Airplanes may be a symbol of exquisite travel and weekend getaways but they also have this worrying factor about them. Besides flying 30,000 feet above the clouds, planes are filled with passengers and germs who tend to make themselves as comfortable as they can. Comfortability for strangers can make them feel at ease but it can also cause a variety of bacteria-filled messes.
The saving grace for many passengers is knowing that all travelers go through a strict security search, allowing travelers to trust who's on the plane with them. There's also a cleaning crew that sweeps the cabin in between flights. But just how hard does the cleaning crew clean? Are they able to wash the blankets, scrub the headrests, and double-check the backseat pockets? Below we have 15 disturbing facts detailing how filthy airplanes actually are (and what to do before your next flight).
14 Bring Your Own Water Bottle
Bringing a reusable water bottle isn't just good for the environment, it's a smart move on a plane. Business Insider notes to drink bottled water on planes because "1 in every 8 planes fails the agency's standards for water safety." Flight attendants even stay away from tap water!
13 Planes Are Filthy (Even After Being Cleaned)
Passengers can see flight attendants ready to clean the cabin when most have left the plane but it appears the clean up isn't as thorough as we thought. TIME Magazine mentioned that heavy bacteria like MRSA have been found on airplanes because it's not killed by "many antibiotics."
12 Make Sure Airline Blankets Are Sealed Before Using
For long trips, airlines supply soft blankets and small pillows for your comfort. But according to Forbes, you should never use the blankets if they're in a sealed bag. If not sealed, this could mean it was already used and not washed. Yuck!
11 You're Dehydrated Without Realizing It
The air up there is unbelievably dry and thanks to the changing air pressure, ASMA claims you lose "eight ounces [of water] an hour." To stay healthy and fresh, keep sipping bottled water or else you're not going to feel great when you land.
10 Take A Close Look At That Airline Food
Some airlines do a fantastic job with their meals while others need some work. ABC News explained that the FDA had reports of mice, ants, flies, and roaches in flights and over 1500 health code violations!
RELATED: 10 Gross Foods That Are Surprisingly Delish (5 We Wouldn't Even Touch)
The airlines fixed the issues as soon as they were brought to their attention but it sure does make you think before going on your next flight.
9 Clean Those Ears!
It's always a nice perk when airlines give passengers headphones to listen to in-flight entertainment, especially if a passenger forgot their own.
RELATED: 10 Honest Facts About Disneyland That (Almost) Ruin The Magic
In an effort to reuse and repurpose products, planes don't trash every used headset but they will wipe down the earbuds or put a new filter on it if there's time. If a stranger's ear grosses you out, bring your own headset!
8 Pillow Cases Aren't Always Cleaned...
Similar to blankets, airlines don't always have the time or tools to wash the pillows. John Gobbels, vice president and COO of Medjet Assist told USA Today that no one changes the pillowcases. That means drool, dandruff, and any other germ from another passenger is still on it.
7 Seatback Trays Are Dirtier Than You'd Imagine
Seatback trays are great for tablets, laptops, food, and for doing activities mid-flight but just how clean are they? Forbes notes seatback trays are the dirtiest things on planes.
RELATED: 15 Little-Known Facts About The Lives Of Cruise Ship Staff
In fact, the seatback tray bacteria count is "8x higher than the toilet flush button!" There's not enough time to sanitize each board before the next plane so bring your own wipes!
6 Seriously... Wipe Down Those Trays!
Just in case you weren't horrified enough about dirty seatback trays, HuffPost reminds us that some parents change their babies' diapers on these trays. One flight attendant even said she saw more dirty diapers on trays than food! Before using one, wipe it down.
5 Save The Pilots!
When there are two pilots on board, they're served different meals mid-flight for one very scary reason: food poisoning. In case a pilot gets sick from the airplane food, there's another pilot to take charge. If both pilots ate the same thing and got sick, that could make for a bumpy ride.
4 In-Flight Entertainment Isn't Always Entertaining
When we think about hor dirty our hands are, it makes us realize how germ-filled those TV screens are on the backside of every chair. People eat food, pick their nose, go to the bathroom, touch their skin and then touch those screens. Before using the TV, wipe it down and wash those hands!
3 Are Window Seats Really All That Sweet?
Many travelers enjoy window seats as opposed to aisle seats because they can see what's going on outside and have a nice spot to nap against. However, Express mentioned that it's easier for workers to clean the aisle seats than it is to clean the window seats and they often get neglected.
2 Seatbelts Aren't As Protective As We Thought
Yes, seatbelts can save lives and keep passengers in place when there's turbulence or an emergency but they're also riddled with bacteria. Business Insider said they found that one-third of seatbelts had "mold and yeast" found on them through laboratory samples.
1 You May Want To Wear Gloves When Going To The Bathroom
It's shocking that backseat tray tables are dirtier than airplane bathrooms but did you know that it's the door to enter the bathroom that's also dirty. The Marketplace report claimed the handles to the bathrooms were among the dirtiest on planes, so wear a latex glove or wipe it down before opening!