What to Sanitize After Your Trip
Travelers are becoming more aware of how nasty traveling can be… From the uber to the airport, the airport and plane itself, hotel rooms, etc. I know I have always been aware of how gross planes and hotel rooms can be, but have gotten way worse during this pandemic. This is a short read, but I’m hopeful this is a good reminder of things to sanitize after you travel :)
The number one thing to wash when you get home from a trip is your hands. I once stayed at a condo rental in Florida and they didn’t have hand soap… (I promptly bought some). Since then, I have found these soap sheets and they work wonders!
I also like wearing latex gloves during security when touching the bins as they are consistently rated the grossest thing at the airport (think of how many people touch them… AND you have to put your shoes in them). Disinfect anything that touched the bins: laptop or tablet, passport, pillow (bless your heart if you put your pillow in the bin).
My favorite thing is cell phone disinfecting wipes. I ask for these as stocking stuffers every.single.year. and I use them constantly. Especially while traveling!
There are plenty of areas on your suitcase to clean. Wipe the handles and zippers with a disinfectant wipe, spray the exterior generously with Lysol or Microban, and be sure to clean the wheels before rolling into your house!!! Especially if you have carpet!! I have an entryway where I keep my shoes and I make sure to disinfect my suitcase and any bags I’ve taken on my trip before bringing them into my closet.
Be sure to also disinfect any clothing you wore on the plane. You should be disinfecting your seat, but still disinfect your jacket, pants, or any clothing you wore on the plane.
No matter what they say, the floors of the plane are not cleaned. Anything you put on the floor or under the seat in front of you should also be sanitized and cleaned. I always wash my backpack with Tide Hygienic pods after a trip.
One of my favorite hacks after a trip is to clean my apartment prior to leaving and making sure I don’t have any laundry in my washer or dryer. That way, when I return, I can put all of my clothes straight from my luggage to my washing machine!
Even when COVID-19 is not as threatening as it is now, you should still take these precautions to prevent any unwanted illnesses.