Even the nicest hotel rooms can contain trace amounts of dirt and germs. If you are a germophobe or just want to feel at ease, there are steps to take to ensure your hotel stay is up to your cleanliness standards.

Here are some helpful hints to make sure your hotel cleanliness is a 10:

• Consult review sites like TripAdvisor or Yelp for reviews written by guests. Many reviews include photos to give you a better idea of room designs and what you can expect from your stay.
• Do a quick visual check upon entering your room. Inspect the bed, bathroom and any other area you intend to utilize. If you see anything to cause concern, check with the front desk about switching rooms or ask housekeeping to return to clean the area.
• Bring disinfecting wipes with you to wipe down surfaces when you arrive. TV remotes are notoriously known to be among the dirtiest items in a hotel room. While you’re at it, give a quick disinfecting swipe over the room phone, door handles, locks and light switches.
• Bed bugs are more likely at city hotels. Before booking your stay, check the Bed Bug Registry, a database of bed bug reports throughout the United States and Canada.
• While sheets, pillowcases and towels are consistently changed and washed, sometimes the comforter can be overlooked. Regardless of whether you’re staying at a 5- or 1-star hotel, remove the comforter just to be safe.
• Don’t worry too much about every little detail. We live in a world with germs. Realistically, we cannot expect every inch of a hotel to be 100 percent disinfected after each guest’s stay. Look out for glaring items, use common sense and don’t be afraid to ask hotel staff for what you need.