Hotel ‘ick’ factor

Regarding “He’s Floored by Maid’s Pillow Protocol,” by Catharine Hamm, Jan. 26: There is an easy way to avoid doubts about the cleanliness of bedclothes. And a chair is no cleaner than the floor to place a pillow. Any time my wife and I spend more than one night in a hotel, we request that the room not be made up.

Washing bedclothes and towels daily is a luxury but a terrible waste of water and energy. We keep our room tidy, and making the bed takes little time. When we need fresh towels, we ask.

We usually stay in the same hotel in New York, and the staff knows us. That’s one of the many benefits of staying in the same hotel. And the housekeepers are always grateful for the extra time and the tip.

DENNIS VAN BREMEN La Crescenta

I have a simple solution to the pillowcase problem: I always pack my own 100% cotton pillowcase in a color, which I put over the case that is on the hotel pillow. In the morning, I put it away so I can be assured that I have it to use the next night.

MARILYN VASSOS Irvine

The advice to wipe down high-touch surfaces and use hand sanitizer is excellent. Many sanitizing wipes are only antibacterial, so they do nothing to kill flu, colds or other viruses. Be sure to use ones effective against both viruses and bacteria.

As a frequent traveler, I used to get frequent colds. I now carry medical-grade wipes with me, and I wipe down high-touch areas around my airplane seat and hotel room. Some people look at me funny on planes, but I also get a lot of “That is so smart!”-type comments, and even requests for spare wipes.

RANDALL GELLENS San Diego