Some people say I’m a bit over the top when it comes to sanitation, but I just think they’re naive. Sure, I might over-sanitize a bit, but I’ve got good reasons to.
Over the October holiday, the hotels at Universal Studios Beijing became a trending topic on social media for all the wrong reasons.
One blogger checked in and exposed just how dirty an RMB 2,800 per night room at the Universal Grand Resort was. He left UV stamps on bedsheets, glasses in the bathroom, towels, and the toilet bowl only to find them still there after housekeeping had “cleaned” his room. This particular blogger’s niche is that he tests hotels and restaurants for their sanitation standards and, unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that a luxury hotel in Beijing has been exposed for subpar sanitation standards.
All of which strengthens my resolve for overzealous sanitizing. As an avowed germaphobe, whenever I travel anywhere I have a cleaning routine. Everything that feeds my obsession can be found on Taobao by scanning the QR code in the app.
Step 1: Sanitize
Before I unpack anything, I wipe down the entire room with alcohol wipes. I pay extra attention to the most commonly touched surfaces like door handles, the toilet, phones, and most importantly the remote.
Step 2: More sanitizing
For the fabric surfaces I have sprays and I never, ever use any decorative pillows. Sure, a silk embroidered pillow on the sofa might be gorgeous, but those can’t be washed and sanitized the same way as white linen. Essentially, whatever is on there from previous guests is still there.
Step 3: Towels
I’ve gotten much better about not traveling with my own set of towels, but I’ll still bring my own face towel just in case. I recently discovered disposable dehydrated towels that expand when you put them in water. They come in every size – face towels are about the size of a quarter and full-size bath towels are only the size of a hockey puck, which makes traveling with them both sanitary and simple.
Step 4: The kettle
I never use hot water kettles in hotels. They’re difficult to clean and I don’t know who’s previously used them, nor what they’ve been used to cook. So, I have a travel kettle that’s made of silicone and compresses into the size of a dinner plate.
Step 5: The bed
I know I’m a bit overboard with this, but it gives me peace of mind at night. I travel with my own travel sheets. They’re like a giant sleeping bag that also covers the pillow so I don’t have to ever come in contact with the bed if I don’t want to.
Am I a bit obsessive when it comes to hotel room sanitation? Definitely! But as someone who’s worked in hotels before and seen more than a fair share of horrendous messes left behind by guests, I’ve got good reason to be.
KEEP READING: Universal Studios’ Hotels: Which Is the More Family-Friendly Choice?
Images: TaoBao
