A hotel employee has taken to social media to lift the lid on what really goes on behind the scenes of hotel cleanliness. For many, staying in a hotel is a treat, a break from the norm.
But, according to a worker who posted on Reddit’s travel forum, it may not be quite the extravagant experience we imagine. The ins and outs of hotel room cleaning were laid out by this individual, who highlighted that certain items are often neglected during routine cleanings.
Their revelations started with a startling admission: “Most hotels do not wash the big duvet, they only wash the sheets,” noting exceptions were made at one hotel only if the white duvet had visible stains.
But it didn’t stop there – the employee claimed their current workplace had an even grimmer approach to hygiene.
“The hotel I just started at is even worse. They have brown duvets that literally never ever get washed,” they warned.
The hotel worker expanded on different practices observed in hotels across the globe. “And in Asia, I think it’s not common to have a top sheet in the bed, so you are just supposed to raw dog the dirty duvet,” they remarked.
Comparatively, they noted, “At least in the hotel I worked at in Europe, you could sandwich yourself between the two sheets and not really touch the big blanket once you’re inside.”
Their candid account has sparked discussions around hotel cleanliness standards and concerns among travellers.
“Now every time I go to a hotel, I can’t touch these blankets lol. But I’m sure some are actually good and wash everything, I hope.”
The duvets aren’t the only items that remain unwashed, as they continued to reveal that the pillows could be just as unclean. “Also the pillows underneath those pillowcases are filthy, covered in yellow/brownish spots, but I’ve only seen that here in South Korea,” they said.
“The ones I’ve seen in the past seemed more waterproof. I’m grossed out lol, a pillowcase doesn’t feel like enough to separate myself from that.”
They then added: “And now I still wear my flip flops in the shower like it’s a communal bathroom lol.”
Others joined in the conversation with their own experiences, with one commenter noting: “Lol if you think the duvets are bad, think about the couches and stuff like that. Gets cleaned once a year, tops.”
Another shared a rather unsettling insight: “I used to do network installs at hotels. Don’t ever move the beds, it’s better not to know. Sometimes it’s used condoms, sometimes it’s puke, sometimes it’s both.”