Microbiologists surveyed nine hotels and suggest it's best to avoid using hotel hairdryers

▲ Experts believe hotel hairdryers are often neglected in cleaning. (Photo / Dashizhi / Illustration)

By Rita

The booming tourism industry actually brings a lot of convenience to travelers — for example, many items no longer need to be packed, such as shampoo and body wash, reducing luggage load and making the trip smoother. Few people traveling abroad bring their own hairdryer, but recently experts have issued a warning, advising that it’s better to avoid using hotel hairdryers. Why?

According to Indy100.com, a 2008 survey conducted by microbiologistsrevealed that hairdryers are among the items we often overlook when it comes to cleanliness. This survey was mainly based on nine hotel rooms in Los Angeles, where hairdryers ranked high among the dirtiest items in hotels, as they are not regularly cleaned by housekeeping— in contrast, toilets and drinking water equipment are cleaned more frequently.

In addition to hairdryers, other notoriously bacteria-ridden items in hotels include remote controls, power switches, keys, menus, and more. Experts advise “being very cautious with these items,” and it’s best to carry alcohol wipes for disinfection.