If you’re planning on staying in a hotel while on vacation this summer, a new report says the “germiest” spots in the room are in some very surprising places.  

Fox News is reporting that of all the places where germs can hide in the typical hotel room –  toilet seats, sinks, mattresses, and rugs – the most contaminated items are actually light switches and TV remotes.

According to Jay Neal, a microbiologist from the University of Houston who supervised the study, researchers took bacteria samples from items found in hotel rooms located in three regions of the United States – Texas, Indiana and North Carolina. Surprisingly, the highest levels of bacterial contamination were found on the TV remote and the switch on the bedside lamp.

Katie Kirsch, a student who performed the research under Neal’s supervision, said even higher levels of contamination were found on the maid’s mop and sponge. This is concerning because it means bacteria is being carried from room to room.

Separate testing was done to detect cloriform bacteria, which is found in feces and is more likely to cause illness. Both tests showed that bacteria levels in hotel rooms were between 2 to 10 times higher than the levels accepted in hospitals. 

The lowest levels of bacteria were found on the headboard, curtain rods and bathroom door handle.

Granted, hotel rooms aren’t required to have their rooms “ready for surgery,” Neal says, but the study certainly showed that some improvements are necessary.

Travelers can avoid contamination by packing and using antiseptic wipes frequently during their stay in a hotel room.  Use them on the remote, light switches, toilet seat and sink surfaces frequently during a stay, when first arriving and after each housekeeping visit.

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