Study uncovers hygiene lapses in Dutch hotel rooms

29th of June 2016
Study uncovers hygiene lapses in Dutch hotel rooms

Stains, hairs, mildew - even dried blood may be among the unpleasant discoveries made by guests when staying at a Dutch hotel, according to a study.

Recent research carried out by Netherlands consumer association Consumentenbond uncovered low levels of hygiene in a number of the nation's hotel rooms.

Consumentenbond anonymously booked rooms at 30 three and four-star hotels. Some were privately-owned while others were part of a chain. Investigators used UV lamps as well as the naked eye to assess the rooms, taking laboratory samples to examine after checking out.

The researchers found dust, debris and stains on several floors and doors. They also found mould and mildew on the bedding of some hotels plus traces of E.coli on shower floors.

Stains and hairs were found on the mattress at one property. When they turned the mattress over, they found a large bloodstain on the back.

The bacteria levels in just seven out of the 30 hotels inspected were considered to be acceptable. The consumer association has alerted the hotel managers of their findings and all have promised to look into the issues raised.

The news follows a report issued last year that revealed the Dutch to be the least likely nation in Europe to wash their hands after using the toilet.

The 2015 Gallup International study found that only half the people surveyed in the Netherlands automatically washed their hands after visiting the bathroom. This compared with 96 per cent of people in Bosnia & Herzegovina, which emerged as Europe's most hygienic nation.

 

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