How to Tell If Your Hotel Room is REALLY Clean

You've heard the horror stories. And the Bozeman Daily Chronicle just ran a disturbing report of a local hotel's lack of cleanliness and disrepair. So whether you have family in town or you're staying in a hotel away from home, make sure you know what to look for in a clean hotel room. If it isn't clean to your standards, call the front desk for a re-clean. You're entitled to a comfortable and clean space, no matter how many people have stayed there before you.

Here are some things to check before you get comfy:

• The fancy covers and pillows on top of the beds don't get washed every day so just sacrifice the pretty bed and toss them to the side for your stay

• Is the comforter in a duvet cover that is washed every day or is it a dark, stain-covering bed spread? Opt for the white duvet covers, toss the bed spread and use a blanket.

• Everyone's worst nightmare, bed bugs.  Rip off all the layers of sheets on the bed and look at the top and bottom edges of the mattress. If you see brown or red spots, you've got a problem. 

• Housecleaning will wash the sheets and vacuum, but they may miss what we call "points of contact" which include commonly touched items such as remote controls, phones, handles, door knobs, light switches etc. Make sure they look clean, and if you can, take a Lysol wipe and do a second round. Being extra careful can't hurt.

• Furniture obviously can't be cleaned daily so only use furniture that looks very clean.

• Most rooms are stocked with glasses for water. If they aren't individually wrapped to show that they have been cleaned, do a quick rinse before using as they may have accumulated dust.

• The bathrooms are important. Make sure the floor is free of debris. The amenities are stocked (you should never see items that have been used before). The toilet is scrubbed. And the shower (bottom and walls) are spot free.

• And lastly, if you have issues, make sure to call the front desk. They'll fix it. And if the room is really clean, give the cleaning staff a tip. They work hard, and you will probably never know the messes they've had to deal with.

Happy, safe, and CLEAN holiday travels to all from the Buffalo Herd.