Though a hotel feels like home when you’re traveling, no matter how luxurious, it can never match the hygiene, privacy, and safety of your own place. So what should you watch out for when staying in a hotel? Today let’s talk about the hidden secrets in hotel rooms — especially important when traveling with kids!
1. Check the peephole from the inside
The first thing to do upon entering isn’t just knocking or greeting — check the peephole on the door. If it’s damaged or tampered with, request a room change. A modified peephole might have a hidden camera installed. The view through a normal peephole should be clear. For safety, it’s advised to block the peephole with a small piece of paper and only remove it when needed. Also, if someone knocks but you can’t see anyone through the peephole, never open the door — instead, call the front desk.
2. Keep away from the electric kettle
The dirtiest item, according to our editor, isn’t the bathtub as rumored, but the electric kettle. Kettles are standard in most rooms and may look clean, but who knows what the previous guests used it for? What did they put in it? Think vomit, cigarette butts, or even…
3. Don’t use the glass cups
It’s best not to use the glass cups near the bathroom sink, especially not for drinking. These might be overlooked during cleaning, quickly rinsed with tap water, and rarely undergo high-temperature disinfection. Think twice before using them.
4. TV remote controls and bedside lamp switches are very dirty
The dirtiest items in a room may surprise you. If there’s an object that every guest is sure to touch, that’s likely the dirtiest one. In any hotel, it’s definitely the TV remote control — used by countless people but rarely cleaned by staff. It becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and a cleaning blind spot. Similarly, another item often used without a second thought is the bedside lamp switch. Before touching either, it’s wise to quickly disinfect them with an antibacterial wipe or spray.
6. Don’t trust “disinfected” labels, sit on the toilet with a barrier
Items like drinking cups, slippers — especially plastic ones — bathroom non-slip mats, toilets, and bathtubs might cut corners on disinfection. Always place a piece of paper as a barrier before use, and don’t trust the “disinfected” signs, or you might catch something you don’t want…
7. Look for sheet creases
Upon entering the room, also check whether the sheets have been changed. Pull back the corners to see if there are any hairs. Clean, washed towels will also have neat, square folds — pay close attention to these details.
8. Bring your “seven essential travel items”
The “seven essential travel items” (toothbrush, toothpaste, slippers, comb, shampoo, shower gel, shower cap) — hygiene is always a major concern. Quality control is often questionable. Our editor once encountered shampoo being replaced with laundry detergent. So, it’s best to bring your own for peace of mind!
Read more:Hotel taboos: 14 key things to avoid when staying overnight out of town!