How to Best Disinfect Your Airplane Seat

How to Best Disinfect Your Airplane Seat

We all know the dirtiest places that we come in contact with while we travel. Right? Turns out, no.

While it is true that bathrooms tend to be smelly and some are dirty and are the most obvious and first places we think of when trying to stay clean and germ-free. There are other areas that are in plain view and harbor a lot more germs.
On the plane, according to study after study, the average tray table, for instance, is exponentially dirtier than a home toilet seat.
To enjoy your trip in comfort and relative cleanliness, there are a few things you can do to spruce up your airplane seat.

Besides the tray table, other top spots for airplane germs include seat belt buckles, seatback pockets, and the tops of seats. In other words, any spots that are touched by many hands and frequently.
Unfortunately, hands are not the only thing that touches those areas on the planes. On tray tables, people have changed dirty diapers, placed their shoe-less feet, and have done other unsanitary things. Just take a look at this account, at your own discretion, of course, instagram.com/passengershaming
Seat back pockets are used not only for storing plane and airline literature, but also essentials that would be needed during the flight such as earphones, books, games, Kindle, small snacks, and sucking candies for easier takeoff and landings. However, they are also used frequently as trash containers to store open food, garbage left over and such.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Passenger Shaming (@passengershaming) on Nov 28, 2018 at 6:03am PST

Top of the list for keeping yourself and others with you on the trip would be a Hand Sanitizer. It would help keep your hands clean after touching all of those areas and limit how many times you need to get to go to the bathroom to wash your hands. Using sanitizer after you are settled into your seat, prevents you from touching your face with dirty hands and also ready for some in-flight snacks. Just don’t over do it, as too much of good this is bad too. Why not to use sanitizer frequently

Disinfecting Wipes

The disinfecting wipes can be used on just about any solid surface. We started to wipe down the trays across the entire row starting with kids and the trays in front of us. This way they are ready for coloring, toys, resting the phone on it, and sometimes a chin or hands while watching cartoons. You can also use them to wipe down armrests and TV remote areas.
You cannot, or rather should not, use the wipes on upholstered surfaces as it will make the fabric wet and won’t work that well anyhow. If you are concerned about leaning on the seats you can either get one-time use headrest covers or what I do is wear a hoodie on the plane and have a blow-up travel pillow with a hood attached.

Natural disinfecting wipes:

Disinfecting Wipes:

Hoods
One way to keep your head off of the seat back is with a

Hand Sanitizer

We have the travel containers of hand sanitizers dangling from just every bag we take along with us. It’s a great way to quickly clean up without water. They can be attached to key chains, purses, backpacks, diaper bags or gym bags for easy access.
It can also be used to clean up the area around your plane seat either by hand or by putting some gel on a napkin or tissue. Works great if you don’t have wipes with you.

Travel Blanket

Some airlines still do offer free blankets for use on the plane as it gets chilly. Though before you snuggle up with that complimentary blanket, consider that it might not have been washed before you used it and has passed from passenger to passenger. You can also purchase a blanket on board and they will come pre-sealed in a plastic bag. These tend to be pricey depending on the airline and small and thin. It would be a great idea to bring your own instead.
The Cocoon CoolMax Blanket is lightweight and soft, expands to 70 by 56 inches, and it folds up into a pouch for easy packing and storage.

Related articles:
10 Great Travel Gadgets That Fit on Your Keychain
Traveling During the Cold Season – What to Take and Do
10 Gadgets for Paranoid Travelers

Buy reliable VPN for desktop and mobile for travel and at home

Best Anti-Theft USB Charging Travel Gadget Backpack

Amazon’s shopping guide with curated luggage by airlines

Shop All-new Kindle Travel Gear

Travel Tech Gadgets-the go to place for travel gadgets prior to traveling anywhere and everywhere. About