Hygiene on holiday, what do you look for? Most people are observant when entering a washroom especially in the presence or absence of visible dirt and whether it smells good. Don't be fooled if it looks neat and smells fresh. That does not necessarily mean that you are actually in a hygienically clean toilet.
Prevent yourself from getting sick on holiday with our tips!
On a bacteria safari in Guadeloupe
If you go on holiday to the Caribbean, you can be in for a big surprise. Scientists have found a bacterium in the mangrove forest that is visible to the naked eye. The Thiomargarita magnifica is 2 centimeters long, making it the largest bacterium ever discovered. Source: NOS
5 tips for good hygiene while travelling
In this article we give 5 tips with which you can outsmart bacteria and viruses at your holiday destination. For good hygiene on holiday. Wherever you go.
- Have clean toilet seat
- Remove germs from your hands
- Avoid unnecessary contact
- Mind the toilet roll!
- Don't just use your nose
Tip 1: Provide a clean toilet seat
Did you know that holidaymakers fear toilet seats in a public toilet the most? Not unusual, because 1 in 3 toilet seats contain pathogens.
Lower toilet seat with your foot
Many people avoid contact with their hands and, for example, use their foot to lower the seat. These kinds of crazy antics are really not necessary optimal hygiene practices on holiday. There are other ways to ensure a hygienically clean toilet seat when traveling.
Toilet hygiene on the road is in your own hands
When entering the toilet cubicle, look around you for a toilet seat cleaner dispenser. Especially in Slovakia and Germany you often see a vending machine with a toilet seat cleaner.
A little liquid on a piece of toilet paper and you can clean the toilet seat yourself in no time. A lot more environmentally friendly than covering the entire seat with paper. And just to be on the safe side, don't forget to bring your own antibacterial wipes if there is no dispenser available.
Tip 2: Get rid of germs on hands
Wash your hands as best you can, for at least 20 seconds, with soap. Always take a mini bottle of disinfectant hand gel with you when you travel. Wet wipes are also very handy to have on hand. Next, wash hands with soap. Drying hands is at least as important for good hygiene on holiday.
Use a cotton roll towel dispenser
We prefer to dry our hands by using a towel dispenser with cotton. And that's a good thing. With a cotton towel (or paper) you remove almost 3x as many bacteria than when you dry them with hot air. Additionally, you prevent further spread in the immediate vicinity.
In Italy you will find many old air dryers to dry your hands. Fortunately, you see more and more dispensers and vending machines with a sensor for contactless use in restaurants. Especially in Poland and Slovenia, because they love innovations there.
Tip 3: Avoid unnecessary contact
Avoid unnecessary physical contact as we have learned from Covid. This improves hygiene on holiday and reduces the risk of transmitting germs from one person to another.
Can you imagine someone clumsily maneuvering with a piece of paper in hand to avoid any contact with door handles, flush knobs and taps?
Don't laugh, because after reading the next paragraph you will do it yourself!
1 in 4 taps contains unhealthy bacteria
One in 4 taps and flush knobs contain an unhealthy dose of bacteria. With door handles, 1 in 20 is too dirty to touch. Not everyone washes their hands properly with soap. Did you know that some even pretend? The tap is then opened and closed again without having touched a drop of water or soap. Therefore, avoid unnecessary contact. And if possible, choose a toilet room with sensor taps
Tip 4: Watch the toilet roll!
Check the paper in hotel toilet paper holders: is it on the wall? Where is the spare roll located? This gives a good idea of what happened to the roll you are about to use.
Is there spare stock nearby?
If the reserve stock is open and near the toilet, chances are it has a lot of bacteria on it. A loose roll is less hygienic anyway than a roll (and spare roll) that is in a closed dispenser. So take a look and make sure that you always have paper tissues at hand to guarantee hygiene on holiday.
Tip 5: Don't just use your nose
Odour influences opinions about the hygienic condition of a toilet. If it smells like flowers, the general experience will be that we are in a fresh and clean toilet. But a fresh scent says nothing about the number of bacteria on the toilet seat, door handle or faucet. Therefore, limit contact and wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
With these tips for good hygiene on holiday, you will be better prepared for foreign toilet adventures. Happy Holidays!
