This is truly disgusting....so why am I laughing as I read it?

On that same CBS or Dateline investigation, it told of fecal matter being found on the seats of movie theaters from people returning from the toilets without washing their hands. You have to know if it's found on those seats, it is also on all fabric seats everywhere. It just proves that the best way we can keep ourselves healty is by frequent handwashing. When in a public place keep your hands away from your mouth and eyes and wash your hands often. And now that I've read this forum, I'll probably start carrying Lysol!

Thanks, this thread is sure helping me stick to my diet, I didn't want to eat lunch anyway....

Chelsie...if you're really serious about this here are some suggestions...bring along a small (they have a travel size) can of Lysol and a package of antibacterial wipes...open the window in your room if it's possible...call housekeeping and ask them to bring a fresh set of sheets, extra blankets, and pillows...have them remove the bedspread during your stay...spray the bed, pillows, sheets and blankets with Lysol and remake the bed...you can also spray any of the surfaces in the room including the bathroom area...the antibacterial wipes are good for the bathroom area...I have a friend who does this on every trip he takes (yes, he)...he also can't stand walking on the carpet barefooted after a shower so he brings flip flops...it may not be a chore people want to perform especially on vacation, but it may help you.

Can you spell OCD?

Of course, I always put the bedspread in the closet. Ever notice how hotel bedspreads always sport busy patterns -- the better to hide all the stains!

And, A, I don't need statistics to know that I don't want a funky bedspread next to my bod!

maybe these bedspreads are so dirty because some of you keep throwing them on the floor?!

Chelsie, I'm with you. I saw that news report and it was totally disgusting. I travel a lot and I'm not a snob, but WHY would I put that filthy spread anywhere near my face and nose when I now know what is on it? Towles, sheets and washcloths get cleaned, but those spreads are just put back on the bed after each guest (and not just in the "roach motels"). I put it on the floor, and "whoknows" (above) sorry to inform you, but putting the spread on the floor is NOT how they get dirty.

I used to be pretty picky about cleanliness when traveling, until I saw a documentary on Afghan refugee camps and witnessed the condition women and children lived in: on the dirt floor in make-shift tents, dirty drinking water, no food or medical care. I was humbled and ashamed that I am so "spoiled". The human body can withstand a lot more than we give it credit for.

I really understand your concerns, but some of you are going overboard. If you're going to be so fanatical about this, I suggest you pack your own linens, mattress pads, blankets, pillows and towels to take with you. For that matter, sounds like some of you would be better off buying Winnebagos and sleeping in them instead of hotels and motels.

And for those of you that go swimming in hotel and public pools, chlorine doesn't kill all the bacteria. And for those of you that like to go into hot tubs, saunas and whirlpools, all bacteria is not killed by heat. What do you do when you go swimming in the lakes and the oceans?

Sounds like some of you need to live like the Bubble Boy.

Dear Chelsie

Thank you for bringing up the subject. First of all I think it is apparent that everyone who reads this forum enjoys traveling. We are all consumers when we travel. We all want to have a great vacation for a great price. Would any of you pay your hard earned money to put your face or any other part of your body in some elses body secretions? The answer I hope is no!!!!! Yet, we have all experienced watching the maid throw the blankets on the floor and then place it back on the bed. I do not use the blanket either. My husband and I went on a trip to New England in September. We were gone for 11 days. We stayed at nice hotels. On the second night of the trip I pulled back the blanket in my "nice room" and noted body fluids and hair on the sheets. I was furious. They moved us to a new room. This taught me a lesson 1) when you check into a hotel get your room key and go check it out 2)check to make sure the sheets have been changed 3)make sure when you set down on the bed you don't fall in the center of the black hole 4)make sure the towels are clean. I have to admit I have a sense of humor on somethings. Like the night I had to hang my leg over the bed to keep from falling in the above noted black hole. Experiencing these things diffently sharpens the learning curve. Maybe some of the hotel owners out there will take notice and start washing their blankets. No need for the NASA SPACE SUITS YET. Down with the COOTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace, Robbie

Maggi, I'm not clear on why you were "humbled and ashamed" after seeing the documentary on Afghan refugees and their conditions. Aren't you aware that in camps like that, for lack of hygiene, people die in droves of communicable diseases like dysentery?

"For those of you that go swimming in hotel and public pools..." Ha! I haven't been swimming in a public pool in 20 years or more!

DON'T GO OUTSIDE!!!! GERMS!!!!!!!! THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!

Chelsie,

How about the door knobs, light switches, REMOTE CONTROLs, video tape cases, the bathroom floor, shower floors/curtains, toilet handles, mints near the cash register in restaurants, your shoes (when you come home from being out in public), telephones, MAC machines, buffets, gas pumps, menu's, etc...

I am always cautious about all of these things. There are many more, but I thought I would share just a few.

Go out and enjoy it all, but just be mindful.

Ellen,
What I meant was, here I am worrying about germs on a bedspread, where there are people in the world sleeping on the ground with not so much as a bed, let alone a bedspread. I hardly think anyone has died from germs on a bedspread. My comment was not meant to be critical, because I have been overly concerned myself. But I am trying to "get over it".

We ALWAYS rip the disgusting hotel comforter off the bed and put it on the floor in the corner! We have found so much dirt, including blood, and probably other body fluids on the underside of them- anyone can see the dirt if they just pull them down halfway and look! But because we do get cold, we now bring our own, clean duvet to use. It's a little piece of home and makes us feel cleaner. We travel a lot by car, so we use an older duvet that can handle the trips. Maybe this will help. Just wanted you to know that others are as concerned about germ-infested comforters, and the hotel industry should be ashamed for using unwashable comforters that are filthy!

Gee, maybe the $450-650 per night I spend on hotel rooms is worth it after all.
I can't recall ever being put off by a dirty or worn or suspicious looking comforter on the bed.
And by evening the maids have always removed it to turn the bed down so by the time I'm ready to sit on the bed it's gone. Hmmmm.

Grace,

Think again. The study that was done, did not discriminate against the higher end hotels. They found fecal matter and other specimins on bedspreads in high end hotels as well. Sorry to dissapoint, But you may be getting more scum for your dollar.

People may not be dying, but bacteria is still being spread. If death is your only measure of cleanliness, I am glad we're not eating at your home.

If only "dirt" were always visible!
The first thing I do in any hotel,anywhere, is pull the bedspread off the bed.I do not want to sit on it, or put my things on it. I prefer hotels that have sheets on top and bottom of the blanket, so that is not touching me either...Pretty soon maybe someone will come up with special travel sheets and blankets that are clean,and diposable so we don't have to think about this~