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How to Create a Clean Living Space When Staying at Hostel

Hostels still remain one of the safest havens for travelers who are looking for a budget-friendly place to rest their weary heads. Whether you’ve been backpacking for months or are heading to your first hostel, you’ve likely heard some of the best and worst stories from others who have experienced this type of stay. Naturally, you always want to be careful about hygiene on extensive trips, and group lodging situations can lead to a few sticky situations. Adding these tips to your plans helps you to enjoy a clean living space at any hostel you arrive at for the night.

Start By Picking a Hostel With a Good Reputation

Many of the most popular hostels are known for attracting a certain type of traveler, and you’ll want to make sure that you are sharing your space with like-minded people. You can also look for reviews online to let you know the general cleaning standards for where you plan to stay. Although you may still want to spot clean the mattress, reading that the place is fairly hygienic helps you start off on the right foot.

Pack a Pair of Flip Flops

A cheap pair of flip flops could save you the cost of expensive foot care medications. In a hostel, you can’t always trust that the person who showered before you is fungus-free. Or, you might need to make a quick run to the kitchen area in the middle of the night, and walking barefoot could expose you to viruses and bacteria on the floor. Since you likely won’t be carrying serious cleaning tools, putting something between you and any floor surface is the best thing that you can do for your health.

Bring a Hanging Toiletries Bag

After protecting your feet, the last thing you want to do is put your shampoo bottle on the communal shower floor. You can find hanging toiletry bags that are designed for travelers and college students to use in dorms that work great for hostel stays. If nothing else, you can use a mesh laundry bag for this purpose and hang it on the clothing hook in the shower. Your toiletry bottles will stay cleaner, and you’ll be less likely to accidentally leave one behind when it is the last thing you see as you walk out the door.

Pay Attention to Your Food Storage

One of the biggest advantages of staying at a hostel is that you can often cook your own meals to save money and time. This does mean that you will need to be cautious about sharing a kitchen space with people that you don’t know. Most hostel guests understand the unwritten rule of leaving other people’s food alone, but you’ll still want to make sure you can store it where it won’t get contaminated. Look for a safe shelf in the fridge or pantry where you can leave your items, and use airtight containers to prevent it from getting soiled.

Carry a Good Travel Mug

Using shared plates or bowls can get a little awkward at times, especially if no one has washed them well. A quality travel mug can serve as a bowl for you to heat up some soup or to sip on a cup of tea. Either way, you’ll be happy to have a reliable way to heat and eat your food when things get cramped in the hostel’s kitchen.

Pick Up After Yourself

Humans have a natural tendency to mimic each other’s behavior in shared living environments. If your roommates see you wiping up your spills in the kitchen or sweeping crumbs off the floor in your room, then they’ll be likely to do the same. Modeling good sanitation and hygiene works wonders for keeping your hostel space clean throughout your stay.

Staying at a hostel puts you in touch with other travelers who can share advice and make your adventures more memorable. While you may trade tips on how to access public transportation or where to pick up the best local food, you don’t have to share germs. Making a few simple efforts to keep things clean helps you stay as safe as possible during your visits to hostels.