Top 5 dirtiest seats on an airplane, according to flight attendants

Nearly three million passengers fly through the United States every day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and millions more travel around the world.

During flights, planes have to be prepared for a new flight fairly quickly, and while dedicated cleaners do their best to clean every seat before the next passengers, some things on board are still cleaned much less frequently, Travel + Leisure writes.

According to the flight attendants, there are a few places that should be avoided or at least hand sanitizer should be used after touching them.

Instruction cards

"The dirtiest thing on an airplane is the safety card in the seat pocket," said Josephine Remo, a flight attendant and travel blogger.

So, when you're done reading the safety instructions, be sure to apply some hand sanitizer to your hands - or, better yet, wipe the instruction card with a damp cloth to keep yourself and future passengers safe from any germs.

Overhead compartment for luggage

Additionally, according to Rimo, it's important to either wipe or use a cloth to open the overhead compartments because they "get touched by a lot of people" and are "rarely cleaned." Although they are hard to avoid, when you're done loading your carry-on, just use hand sanitizer again.

Folding tables

"Passengers are generally aware that airplanes are riddled with [dirt], but folding tables go beyond the usual germs," said Sue Fogwell, a flight attendant with more than twenty years of experience.

So it's worth wiping down the table well when you board, especially before meals.

Seat covers

"Seat covers are not always replaced or cleaned," Fogwell added, explaining that they will only be replaced or cleaned if they are reported. Even then, it could be a plant. "Not every rude incident is reported [because] it could cause a flight delay," she said. For those who are too worried about a dirty seat, there are many disposable and reusable seat covers on the market.

Handles for the bathroom

"Toilets are cleaned regularly, but locks and door handles are not," explained Rimo. For this reason, she noted: "It's advisable for passengers to use hand sanitizer after stowing their luggage, touching something in the seat pocket in front of them, and going to the bathroom."