Hidden Nasties in Hotel Rooms: 11 Items That May Need Bacteria Removal

April 15, 2016

When staying at a hotel, people expect to stay in a clean room. Many will even make sure that the toilets have a sign indicating they have been disinfected. What most don't know is that a recent study, led by the University of Houston and presented at the American Society of Microbiology, confirmed that there are certain items in hotel rooms that are dirtier than toilets. TV remote controls, bedside lamp switches, telephones, alarm clocks, and other objects are magnets for bacteria beyond our vision! The most disturbing part of the discovery was that some items used to clean, like sponges and mops, were highly contaminated, meaning that there may be a high degree of cross-contamination in hotel rooms.

Contaminated items in hotel rooms are a source of bacteria, viruses, and pests that can be responsible for the transmission of illness during outbreaks in hotels, especially for those who may have a weak immune system and are already more susceptible to infection. Studies have shown that the bacteria levels in hotel rooms are 2 to 10 times higher than the levels accepted in hospitals. Of course, hotel rooms don't need to be as clean as hospitals, and the presence of bacteria is not a guarantee that people will get sick, but it is something we should keep an eye on. Below are the items that hotel managers should look for.

Item 1: Remote Controls
According to the studies, the dirtiest item in a hotel room is the TV's remote control. It registered sky-high levels of bacteria, 498 being the highest reading measured. One sample even revealed colonies of E. coli, indicating fecal contamination on the remote control. This was probably because the guest used the restroom and didn't wash their hands.

Item 2: Bedside Light Switches
The second most germ-infested items were the bedside light switches. These are probably never cleaned. Let's face it, how many times have you cleaned your light switches? Just like you, hotel maids don't clean them either.

Item 3: Telephones
Phones are also teeming with bacteria. An analysis found that an average phone had 18 times more bacteria on it than the flush handle on a men's room toilet. Imagine that the guest before you had a cold and used the telephone to ask for room service to order a soup. Since the telephone is not a normal surface for maids to clean, when you use it, you will be picking up more than your messages.

Items 4-6: Water Glasses, Coffee Mugs and Ice Buckets
Normally maids just rinse the glasses and mugs, and others use the same cloth they used to clean the rest of the room. How gross can that be?

Items 7-9: The Decorative Bedspread, Throws, and Cushions
The bed is supposed to be the cleanest thing in hotel rooms. The truth is that while most hotel rooms change the blankets on a daily basis, some items like the bedspreads, pillows, the extra blanket in the closet, and cushions are left out.

Items 10-11: Sponges and Mops
Sponges and mops on hotel housekeepers' carts are also highly contaminated. The worst part is that maids clean the toilet with a sponge, and then they go and clean the counter, other items, and other rooms with that same sponge. This represents a high risk of cross-contamination.

Germinator can turn contaminated hotel rooms into a hygienic environment that every guest will love to stay in. It's straightforward and our patent-pending process goes as follows.

Germinator's Patent-Pending Process

Germinator has developed a patent-pending process that provides a new generation of microbial protection for commercial businesses and residents.

Germinator's patent-pending methodology is the most unique and cost-effective means of providing enhanced antimicrobial protection for businesses and residences. The company first tests surfaces for ATP using a luminometer to detect light that can come from cellular activity. This measurement immediately provides the level of clean on a surface.

The next step is the application of Germinator's Genesis surface treatment. Genesis is a one-step cleaner and broad-spectrum sanitizer and disinfectant treatment that harnesses the power of hypochlorous acid (HOCl). Derived from naturally occurring minerals, Genesis not only eliminates odors at their source but kills a wide range of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and viruses including norovirus, rotavirus, and adenovirus on hard, non-porous, environmental surfaces. It meets the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) germicidal spray standards for Hospital Grade Disinfection and is on the EPA's N List of products determined to meet the criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As a result, this treatment will eliminate bacteria and viruses that may reside in your environment without the use of harsh chemicals or fumes.

Following Genesis, Germinator applies its Shield, a water-based quaternary ammonium compound that imparts a durable bacteriostatic finish. It is EPA-registered as effective against mold, mildew, algae, and odor-causing bacteria. This application creates an invisible barrier that helps combat deterioration and discoloration and promotes freshness for up to three months.

The Genesis and Shield products are applied by using an electrostatic sprayer, which is the most efficient and effective means of delivering the products to the intended application sites. After Germinator's surface treatment and protectant services, the company retests ATP levels to help ensure the surfaces have achieved the intended results.

Our goal is to create a more comfortable environment for you, your family, and your co-workers. Call us today at 855-NO-GERMZ (664-3769) or fill out the form below to schedule a bacteria removal service with Germinator!