The coronavirus has shown us that things on vacation aren’t quite as clean and well-organized in regards to our health as we thought. That’s especially the case with cruise lines. COVID-19 has revealed that ships are frequently cited for health and sanitation violations which eventually contributed to the spread of this virus.
The good news in all this is that the travel industry is going to have to step up their sanitation game. Cleanliness will be the priority to lure people back into the world to stay in hotels, fly on airplanes, and go on cruise ships,
Everyone will be doing things to keep everything cleaner. Here are things you can do that will ensure you keep things clean so you can stay healthy while traveling.
Pack Hand Sanitizer and Antibacterial Wipes
The list of things you have to pack in your bag is quite long. Unfortunately, in the age of COVID-19, your list just got a little longer. To protect yourself from germs while you’re traveling, add hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes to your list.
Hand sanitizer enables you to keep your hands clean on the go when you don’t have access to a sink. Still, it can also double as a quick and easy way to clean surfaces when you spread it around with a paper towel or tissue.
Antibacterial wipes are the fastest way to keep surfaces clean. Portable wipes containers make it easy for you to wipe down your table before you sit down to dinner at a restaurant.
Wipe Down Your Seat on the Plane
The first step is to have hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. The next step is knowing what needs to be cleaned, especially when you’re on the plane. With the way, airplanes circulate the air and it gets filtered, 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns are removed – stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Airplane attendants will be doing what they can to keep things clean, but they have multiple seats to get to and have to wipe everything down in between every flight. It’s easy for spots to get overlooked, so it’s a good idea for you to do a bit of cleaning too.
Wipe down the tray table, the pocket behind the seat, and the hand rests. Wipe off any knobs or buttons, and bring a wipe with you when you go to the bathroom, so you don’t have to touch the door handle or the knobs on the sink.
Wipe Down the Rental Car
Most people know that there are spots on an airplane that are relatively dirty and need to be wiped down, but most people don’t think twice about their rental car.
Chances are, the interior of that car hasn’t been cleaned in a while! Use your wipes to clean the steering wheel and the buttons on the console. Wipe down armrests, especially in the passenger’s seat and backseat, if you’re traveling with others so they can stay clean too.
Know the Dirtiest Spots in a Hotel
When you get to your hotel room, don’t be tempted to collapse on the bed. Take a few minutes to clean things first. The dirtiest spots in your hotel room, and what you should do about them, include:
- Wipe off the remote
- Wipe lamp and light switches
- Wash the drinking glasses yourself if you want to use them
- Throw the comforter or the duvet in the closet
Wash Your Clothes
Although it’s still not certain how long COVID-19 can remain on clothing, other types of germs certainly can, so it’s not a bad idea to clean your clothes.
Bring a laundry bag so you can keep dirty clothes separated from your clean clothes, and bring along a little laundry detergent. When you want to wash your clothes, ask the front desk if you can use their laundry facilities, or ask if housekeeping would be willing to do a load for you.
Wash Your Hands
One of the best ways to keep yourself healthy and safe is to make sure you wash your hands frequently. Always wash your hands after you’re done using the bathroom. Still, you should also wash your hands before you eat at every meal—scrub between your fingers, underneath your fingernails, and your wrists.
Having hand sanitizer can help if you don’t have access to a sink, but you should also avoid touching your face. It’s the easiest way for germs to get transferred from a surface to your nose or eye as you scratch a quick itch.
Bottom Line
There are a lot of things the vacation industry is doing to make sure things are clean, healthy, and safe when people return to airplanes and hotel rooms. Still, there are plenty of things you can do too. That way, you can make sure you enjoy your vacation without worrying about getting sick.
What is the risk of getting coronavirus on a plane?
Viruses and other bacteria doesn’t not spread quickly on airplanes dues to how the air is circulated and filtered on airplanes. Even the risk is low, but travelers should avoid sick passengers, and wash hands frequently for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol.
What if my face gets itchy?
Don’t touch your face, mouth, or eyes without washing your hands. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and warm water or hand sanitizer that has 60-95% alcohol.
What is the safest seat on an airplane?
If the airplane is crowded, you won’t have much choice in avoiding other passengers. Always try to seat somewhere most distant from other travelers.
Should I wear a face mask on an airplane?
Even though airplanes have great air filtration that removes 99.7% of viruses and bacteria, face masks will help prevent your fellow travelers to cough or spray repository droplets on to your face.
