Warning: This might change the way you travel!
MCO Airport
We all know traveling isn’t the cleanest experience around, from airplanes and airports, to bathrooms everywhere, and staying in beds and rooms that hundreds of people have been in before, but did you know that you’re carrying the germiest thing with you?
According to a study with microbiologist Amy-May Pointer and InsureAndGo, your suitcase is one of the grossest parts of traveling. Which kinda makes sense!
You might have packed the germiest thing with you!
It rolls everywhere on the floor, and the floor has seen A LOT. Bathrooms, airports, planes, restaurants, and sidewalks, your suitcase is seeing a whole world without you. The wheels alone on your suitcase may carry nearly “58 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat.”
Baggage
Pointer says, “The testing confirmed that suitcase wheels are by far the dirtiest part of a traveler’s bag. In fact, every wheel sample tanked among the highest in bacterial and fungal contamination and diversity. The wheels of your suitcase are essentially rolling through a world of germs and carrying a whole exosystem with them, and make constant contact with all kinds of surfaces — pavements, streets, airport bathroom floors, train station platforms, and rarely (if ever) get cleaned.”
St. Louis Lambert Airport
The study showed that there was even a presence of black mold, which can be linked to musty odours, respiratory irritation, and allergies. Yuck!
What can you do to limit the germs? First thing you’ll want to do is clean those wheels! You’ll probably want to clean them once you arrive at the hotel and when you get back home.
Baggage claim at MCO!
You should also make sure you’re not putting your suitcase on top of things you don’t want to get gross. This includes beds and desks! Try to keep it on the floor or use a luggage rack while making sure you don’t put your clothes where OTHER people might have put their suitcases, too.
Airport
The base of suitcases and the handles were also ranked high for bacteria, so make sure you give those a once-over to clean off the germs. Really, anything that is exposed to other people when you travel should get a little bath.
Make sure you’re cleaning your suitcases and in the meantime, make sure you’re following DFB for more.
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We regularly wipe down our suitcases, including the wheels, with sanitizing wipes. It undoubtedly is not a total solution, but we’re aware and make the attempt. We’re also still pretty avid hand washers and hand sanitizer users, so hopefully that helps.