Potential hotel guests may be surprised to know that the bathroom floor or the toliet is not the dirtiest place in a hotel room. According to expert travel site, Alpine Elements, there is a surprising item that you may not consider to be full of bacterial activity but it can be a hive for the single-celled organisms.
The unlikely television remote quite often is overlooked as a potential source of bacteria and it is also frequently missed by hotel room cleaners. While staff routinely clean bathrooms, make beds and vacuum floors, the remote is often forgotton about or only lightly wiped down.
A spokesman from the website said: “The TV remote control is consistently ranked as one of the most contaminated items in hotel rooms. Multiple guests handle it every day, and it’s rarely disinfected properly between stays.”
A study found that remote controls in hotel rooms contain more bacteria than bathroom handles or light switches — sometimes harbouring over 70 baterial different strains, including E. coli. And unlike visible messes like dirty sheets or stains, germs on a remote aren’t obvious.
“It’s a small item that staff may forget or be told not to deep-clean because of time limits,” explained the spokesman. “But that’s exactly why it becomes a hotspot for contamination.”
It’s not just limited to remotes — other small objects such as light switches, door handles, kettle buttons, and bedside phones often get the same rushed treatment or missed altogether. This makes these items potential hot spots for bacteria as well and future guests should be aware of these hazards.
Pathogens found on hotel remotes and other frequently touched items includes E. coli which can cause stomach bugs, Staphylococcus aureus which can affect the skin and Pseudomonas which is associated with infections affecting the eyes or respiratory system.
Norovirus is another type of bacteria that can breed on these surfaces and is known as the winter vomitting disease. Norovirus infection is characterized by nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and in some cases, loss of taste.
While not all bacteria are harmful, specialists warn that guests with weakened immune systems, allergies or young children should be especially cautious. Alpine Elements recommends bringing disinfectant wipes to the hotel and using them plus washing your hands before eating. Putting the remote inside a clear sandwich bag is also another good trick to avoid getting sick and they advised not taking cleaning for granted. Even five-star hotels can miss details on occasion.
Charlotte Jenkins, 45, from Bristol, told Alpine Elements that she always travels with wipes after a previous bad experience.
She said: “I once turned on the TV and the remote was sticky — it was disgusting. Now I always clean it first thing.”
Some hotels have begun placing remotes in disposable sleeves themselves or offering sanitised versions. But many, especially budget hotels, still don’t prioritise it.
“It’s not that hotels don’t care — it’s that these items are easy to overlook during fast room turnarounds,” said the Alpine Elements spokesman. “But travellers can take small steps to protect themselves.”