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Nothing ruins a trip like getting sick while away. Knowing that a sandy beach is waiting outside your hotel room while you’re stuck in bed is a special kind of torture. If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past couple of years, it’s the importance of cleanliness, especially when traveling. After extensive research, Lysol Pro Solutions released the dirtiest germ spots that travelers should watch out for. Fifteen hotels, one airport, and ten airplanes were tested for pollution levels across the United States.
The test
To test each surface, scientists used an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) assay. The test involves first rubbing a wet cotton swab on the surface and then placing it in a reader that measures the amount of bacteria. One of the downsides of this method is that it cannot detect viruses, because it can only detect living cells. Also, because it can only detect the presence of living cells, the test cannot distinguish between ‘good’ bacteria and ‘bad’ bacteria. The test gives a reading instead all of them Bacteria were found on the surface. For areas that should be clean and free of all bacteria, the test is a good indicator of how clean the area is.
The results
The study focused on four main areas: hotel rooms, common areas, airport entrance lobbies and airplane seating areas. In other words, when a traveler gets from point A to point B, he is met everywhere. Three main germline areas of each area were found, and the results were as follows.
Hotel rooms
- Toilet containers
- TV remotes and door knobs (tie)
- Tables, refrigerators and nightstands (tie)
Hotel common areas
- Buttons on elevators
- Handrails on luggage carts
- Bathroom doors, front desks and elevator rails (tie)
Airport entrance lobbies
- Kiosk PIN Pads Check-in
- Counters at check-in
- Counters at the baggage office
Airplane seats
- Seat belt buckles and window shade holders (tie)
- Latches on the tray table
- Dials on the upper air vents
While some of the results are not surprising (like the toilet handle), other listed surfaces are not so obvious. For example, it’s very common to fasten your seatbelt when you’re getting ready to take off, so it’s not immediately obvious how many germs might be sitting on the buckle. Similarly, walking into a check-in kiosk may not register as a serious germ contact when your mind is thinking about getting through security and heading to your final destination.
What can travelers do?
Travelers who are worried about getting sick on the way to their destination can take precautions, and many of them have been drilled into our heads in the past two years. However, Covid is not the only thing that can turn a dream into a nightmare. The common cold, strep, or a simple stomach bug can confine you to your hotel room during your trip, and there are simple steps you can take to prevent this from happening.
- Cleaning wipes. Travelers should focus on high-touch areas such as check-in kiosks, check-in desks and restrooms. A small package sticks in a purse or wallet and is easy to carry around when you need to clean a questionable surface.
- Hand sanitizer or hand wash. It’s not always practical to wipe down every surface before touching it. If you have it, it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get sick. A good practice is to use hand sanitizer after touching a questionable surface.
Put it all together
Travelers have been through a lot in the last couple of years and have become accustomed to an era of extra cleanliness. However, as the epidemic slowly recedes into history, it is still important to take precautions against getting sick while traveling. Knowing which areas are particularly prone to germs is one way travelers can make sure they’re doing everything they can to ensure their dream trip goes according to plan without getting sick.
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Disclaimer: Current travel laws and restrictions Subject to change without notice. Travel decisions are ultimately your responsibility. Before you travel, check with your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your citizenship and/or any changes to travel requirements. Off-Road Travel does not support travel against government advice.
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