Research Shows TV Remote Has Most Germs In A Hotel Room

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- If you're planning to stay in a hotel this summer, a new study that suggests you might want to bring the disinfectant.

The study found one of the most contaminated surfaces in hotel rooms was: The television remote. It's right up there in bacteria levels with the toilet and bathroom sink.

The American Society for Microbiology sampled 19 surfaces in nine different hotel rooms across three states. They tested the mop, sponge and glove from housekeepers' carts and surfaces in the room for general aerobic bacteria as well as bacteria that comes from feces.

Consistently, the mops and sponges were the two highest areas sampled in the room. The researchers also found high levels of bacteria on toilets and bathroom sinks, which wasn't that surprising.

But they also found high levels of contaminants on television remotes and switches on bedside lamps. A doctor with the study blames it on being difficult to clean. Germs get into the nooks and crannies.

If you eat in the same area as the TV remote and you spread food, it gives the organisms a chance to grow.

The least contaminated areas were the headboards on the bed, curtain rods and the bathroom door handle. The researchers didn't test to see if the bacteria caused infections disease, so it's unclear if a guest might get sick.