Lessons Learned While Traveling the World as (a Bit of) a Germophobe

When facing the germs of the world, it’s best to be both cautious and practical.
Lessons Learned While Traveling the World as (a Bit of) a Germophobe
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It is a ritual that I observe almost without exception. As a full-time travel writer, I stay in a lot of hotels. And moments after I check into the room, after finding a convenient place to situate my luggage, I proceed. First, I remove any bedspread or decorative pillows from my bed—these items, it should be noted, are rarely washed. Then, I retrieve an antibacterial wipe and, methodically, item-by-item, I wipe down the room.

The light switches. The door handles. The side tables. Especially the television remote control, which has consistently been shown to be the dirtiest thing in a hotel. Luxury five-star resort or budget roadside lodge, I never waver. And its only then—after giving my hands a thorough washing—that I can truly relax and enjoy the room.

Keeping Travel Clean

Traveling as a bit of a germophobe can be a challenge. Now, I dont pretend to be seriously afflicted. Germophobia, also known as mysophobia, is a real, diagnosable condition associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Tim Johnson
Tim Johnson
Author
Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, he’s tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North America’s largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail.
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