towels, and wash cloths over some type of towel rack...Do you do the same when staying at a hotel? Again, are you confident the towel racks were cleaned properly after the guest before you rented the room? It may not be the "greenest" practice, but I don't re-use soiled towels after I use them. I simply toss them on the bathroom floor. Because I usually travel alone, the supply of bath linens in the room will satisfy my needs until I check-out the next day or when the room is cleaned the next day.

For whatever reason I sleep better in hotel beds than at home. However, every once in awhile I get a case of the "gross-outs" when I think of past guests who have slept in the same bed. Laundry costs are a huge expense for the lodging industry. Although sheets and pillowcases are changed after a room is checked out...Do you think the blankets and comforter are laundered? If you'd like to know some facts on this issue, leave a comment and I can inform you more.

Another area to be aware of is room carpeting. Typically, room carpeting is shampooed 1-2 times a year or when needed. Always assume that's its been awhile since the carpet has been shampooed. A good rule of thumb: Always wear socks, sleepers, or shoes in your room to protect your bare feet from unknown liquids and substances that were spilled or dropped by previous guests.

A few friends and family members of mine carry a "wet-ones" type of product with them when they travel. Any alcohol based wipe can sanitize some commonly used items in a hotel room such as the telephone receiver and TV remote control.

Although no one has ever died from an unclean hotel room, it's important to use common sense to put your mind at ease when checking into a hotel.