A former hotel worker has issued a chilling warning to guests, revealing that a certain item on almost every hotel bed is not washed regularly – and it’s pretty grim
You check in, drop your bags, and collapse onto what appears to be an immaculate, freshly-made bed. But beneath the perfectly plumped pillows and crisp white sheets, a revolting secret may be hiding.
Guests would anticipate a “thorough clean” before checking into their room, yet under the pressures of a hectic turnover, staff confess that shortcuts are frequently taken. A former hotel employee took to Reddit to reveal the grubby truth, identifying the single item most regularly overlooked during the standard clean – and it’s present on virtually every hotel bed.
The anonymous insider delivered a spine-chilling warning: “The top blankets aren’t washed regularly, so don’t get too intimate with them and don’t foul them up for the next person”, reports the Express.
Whilst many guests wisely remove these throws before sleeping, they inevitably sit on them, unpack on them, and treat them as a hygienic surface.
The startling reality about hotel throws and decorative runners is that there is generally no specific legal requirement mandating their wash frequency after every guest check-out.
Health and hospitality regulations primarily focus on barrier linens (sheets, pillowcases, and towels) that have direct, prolonged skin contact, which must be sanitised and changed.
Decorative items, known as “soft goods,” are categorised as non-barrier, meaning they are typically only spot-cleaned or laundered during infrequent deep cleans, leaving the decision about their hygiene largely to the hotel’s internal brand standards and discretion.
A hotel worker confessed: “I used to do housekeeping at four different hotels and we were always required to change the top sheets and every piece of bedding when we cleaned the rooms.”
However, due to the fast-paced nature of housekeeping, some workers “skip cleaning certain things to save time”, according to Reddit users.
One user even suggested that some staff simply disregard the rules. “They didn’t care about the job or hotel guests at all, especially the top sheets. So I always suggest removing the top sheet if you’re worried about cleanliness,” the forum member alleged.
The user warned: “Also, inspect your beds to ensure they’re clean before getting into them. If they don’t appear fresh, call and request a new room or a bed change!”.
While encountering bedbugs is uncommon, the consequences can be incredibly problematic; these pests find dirty linens particularly inviting.
Holidaymakers are advised to thoroughly check their beds for any small red spots that could indicate bloodstains, typically found around the edges, which might suggest a bedbug infestation.
If such evidence is discovered, travellers are urged to alert staff immediately.
Further advice from a hotel insider recommends using refillable water bottles and glasses provided in the room upon reaching their accommodation.
They advised: “When you get to your hotel room, if your room has a refillable bottle of water and glasses, immediately call down and ask politely for a new water bottle and glasses.”
The insider also dropped another unsettling bombshell about hotels: “Around 99% of hotels don’t change the drinking glasses in the room.
“Housekeeping is instructed to rinse them in the bathroom (no dishwashing liquid) and put them back”, they alleged.