Whether you’re traveling for vacation or for work, there’s something pleasant about staying in a hotel room—especially if it has crisp linens, a nice view, and a well-stocked minibar. But even high-end hotels can be host to germs, bed bugs, and other things you’d rather not deal with. We tapped Noah Pinsonnault, home care & cleaning reviews analyst at the Home Care & Cleaning Lab for tips on how to avoid germs in a hotel room.
While exposure to germs is a fact of life, there are things you can do to minimize your risk of getting sick while you’re on vacation. Being smart about how you unpack, disinfecting particular surfaces, and avoiding certain hotel room habits can help you stay healthy during and after travel. Luckily, the steps Pinsonnault recommends aren’t too time-consuming. Spending a few minutes checking your room when you check in means you can truly kick back and relax for the rest of your trip.
Below, read up on how a cleaning pro avoids germs in a hotel room. If you’re looking for more travel tips, read up on how to avoid getting sick after flying and travel safety tips pros always follow when they check into a hotel.
Use the Luggage Rack
Whether you choose to stay at a five-star hotel or a vacation rental, you can encounter bed bugs. They can find their way into mattress seams, nightstands, window treatments, you name it. That said, it can’t hurt to use the luggage rack to keep your items off the floor in the event of a bed bug infestation.
“During the day, bed bugs usually hide away in the seams of the mattress, joints and crevices within the headboard or bed frame, or even behind wall hangings near the bed,” says Pinsonnault. “You can check these areas for live bugs or droppings. If you find evidence of bed bugs, you should switch to a room on a different floor immediately—or even another hotel entirely.”
Disinfect High-Touch Areas
Think about the number of guests who go in and out of a hotel room all day, every day. Whether they happen to be sick or not, germs spread. Your best bet is to clean high-touch areas with disinfecting wipes as soon as you enter your hotel room—and throughout your stay, too.
Here are key areas to disinfect:
- door handles
- remote control
- phone
- light switches
- thermostat
- bathroom faucet
- sink counter
Consider a product like Lysol Brand New Day Lavender & Cotton Blossom Disinfecting Wipes, which won a 2026 GH Cleaning Award.
Remove Comforters, Duvets, and Decorative Bedding
While you can expect clean sheets in your hotel room, comforters, duvets, and decorative bedding (throw pillows and coverlets, for instance) are typically a different story. “It’s not uncommon that hotel comforters and duvets are left unwashed between guests. Whether to remove it from the bed entirely is up to you, but I definitely don’t recommend sleeping directly under it,” Pinsonnault says. He also suggests sleeping under the top sheet to avoid coming in contact a comforter or duvet that might not have been washed in a while.
Clean Glassware
Don’t make the mistake of drinking a beverage without washing the glass first. Of course, housekeepers are beyond busy, so chances are they might just give the glasses in your room a quick rinse before moving on to the next job. And who knows whether they sprayed them with some sort of cleaner? Simply wash them with soap and warm water before every use or stick to disposable cups if that’s your preference. This goes for ice buckets as well!
When a hotel takes cleanliness seriously, it makes for an enjoyable stay. Don’t be afraid to speak up if your hotel room fails to meet your standards. You deserve a clean, well-maintained room.
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand’s home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, “What’s in My Cart.”
Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com
