August 2, 2024

3 Dirtiest Hotel Areas with More Germs Than a Toilet Flush

When your guests check in, they expect a clean, comfortable space to rest and unwind. However, times have changed, and they are now more discerning about cleanliness. Guests can now tell if your hotel is really spotless or if your hotel hygiene is only scratching the surface.

With recent studies on tourist expectations for good hygiene practices and the growing potential of our tourism sector, Malaysia should take note. In this blog, we’ll explore the three germ-prone hotel areas and discuss how the hospitality industry is on the verge of reinventing itself.

The Pandemic Changed the Game in Hotel Disinfection

The COVID-19 pandemic has completely altered the norm in hotel disinfection protocols. As a result, travellers have developed post-pandemic habits of frequent disinfection and sanitation, being more vigilant about hidden germs and bacteria on everyday surfaces.

In response, the hospitality industry has been compelled to adopt more rigorous cleaning measures as guests now demand cleaning standards that far exceed the pre-pandemic norm.

No longer satisfied with basic cleanliness, travellers expect visible, thorough disinfection practices, such as frequent cleaning of common areas, readily available sanitisers, and a guaranteed sense of safety during their stays.

Tourist Behaviour and Expectations that Hoteliers Need to Know

This shift is reflected in a 2022 study on post-pandemic travel behaviour, which reveals tourists’ positive attitudes towards good hygiene practices, social distancing, and sustainability,

Here’s a breakdown of the research findings:

Preference for Less Crowded Destinations: More than half of the participants reported that they prefer visiting less crowded places to maintain social distancing.
Environmental-Centric Behaviour: 41.2% of post-COVID-19 tourists have a more respectful attitude towards the environment.
Focus on Stringent Hygiene: 39.2% of tourists are more mindful of disinfection and hygiene in tourist establishments.

In a nutshell, travellers are more attracted to hotels and resorts that focus on responsible tourism. They prefer accommodations with high hygiene standards and clear eco-friendly practices. Hospitality businesses that fail to meet these standards risk their reputation and viability, especially as the industry is bracing for an overhaul.

With this shift comes increased awareness. More and more tourists are informed about the potential for germs, viruses, and other harmful pathogens in hotels. So why shouldn’t you be?

How Dirty Hotels Can Be? You’ll Be Surprised!

A 2020 research article revealed shocking findings about the germ levels on commonly touched hotel surfaces. The study found that common touchpoints are dirtier than toilet flushes, toilet seats, and other surfaces you’d expect to be filthier.

Researchers collected swab samples from high-touch areas, such as elevator buttons and door handles, in hotels of different star ratings. These samples were analysed for colony-forming units (CFUs), which indicate the number of germs based on the number of colonies.

And the results were indeed eye-opening! Hotel elevator buttons averaged nearly 150,000 CFUs per square inch, compared to just 30 CFUs on a toilet flush—making elevator buttons 737x dirtier. Door handles had even higher counts with 186,168 CFUs per square inch.

Does a Higher Star Rating Mean Better Hygiene Practices?

If you’re paying more to stay in a fancier hotel, is it more hygienic? Surprisingly, not always—and it might be worse than you expect.

The same researchers found that higher-star hotels had more germs on common surfaces. The average 5-star hotel elevator button had 7 times more germs than a 4-star button and nearly 1,000 times more than a 3-star button. Similarly, door handles at 4-star hotels had more bacteria than those at lower-rated hotels.

Luxury hotels typically have higher occupancy rates, meaning surfaces are touched more frequently by travellers from around the world. Even with higher ratings for cleanliness, the influx of guests can undo some of your housekeeping efforts.

So even in a 5-star hotel, don’t let your guard down.

The 3 Germiest Hotel Surfaces Filtier Than You Expect

Now that we have covered how dirty hotels can be, let’s discuss the three hotel areas that harbour more germs than commonly known dirty objects.

1. Light Switches

According to this source, light switches have 112 CFU, while a toilet flush handle has only 30 CFUs, making switching the lights 4x dirtier than flushing the toilet.

💡Expert Insight: Light switches are touched multiple times a day by different people. The problem however stems from how light switches are often missed by your housekeeping staff during their rounds.

2. Hotel Door Knobs

Hotel doorknobs are 33 times more contaminated than an average dog’s chew toy, with 186,000 CFUs compared to the toy’s 5,559 CFUs.

💡Expert Insight: Doorknobs in hotel rooms and common areas are high-touch surfaces that many guests handle upon entering and exiting. Like switches, the constant use by multiple individuals, combined with infrequent cleaning, allows germs to accumulate rapidly.

3. Elevator Buttons

Elevator buttons have 149,000 CFUs, whereas a toilet seat has only 172 CFUs. It’s yucky to imagine but pressing these buttons is basically touching the toilet seat 737 times.

💡Expert Insight: Elevator buttons are touched by nearly every guest and staff member. Because they are in a confined space with limited airflow, germs can easily transfer from one person to another.

Time to Reinvent Your Hospitality Hygiene

As post-pandemic travels increase, the tourism and hospitality industry are expected to grow exponentially. This could mean revenue opportunities, but it’s crucial to recognize the evolving expectations of your guests. Today’s travellers are more cautious about germs and more conscious of environmental impacts.

Thankfully, advanced technologies and techniques are becoming more and more accessible. Leading environmental service providers now offer state-of-the-art professional hygiene solutions tailored to Malaysian businesses aiming to step up their game.

Germ-Free Hotel Space is Possible with PestBusters

As an expert in pest control and hygiene solutions, PestBusters Malaysia proudly offers professional services for hotels and resorts looking for effective and sustainable ways to improve guest satisfaction.

We provide Surface Shield Disinfection, a non-toxic surface coating that transforms everyday surfaces into self-disinfecting barriers, offering protection against 99.9% of viruses and harmful pathogens. Our customisable formulas provide long-lasting protection for 30, 60, 90, 180, or even up to 365 days.

There’s also our HydroCare | ECA Hygiene Solution that converts salt and tap water into a powerful, all-purpose solution for sanitation, disinfection, and cleaning. This eco-friendly approach saves the environment from toxic cleaners and saves you money in the long run.