The age of Covid-19 has called for a whole new emphasis of sanitizing the hotel room when we travel. This is a protocol we have done almost since the beginning.

A while back, I wrote an article about a small diffuser we carry with us. It is a crackerjack little item that helps both sanitize and deodorize the room. The model we use, the URPOWER 2nd Version has been nearly bulletproof for our past three years of travel.

  My wife uses “Now” brand essential oils. She prefers this brand because it is of very good quality, it’s easy to find and less expensive.

Our Formulas

  We try to check in as early as possible so we can set up out diffuser and disinfect the room. There are several combinations of oils we employ and each blend has its own special benefits.

When it comes to sanitizing the hotel room, the formula is simple. To the water in the diffuser she adds equal drops of these essential oil: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Peppermint.

The Tea Tree oil is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory;  the Eucalyptus oil is antiseptic and antimicrobial. It can battle such things as TB and Staph. It has proven effective against many viruses and fungi like candida as well.

Peppermint also is antiseptic and antibacterial. It can inhibit viruses like herpes.  Additionally it can repel spiders, ants, mosquitoes and cockroaches. 

Some of our Now essential oils.

Using Our Diffuser

  Once she makes the mixture, we load it up and turn it on. Generally, we set the diffuser on “intermittent” to extend it’s diffusing time. By placing it on the nightstand, it actually sprays over the pillows and bedding for maximum effect.

  The diffusing mist leaves no residue that might stain or cause any problems.

 As with many diffusers it features a lighting system. The one drawback is that it can be quite bright at night.  My very inventive wife made a black sleeve out of an old cosmetic bag with a drawstring. It effectively blocks the light so we can sleep, while allowing the diffuser to do its job.

We also now put the same essential oil mixed with water in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down the bathroom hard services that provides the same benefits as noted above.

Our little diffuser without the protective sleeve

Other Solutions

We also carry a gallon of purified water with us to make our morning coffee in the room. We want to make certain we get the very best and it’s germ free. The next addition to our travel basket may be our own pillow covers, to make certain where we lay our heads also will be fresh and clean.

In Florida we have overcome Hurricanes, sinkholes, alligators, red tide and all manner of natural and unnatural phenomenon. Like other plagues, Covid-19 will come and go. However, it has given us new impetus to make sure our accommodations are clean, fresh and how we like them.