Jane Hawkes is a consumer travel expert and a former flight attendant. She told Express.co.uk her check-in routine at hotels.
Flight attendants often stay in hotels when they work long-haul routes and are experts on the process.
Jane told Express.co.uk: “When you first enter your hotel room, wipe down the most touched areas ie. light switches, door handles, chairs, desks, phone, kettle and of course the remote control.
“According to a survey conducted by the website Upgraded Points, the average door handle has 918 times more germs than a household toilet seat.”
Hotel room furniture could be carrying germs and guests should bring wipes to clean items when they check-in.
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A former hotel cleaner told Express.co.uk that she’d recommend guests don’t use the hotel kettle or mugs.
She said they are often missed if hotel cleaners are a rush and may not be as clean as other items.
Jane added: “Always sanitise your hands after pressing lift buttons too as the average hotel life button has 737 times more germs than a household toilet seat.”
Hundreds of guests could use the hotel lift each day and they could all leave germs on the lift button.
Hotel cleaners will usually always clean the floor of a room before a guest checks in, but they may not have a lot of time between guests.
Jane recommended that guests always bring slippers or an extra pair of socks to avoid going barefoot on a hotel floor.
In some luxury hotels, guests may be provided with a pair of slippers and dressing gown to wear.
Although most hotels will expect guests to return dressing gowns, sometimes slippers will be single use.
Some spas may provide guests with complimentary flip flops to wear during their stay and to take away.
Jane previously told Express.co.uk that plane tray tables are often dirtier than the aircraft’s toilets.
She recommended passengers wipe down the tray tables with an antibacterial wipe when they board.
She said: “Instead of somewhere to place drinks and snacks, the previous passenger could have changed nappies there or slept on it.”
Jane shares travel tips and advice on her blog ladyjaney.co.uk.
