Who else hates a messy hotel room? Nothing stresses me out faster on a relaxing trip than coming back to a chaotic room. With your whole family in one hotel room, things can get messy quickly. Here are some hotel room hacks to help keep your room cleaner, more organized, and more comfortable.
The first thing I do when arriving in our hotel room is to get settled. I immediately do some sanitizing and organizing to set the stage for our stay. This includes unpacking, putting the suitcases away, defining a place for our shoes and clothes, and finding homes for all the kid stuff.
(1) Command Hooks
Coats, chargers, iPads, dog leashes… there’s a lot to keep organized when traveling with your family. Easily tucked away in your luggage, these inexpensive wall hangers can help keep your family’s gear from becoming an unidentifiable pile on the floor. Command Hooks also work great for kids’ pool floaties, hats, and goggles. They’re easy to put up and come down just as easily. Command Hooks for the win!
(2) Collapsible Laundry Basket
Be sure to bring a collapsible laundry basket, maybe even two! They take up minimal space in your suitcase while maximizing space in your hotel room. Use one to collect your family’s shoes in the entry by the door. You can use the other one for all the dirty laundry. We usually put ours on the floor of the closet.
(3) Potty Pads Aren’t Just for Dogs
Most of our trips include water and snow in some form, sometimes even mud from hiking. That means wet and dirty shoes. Use puppy potty pads to give your entry a clean, dry landing zone for messy gear. It keeps everything tidier and drier. You can also hang wet swimsuits and gear on the Command Hooks and then place a potty pad underneath to catch all the dripping water.
(4) Convert the Ironing Board into a Table
The ironing board can be used as extra counter space or as a makeshift dining table. Place a towel on top and bring it over to the edge of the bed for convenient dining. I also use the ironing board as a place for coloring, building Legos, and other activities that occupy kids in a hotel room.
(5) Paper Cups & Hangers Work Double Time
Paper cups in the bathroom can be used as toothbrush holders. Flip the cup over and poke a hole in the bottom to hold your toothbrushes. This is such an easy way to keep your toothbrushes clean and the bathroom more organized.
Sometimes getting a good night’s sleep in a hotel room can be hard. Especially with kiddos. So, use the clips on a hanger to keep the blinds closed. That sliver of light that often sneaks through curtains can easily disrupt sleep. Don’t let the daylight through until the family is fully rested and ready to tackle the day.
(6) Dog Wipes to Save the Day
If you’re traveling with your furry family members, dog wipes are a necessity. Finding places, or time, to wash them frequently isn’t convenient while traveling. You’ll want to clean off your pets before you let them into your hotel room — especially since you’re all sharing one small space. I always travel with dog wipes to clean their paws, faces, and just give them a general wipe down especially if you’re playing at the beach or in the snow.
(7) Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize!
Use sanitizer wipes to clean the whole room when you arrive — that includes surfaces, door handles, light switches, and even the remote controls. Then rest easy, knowing that you’ve eliminated a lot of the germs.
(8) Bring a Streaming Device
This is always an easy way to save yourself from buying an expensive movie, or not being able to find something to watch when you want to take a break or settle in for the night. With your Chromecast, Firestick, or similar device you’ll be able to use the Wi-Fi and watch your favorite shows while on the road. It’s also a good idea to pack an HDMI cable to connect your laptop to the hotel TV, which is another way to stream your favorite shows.
(9) Night Lights Help in New Spaces
Make kids feel safer at night with a night light. Bring a small night light to plug into an outlet by the bathroom so they can easily navigate at night. You can also bring an extra to put in the bathroom so they can have assistance finding all the light switches.
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If you’ll be flying with little ones, then you can read this post with some genius tips for airplane travel with kids.
