Do you know if your hotel room is as clean as it looks? Many of us view staying in a hotel as something special, a night away from our normal dwellings, maybe even somewhere exciting and new. Most hotels offer crisp white sheets, fluffy pillows, and plush towels that have become synonymous with travel and luxurious digs. These fine threads always look so clean and pristine. However, according to a study by Clean Safety First, three-quarters of hotel beds fail to meet "acceptable hygiene standards."

So why do hotels look so clean when they're not? Many things can be at play here. While it's practically mandatory for bed linens and towels to be changed between guests, items like bedspreads, decorative pillows, cushions, blankets, and curtains are not cleaned as regularly. Though they may be covered in freshly laundered sheets and pillowcases, the mattresses and pillows underneath may themselves be stained and dingy.

Allergens In Hotel Rooms -

Despite all the cleaning faux pas when it comes to hotel rooms, another annoying culprit of ruined vacations everywhere is allergies. Dealing with allergies is already a hassle in and of itself. Add hotel room allergies to the list, and the fun of your vacation or hotel stay might be completely extinguished. The opportunity for allergens to thrive in hotel rooms is essentially boundless.

Bed bugs can hitch a ride from guest to guest and infect the mattresses, headboards, pillows, and other upholstered items in your hotel room. Dust mites feed off the many diverse offerings provided by guests that build up within the mattresses and pillows themselves. And let's not forget about airborne pollutants like mold, pollen, and dander (if the resort is pet-friendly or there's a transfer from previous guests).

You could also succumb to the very dry and arid climate of hotel rooms due to their central heating and cooling systems. These systems are great for providing a level of comfort during the most drastic seasonal weather temperatures, but they often dry out the air they treat. This leaves you with dry, scratchy throats and mouths, chapped lips, and parched skin. Not to mention a higher risk of getting sick thanks to dried-out mucus membranes.

Dust Mites In Hotel Rooms -

The soft and cushy furnishings inside hotel rooms are the perfect breeding ground for dust mites. Dust mites are tiny arachnid-like bugs that aren’t visible to the human eye. Many people across the world can co-exist happily with dust mites, but for others like allergy, asthma, and eczema sufferers, they can be a trigger. The warm environment of many hotel rooms, combined with the near-constant supply of dead skin cells from guests, creates perfect conditions for these creepy creatures to thrive and multiply.

Dust mites are most often found in pillows, mattresses, couches, and other upholstered furniture. Despite the fact that they don’t bite, they can still trigger allergy symptoms. Moreover, you could have a reaction to their secretion or feces that results in a host of unwanted symptoms. These include but are not limited to sneezing, wheezing, runny and stuffy noses, exacerbated eczema, and even asthma attacks.

To help combat the effects of dust mites in hotel rooms, we recommend the following tips:

  • Invest in quality dust mite proof Mattress Covers and Pillow Covers with zippered protection to prevent bed bugs from escaping and causing you unwanted allergy symptoms
  • Consider investing in a set of travel Dust Mite Covers to bring with you to hotels that may not provide these services, though some hotels may take this extra step, so do your research
  • If you want to take things a step further, you could also consider purchasing a Portable Ultra-Violet Dust Mite Vacuum to destroy and suck away dust mites
  • For longer visits or extended stay hotels that let you wash your own sheets, you could use a Dust Mite Laundry Detergent made for cleansing dust mites from linens

Bed Bugs In Hotel Rooms -

The most infamous of all hotel creepy-crawlies has got to be the dreaded bed bug. Why are bed bugs so commonly associated with hotel stays? Mostly because guests tend to deposit their suitcases and luggage directly onto the bed upon entering their room. These critters may have been permanent hitchhikers of the previous guest, or they could have copped a ride during travel. Either way, it's bad news for you.

Bed bugs love to live in mattresses, headboards, box springs, bed frames, and other upholstered furniture. Not only do these little nasties deliver severely itchy and troublesome bites, but they are also prone to following you home. Because of this, many travelers who have become infected have had to dispose of all their traveled with belongings, which can be quite a costly affair. Added to that is the fact that they are notoriously difficult to eradicate once you've got them.

Here are some tips and tricks to help keep bed bugs from infecting your vacation and your home:

  • Do your due diligence. Research and read reviews of the hotel, air B&B, or hostel you're staying at beforehand to see if they have had any instances of bed bugs before
  • Before even setting your luggage onto the floor of your hotel room, perform a bed bug sweep of the entire room. There are numerous videos online for the best way to go about this
  • Once you've determined the coast is clear, only then should you allow your luggage and belongings inside the room
  • Go an extra step and bring your own Bed Bug Proof Mattress & Pillow Protectors to keep any stragglers off you and your belongings

    • Airborne Allergens In Hotel Rooms -

    Allergy season is a large cause of allergens tracked into hotel rooms, but there are other causes of airborne allergens in your home away from home. Some hotels offer pet-friendly rooms that allow both cats and dogs. While some rooms may be better equipped for pets, others still have traditional carpets and fabric furniture that can hold onto pet dander. In addition, overused HVAC filters can cause reintroduction of allergens in the air, and a leaky shower head could cause mold and mildew in the shower.

    For all of these reasons and more, it's important to prioritize your health and well-being before you ever enter the hotel room. Doing a few minutes worth of research on the hotel you're staying at could yield a wealth of information on cleaning practices, guest services, and more. This will help you determine if the hotel is up to snuff for your allergy requirements or if you need to keep looking. Lastly, some hotels take allergies very seriously and offer specific hypoallergenic and allergy-friendly rooms. It's worth looking into if you or a loved one suffers from severe allergies or asthma.

    Hacks to make your hotel stay an allergy-free one:

    • Remove bedspreads, blankets, and cushions as these can harbor dirt, dust mites, dander, and other debris since they are not laundered as frequently as the linens
    • Request a pet-free, non-smoking room ahead of time so you don’t end up exposing yourself to second-hand smoke fumes and pet dander that could aggravate asthma, respiratory issues, and allergies
    • Bring a Portable Air Purifier to remove any other airborne contaminates that could be lurking in the air. Hotels are notorious for being poorly ventilated, and furnishes and fixtures can leave lingering VOCs in the air from off-gassing
    • If you suffer from multiple chemical sensitivities, then we recommend bringing a Quality Face Mask with you in case you start to feel symptoms. Chemical cleaning products could have been used prior to your stay
    • Bring your own Allergy-Friendly Toiletries if you have a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis; products provided by the hotel will usually have fragrances and additives that could aggravate your condition
    • Always perform a check before bringing your luggage into the room. Check for moldy smells, damp spots, and bed bugs. Be sure to ask for a new room if you find anything out of place
    • Consider finding an allergy-friendly hotel that offers dedicated hypoallergenic or allergy-friendly rooms. They often come with an air purifier and use only allergy-safe cleaning products
    • Bring a Portable Humidifier to combat dry and stagnant hotel air. Hotels are known for having recycled air that can dry out your skin, hair, and nails
    • Use an All-Natural Allergy Spray to fight bugs and airborne allergens, and anything lurking on the surface of upholstered furniture and bedding