FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Who actually uses bath tubs in hotels?
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 7:43 pm
  #39  
flyingpharmd
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: CO Platinum, AA Gold, UA Premier, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Silver
Posts: 266
If the tub is cleaned properly, the risk of an infectious pathogen would probably be fairly low. Most hotel tubs are not used for long periods of time (e.g. like a hot tub), and if allowed to dry in between uses completely, a viable growth medium for most pathogenic bacteria and fungi would be denied. Viruses are a bit more complicated, but most of them are biologically very wimpy and subject to destruction by common household cleaners.

If you travel by car and can carry a disinfectant solution with you (preferably a chlorine-based bleach), you can spray down the tub and let it sit for a few minutes then rinse it out just for extra measure. Chlorine-based bleach solutions are remarkably effective against most types of pathogenic microbes. Alcohol is the same, but I doubt anyone would want to carry a gallon of isopropyl alcohol with them! I won't suggest anything about carrying ethyl alcohol, however....
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