Museum of Science and Industry

Hooray, it’s summer vacation time! After a day packed with sightseeing, fun in the sun, and huge meals in a new and exciting place, it always feels great to flop down on the hotel bed and flip on the TV. But wait! You may have just touched the dirtiest, germiest thing in the room!

In a small preliminary study, scientists tested surfaces in hotel rooms to identify places that bacteria love to hide out. Some top spots were pretty obvious, like toilets and bathroom sinks, but remote controls and bedside light switches also ranked high on their list. The hope is that once more studies like this are completed, we will be able to improve housekeeping procedures and minimize contamination. For now, you might want to wash those hands before digging into the minibar snacks!

The Most Contaminated Surfaces in Hotel Rooms [American Society for Microbiology] via ScienceShot

Image: Toilet Monster Vinyl Decal by RemarkableWalls