Safe & Clean Travel

Travel can be oh so glamourous. And, it can sometimes be oh so gross. When you travel, you are facing the hazard of contacting cooties no matter where you go.

Think about every surface that you will touch during your travels that was likely previously touched by others:

• The handrail on the parking shuttle or the door handle of your taxi or shuttle
• The escalator or stair rail 
• The luggage tracking ticket you were given when you checked your bag
• The bins at security
• The ID, boarding pass or phone that you just handed over to airport staff
• The credit card that you just gave the barista, not to mention the cup that they handed you
• The arm of the chair you sat in at the gate
• Someone else’s luggage that you gave a little nudge to in order to make room in the overhead bin
• Anything and everything on the plane

Once you land, if you checked baggage, just think of how many people have touched the handle of your luggage since it last left your hands. Think about that rental agreement that requires you to sign a screen with your finger.

Are you grossed out yet? I am. There way too many opportunities for those cooties to be spread around.

Some things have recently changed in light of COVID. TSA and gate agents now ask that you scan your own documents rather than hand them over. Airlines are actually cleaning and sanitizing their planes between flights. Restaurants and shops are doing all that they can to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Most airlines are requiring that all staff and passengers wear masks when boarding and in-flight, which is a big improvement in and of itself.

Still, the responsibility for your own health and safety, as well as that of your family, rests squarely on your own shoulders. What can you do to minimize your risk? It doesn’t take a lot of money or effort the ward off those worrisome cooties.
First, arm yourself accordingly. Carry both liquid hand sanitizer and wipes. Sometimes a quick splash of liquid sanitizer works fine but at other times you will want the wipes to clean a surface that you will be touching repeatedly, like your tray table or armrest. Regulations now allow you to carry up to 12oz of liquid hand sanitizer through security. However, you can carry as many sanitizing wipes with you as you want because they do not fall under the restrictions for liquids. I love the fresh scent of these from Clorox.

Thin disposable gloves are handy too, at least until you get through security. It is easier to put on gloves to get through the process, then pitch them in the trash once you get through security than it is to worry about sanitizing after you touch each surface you come in contract with.

So many stores and restaurants still ask that you sign your receipt on check-out. They are supposed to give touch screens a good sanitizing after each customer but I’ve seen how half-hearted those efforts can be. This handy little multi-tool can put space between you those touch screens or door handles that must be pulled towards you to open. I put mine on my keychain and it goes with me everywhere.

Please pack smart and take these items along with you so that you can stay safe and truly enjoy your travels.