Saturday, October 29, 2011
Next Time I’ll BYOT – How Clean Are Hotel Towels? Are Hotel Towels Clean?
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I’ve been travelling more often lately. When I stay in hotels I don’t really like using their bath towels. Mostly for my concern of how well hotels clean their bath towels. Also for the fact that hotels waste a lot of resources cleaning them daily.
Are Hotel Towels Really That Clean?
Hotel Wasteful Practices
I noticed that hotels only use white towels and they are actually very clean all the time. How? Well, the hotels clean the towels with 3 rinse cycles and softener to keep those towels looking good to use. 3 rinse cycles! Chemical softener! Worst is that if the towel becomes too dirty to clean or doesn’t come out good after the wash they just replace it. Think of all that water, harmful substances, and all those used towels. Sigh.
I noticed that hotels only use white towels and they are actually very clean all the time. How? Well, the hotels clean the towels with 3 rinse cycles and softener to keep those towels looking good to use. 3 rinse cycles! Chemical softener! Worst is that if the towel becomes too dirty to clean or doesn’t come out good after the wash they just replace it. Think of all that water, harmful substances, and all those used towels. Sigh.
No Regulation
I also looked up info on how to clean linens by the CDC. Good guidelines, but… It seems that the CDC doesn’t regulate or monitor but rather just “suggests” guidelines on how to handle soiled linens. So if there is not much disease or illness being spread by improper cleaning of soiled linens, the hotels just need to make them white and looking clean for you. Great.
I also looked up info on how to clean linens by the CDC. Good guidelines, but… It seems that the CDC doesn’t regulate or monitor but rather just “suggests” guidelines on how to handle soiled linens. So if there is not much disease or illness being spread by improper cleaning of soiled linens, the hotels just need to make them white and looking clean for you. Great.
Hot Water, Bleach, and Time
I’ve roomed with groups of people in resort condos and have seen uncleaned hotel rooms. Towels are used to wipe down moisture in the bathroom. They’re thrown on the ground. The maid picks up all the towels in the gloves they used to wash everything else with. Then they get all bundled up in a big cart with who knows where the other towels have been. Yes, I know hot water and bleach can kill the germs. But I just don’t feel comfortable not knowing where those towels have been. I mean honestly, would you drink from the toilet if I cleaned it with bleach and rinsed it 3 times? The gross factor is just… gross.
I’ve roomed with groups of people in resort condos and have seen uncleaned hotel rooms. Towels are used to wipe down moisture in the bathroom. They’re thrown on the ground. The maid picks up all the towels in the gloves they used to wash everything else with. Then they get all bundled up in a big cart with who knows where the other towels have been. Yes, I know hot water and bleach can kill the germs. But I just don’t feel comfortable not knowing where those towels have been. I mean honestly, would you drink from the toilet if I cleaned it with bleach and rinsed it 3 times? The gross factor is just… gross.
Just Bring Your Own Towel
I am just going to bring my own towel from now on rather than trust the hotels to really give me a clean towel. This will eliminate my concern of grossness and germs. Also it will reduce waste in cleaning/replacing towels. Pick a thin towel or one of those super absorbent sport towels to save room in luggage. Help yourself and help the world, BYOT!
I am just going to bring my own towel from now on rather than trust the hotels to really give me a clean towel. This will eliminate my concern of grossness and germs. Also it will reduce waste in cleaning/replacing towels. Pick a thin towel or one of those super absorbent sport towels to save room in luggage. Help yourself and help the world, BYOT!
This post was written by: Joel Waldron
Joel Waldron is a professional blogger, web designer and IT Techinician. Follow him on Twitter
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