How to Tell If Your Hotel Room is Really as Clean as They Claim (Hint: It's Probably Not)

How clean is that comforter? (Photo: Thinkstock)

We have all heard horror stories about hotel housekeepers wiping drinking glasses with toilet water. Then there’s the whole bed bug issue. Meanwhile, germs and fungus that cause colds, flu, gastrointestinal illnesses, and athlete’s foot can linger in a hotel room endlessly. 

When I’m not on the road staying in hotels and vacation rentals, I’m living in one of my very own. My husband and I have owned and operated a 20-room cabin resort for almost two decades. Trust me when I say I have seen some filth!

Here’s what you need to know about grunge before, during, and after your travel adventures. So I can say with full authority that you’ll want to follow these tips to help you enjoy your next trip — with the least amount of hotel funk.

Investigate before you leave home.

Scour the internet — and ask questions (Photo: Thinkstock)

There are regulators of hotel cleanliness in every state, with inspections required at least annually in most U.S. locations. The reality is that government departments tasked with hotel sanitation may be understaffed, leading to cursory or non-existent check-ups. Over-worked Texas inspectors, for example, confess that hotels rank near the bottom of their priority list.

Privately-owned guest houses and vacation rentals often fall completely through the cracks in the inspection system. As lawmakers at state and local levels begin to address the booming vacation rental industry, they are usually focusing on issues of taxes, not sanitation.

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According to Reneta McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Services and Operations Management for the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, there is no official recognition or certification process for cleanliness. But, she says, “cleanliness is critical to a successful hotel.” That same “keep it clean and they will come” approach should also apply to vacation rentals, whose owners usually have no real training in sanitation procedures.

I once stayed in a beautiful rental property that seemed clean — except for the refrigerator, which was dirty and filled with opened bottles of ketchup and salad dressings left behind by previous travelers. Half of them were out of date.

That’s where traveler review sites like Trip Advisor become valuable. Problems often come and go with management and staff changes, but if more than one recent review mentions a lack of cleanliness, it might be wise to steer clear.

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A lengthy Internet search can turn up few government websites that post inspection results. But don’t be afraid to call a hotel to ask their most recent inspection score if it gives you peace of mind. Callers to my own resort often ask about room cleanliness. It doesn’t offend me in the least.

Tip:Try adding the word “clean” to the destination in your search for reviews on Trip Advisor. That filters your results for facilities that clearly put an emphasis on clean.

Once you arrive, it’s all on you.

Look closely (Photo: Thinkstock)

A frequent business traveler I know first checks the toilet in his hotel room. “If the potty isn’t clean, there’s no point looking any further,” he says. He has no problem requesting another room based on what he finds.

According to McCarthy, you can see telltale signs of improper cleaning procedure on the floor around the toilet and when there’s mold or mildew in the tub and shower.

Related: Tales from the Dark Side: The Worst Hotel Horror Stories

Former Sheraton employee Mindy Conroy says, “Follow your nose. If the room doesn’t smell clean, it probably isn’t.”

Other places you might not think to look for germs: sink backsplashes, secondary door locks, and coffee makers.

When all else fails, clean it yourself.

This is a bit extreme, but if in doubt, get out the cleaning supplies (Photo: Thinkstock)

Awareness has certainly been raised regarding drinking glasses, but hotel suites with kitchenettes and vacation rentals often provide full sets of dishware. Even if they look clean, consider a re-wash.

McCarthy says she sometimes wipes down surfaces in hotels with sanitary wipes. If you are particularly fussy about germs, you might even try a sanitizing fogger that disperses germicide into every nook and cranny of your hotel room. Set one off, leave for half an hour, and return to a sanitized room.

Related: Hotel Horror Stories: The Worst Places to Stay According to Travel Bloggers

However, even a fogger won’t help your feet. The spores that cause foot and nail fungus are difficult to kill. Dermatologists advise that water temperatures of 140 degrees or higher are required. Neither the carpet shampooer nor the mop water used in your room are likely to come anywhere near that temperature. McCarthy says that because shampooing shortens the life of the carpet, most hotels only shampoo in-room carpets once a year. Upholstered furniture cleaning would be on about the same schedule. That probably makes them as clean, or cleaner than your home. At least you know whose bare feet are walking around in your house and whose butts are parked on your couch.

In theory, the laundering of the sheets and towels includes water hot enough for sanitation, but not everyone is willing to take the chance. Travel sheets and sleep sacks that you bring with you are the ultimate layer of protection from what might be hiding between the sheets in your temporary bed.

Help other travelers out.

Share your experience — bad or good (Photo: Thinkstock)

If you encounter a sanitation issue while traveling, the least you can do is report it to the lodging facility itself. The funk you found could be a one-off situation caused by a new employee or the guest who stayed immediately before you. Management of a quality facility will appreciate your direct input.

If you got sick or have bug bites, you should report those first to the facility and then to the local health department. Report bug bites on the Bed Bug Registry, as well.

If your experience is bad enough to warrant it, write your own review on Trip Advisor. Stick to the facts and try not to exaggerate. You aren’t trying to ruin a hotel, just provide travel tips. And by all means, when you find a hotel or rental that rates an A+ in cleanliness, shout it from the rooftops so that we all know about it.

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