8 Tips for Germ-Free Travel

Make a Cruise Ship Checklist

A study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that in an objective evaluation of public restroom environmental hygiene on 56 cruise ships, only 37 percent of selected toilet area surfaces were cleaned daily. Microorganisms can live on doorknobs, railings, and even elevator buttons, and passengers can get sick just from touching them. "Some [viruses] like rhinovirus that causes the common cold can survive on surfaces for days, others such as bacteria and influenza last hours," says Dr. Weiss.

As a safety precaution, people should use a paper towel or napkin when handling doorknobs and periodically use hand sanitizer, like Herban Essentials Lemon Towelettes, which acts as a natural antibacterial and antiseptic.

Herban Essentials Lemon Towelettes, $15; herbanessentials.com

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