Travel expert says you must check TV remote the moment you enter a hotel room

Always check the television remote as soon as you enter a hotel room.

Those are words of wisdom from Andrea Platania, a travel expert at Transfeero, who has spoken to waiters, receptionists, cleaners and chefs working in the hospitality sector to compile a list of the cleanliness dos and don'ts for hotel stays.

There’s one item in the room that’s been touched by every guest before you and almost never gets cleaned properly. The humble TV remote. “Think about it. Housekeeping staff may change the sheets, empty the bins and wipe the bathroom, but the TV remote often gets overlooked. Yet it’s one of the most handled objects in the room," Andrea said.

Experts recommend giving it a quick wipe with an antibacterial wipe before use or simply slipping it inside a clear plastic bag. It might sound excessive, but when you consider how many people touch it without washing their hands, the logic checks out.

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Time Magazineonce investigated the topic and found that the single dirtiest item in the hotel rooms was the remote, which delivered bacteria readings as high as 498 — five times the acceptable level.

On the Reddit forum Life Hacks, one user suggested a solution to the problem of germ-ridden remotes. "Use the bag from the ice bucket to cover it so you don’t have to touch it," they advised.

In the comments below, others were concerned by the prospect of a slightly icky controller. One person wrote: "Or not be paranoid about a few germs." Another suggested: "Yeah, I've got a better life hack for these people... therapy."

If you are concerned about such things, then kettles may be worth your attention, albeit for different reasons. While most guests assume everything is spotless, kettles are rarely checked thoroughly by housekeeping.

“There have been cases where guests have put things inside kettles that should never be there. I’ve heard of everything from socks to much worse. Unless you want your morning tea tasting like regret, always check before boiling.”

And it’s not just the kettle that needs a second look. Platania warns that minibars can also hide unpleasant surprises.

“A hotel worker once told me a guest urinated into a minibar bottle, screwed the cap back on, and left it there. The next person opened it thinking they’d found a refreshing drink,” he revealed.

For that reason, the expert recommends making sure the seals on all minibar bottles are intact before taking a sip.

“If the seal looks tampered with, avoid it. It’s not worth the risk. Buy your drinks at the bar instead, so that at least you know what you’re getting.”