Blankets and Sheets

An anonymous hotel receptionist shared with Reader’s Digest that while their hotel washes bed sheets daily, blankets are only cleaned once a week. In some cases, bedspreads might stay on the bed for an entire month unless visible stains appear. Especially concerning, down comforters are often not as clean as they look.

According to seasoned travelers, when you check into a room, you should always inspect the sheets and blankets for stains or marks. If you find any, immediately ask the hotel staff to replace them.

Glasses

Hotels usually provide glasses for guests’ convenience. While they may look spotless, the reality could be quite different. Housekeeping staff often don’t wash them thoroughly as you would at home. Sometimes they just rinse the glasses with water and wipe them with a towel. That towel could either be a designated clean one for glassware—or the same cloth used to wipe down other items in the room.

Electric Kettle

Many hotel employees admit that the electric kettle is often the dirtiest item in the room. The reason is simple: it’s rarely cleaned properly. Housekeepers usually just pour out the leftover water, give it a quick rinse, and wipe the exterior. What’s more worrying is that some guests use kettles for cooking food, disinfecting socks and underwear, storing trash, or even as an ashtray.

Towels

Hotel towels are soaked in strong bleach solutions to clean them. These chemicals can sometimes irritate or harm your skin.

In addition, when hotels run short on towels, some may simply dry out previously used ones without proper treatment and return them to rooms. While this isn’t common, it does happen. That’s why it’s best to bring your own towel when traveling.

Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Most motels and hotels provide complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste. However, these items may not be as safe or high-quality as you think.

Disposable toothbrushes are usually of poor quality, while the toothpaste often comes without a label. You have no way of knowing where these products were made or what ingredients they contain.

For this reason, it’s always best to bring your own toothbrush and toothpaste from home.