ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

According to a new study, 42 per cent of British people roll up their sleeves and start cleaning after checking into a hotel room.

And 13 per cent spend more than an hour ensuring that all surfaces are sanitised to their own standards, while 46 per cent spend up to half an hour on the task.

End of Tenancy Cleaning Services quizzed 1,894 Britons on their cleaning habits when visiting a hotel. Items many guests expressed concern about included the bed-linen, glasses, mugs, remote controls and light switches. Also topping the list of items perceived to be potentially dirty were telephones, upholstered chairs, sofas, decorative cushions, blankets, windows, windowsills and curtains.

"Now more than ever, travellers will be looking at customer reviews and hotel policies to ensure that the place where they intend to stay is maintained to the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene," said Ivan Ivanov, managing director of End of Tenancy Cleaning.

"It's quite clear that Brits are keen to inspect their own hotel room even if they trust it to have been cleaned to the highest standards. The fact that many are willing to do so goes to show how important it is for hotels to thoroughly clean the rooms before customers arrive."

A total of 13 per cent of respondents said they would routinely ask the hotel staff for cleaning supplies on arrival, while 29 per cent would have their own with them. Items often brought along included wet wipes, bleach and surface sanitiser.

And more than a quarter of people questioned said they would bring their own glass or mug to a hotel, while 14 per cent brought their own sheets or towels.