Why everything in hotels seems clean, but isn't actually clean - the whole truth about cleaning

Many people consider hotels to be places of comfort, cleanliness, and coziness. Snow-white bed linens, shining sinks, and scented air create an illusion of perfect hygiene. But behind this external neatness may hide a not-so-pleasant truth.

In reality, room cleaning doesn't always meet sanitary standards. In many hotels, especially budget or mid-range ones, staff works under strict time and resource constraints. This means that cleaners often don't disinfect surfaces but simply wipe them with a damp cloth - the same one for the entire room.

Some of the dirtiest items in hotels are TV remotes, light switches, phones, and door handles. They are almost never treated with disinfectants. Bed linens are frequently changed only upon request or after several stays, especially if they look "visually clean".

Towels are sometimes folded back even if they've already been used. And glasses in the bathroom may simply be rinsed with water and wiped with a towel that was used for other purposes.

Most often, problems arise not from malicious intent but from lack of time and excessive workload on staff. One maid may service up to 20 rooms per day, with no more than 10-15 minutes for each.

Among the alarming facts is that some mattresses and pillows haven't been changed for years. They can be breeding grounds for bacteria, dust mites, and allergens.

Five stars don't always guarantee perfect cleanliness. Even in elite hotels, mistakes are possible, especially if staff turnover is frequent and supervision is merely formal.

To protect themselves, many experienced travelers advise carrying antiseptics, not using hotel glasses, and carefully inspecting the bed. Some even prefer to bring their own towel and pillowcase.

Perfect cleanliness doesn't exist even in the most expensive hotels. But knowing this, one can be more careful and more consciously approach such seemingly small details.