How to Sanitize Your Cruise Ship Cabin in 8 Easy Steps

Room stewards on cruises work hard to keep your cabin tidy and clean, but they don't have the time to completely disinfect and deep clean every cabin, every day. If you're concerned about the possibility of lingering cruise cabin germs, you might enjoy vacation that bit more by exercising a few extra steps to ensure your cabin meets your own ultra-high cleanliness standards.

Follow these eight helpful tips that will walk you through how to clean a room onboard a cruise ship.

Step 1: Pack the right supplies

If you're serious about deep cleaning your cabin, you'll need to come prepared with the right materials. Be sure to bring cleaning supplies aboard with you, such as Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. While most disinfecting wipes and sprays are extremely effective at killing up to 99 percent of all viruses, bacteria and germs, they don't always kill every virus out there, so read labels and pick a product that targets the germs you want gone.

Step 2: Wash your hands

First things first, when you get into your cabin — and before you start give your cruise cabin that extra scrub down — you'll want to wash your hands. You've been walking around onboard, possibly touching elevator buttons and railings and other public surfaces. By now we all know the drill: thoroughly wash your hands with soap under warm water for at least 20 seconds. For even more protection, put on a pair of gloves after you've washed your hands.

Step 3: Wipe down all frequently-touched surfaces

Deluxe Cabin bathroom on Monarch Baroness (Photo: Marilyn Borth)

Next up is to wipe down all frequently-touched surfaces such as light switches, the AC controls, TV remote, closet doors, any balcony doors and the in-room phone.  These high-touch areas are used by everyone in your cabin, as well as housekeeping and anyone else visiting your room. Don't forget areas in the bathroom, too: faucet handles, shower door, toilet flush knob and lid, makeup mirror, etc.

Give them all a good wipe down with the disinfecting wipes on day one. Depending on how sterile you want your stateroom, you can repeat this during the duration of your cruise.

Step 4: Clean hard surfaces in the cabin

A sparkling Balcony cabin on Scenic Amber (Photo: Chris Gray Faust)

Wipe down hard surfaces, such as night stands, coffee table, desk and shelves. You don't need to do them all, but prioritize surfaces where you will set things down the most, such as the vanity desk and bedside table. (Think shelves that house glassware, or nightstands where you put your glasses or cell phone.)

Step 5: Wipe down balcony furniture

Aft-facing balcony cabins on Carnival Glory are deep enough to allow for a proper lounger (Photo: Aaron Saunders)

Don't forget to clean your personal outdoor space by spraying or wiping down balcony furniture. Put extra effort into places where you'll rest your arms and head and the table where you might be dining.

Step 6: Clean glassware

Concierge Level Cabin on Oceania Marina (Photo: Oceania)

If you're planning to use the provided glassware for a glass of wine in your room or to rinse out your mouth after brushing your teeth, you'll want to disinfect them before using. We suggest using one of those handy disinfecting wipes to wipe down the glasses, letting it dry and then rinsing thoroughly in the sink.

Why not use soap? Unless you're bringing your own antibacterial dish soap from home, the soap provided in your bathroom may not be strong enough to kill some viruses or bacteria.

Step 7: Remove decorative bedspreads

Bed linens are always changed between sailings, but that's not always the case for decorative blankets, bedspreads and cushions. As purely decorative items, just like in a hotel, these aren't laundered quite as often as you'd probably hope. It's best to just remove them from the equation and place them in a closet, drawer or under the bed. You could even ask your cruise cabin steward to take them off your hands if you're short on storage space.

Step 8: Wash your hands (again)

Congratulations! You're now an expert on how to clean your room step-by-step while on a cruise. Your home away from home is now sanitized, and you can set sail in your cabin worry-free, but there's just one step left before you're home free. Since you might have been handling chemicals, we suggest washing your hands one more time once you're finished. And, then, that's a wrap!

For information on products to help make your cruise more germ-resistant, check out our list of the best cruise gear for germ-conscious cruisers.