Is this unhygienic?!

There have been some interesting studies done recently on the bacteria that can grow in shared soap/shampoo dispensers, separate to that I have heard that people (men) can put gross fluids in them.
Generally, in a house with family or friends I have no problem with them but I wouldn't use them in a hotel or air BnB style property.

This article quotes a few of the studies -

https://www.travelandleisure.com/study-finds-bacteria-in-hotel-refillable-toiletry-dispensers-11880615

I'd be so annoyed if I had an Airbnb and someone knocked off a star for such a ridiculous reason.

Miniature soap is a personal preference.

Blacklist.

We are lucky enough to stay in 4/5 star hotels and they all do that now for environmental resons.

She's nuts. Or has never stayed away from home before. If she has, she must have known that tiny individual bottles went out of favour some years ago. What can you catch off shower gel or shampoo?

I used to my heart's content *knowing that they'd just be topped up on a regular basis**

Not allowed to gradually, gradually become empty (with some guests potentially adding water - which is unhygienic - to use up the last inch), and only filled up EVERY TEN MONTHS?

Not quite the same as a hotel refilling bottles multiple times per week.

Oh my goodness what? Surely this is much better than individual little bottles being thrown.away every time?? Also how is it unhygienic? Are they suggesting that people use these then put stuff back in the bottle??!! Also where is this Airbnb cos I love the sound of it!

You can please some of the people some of the time but you cannot please all of the people all of the time.
Even on cruise lines now it is fixed body wash and shampoo.

It's unhidden now, it was probably because you mentioned a travel supplier beginning with E, and to the bot it looked like spam.

You've lost me. I rub the bar of soap all over me. The idea of touching my wet body with a wet flannel is 🤢

Op you are not unreasonable. I stayed in a very nice Copenhagen hotel that had large bottles of skandanavisk to use. It literally didn't cross my mind that this was unhygienic.

You are right. Plus Aesop is bloody lovely!

Not unhygienic, I am fussy though and wouldn’t use them. But I know I’m not going to use them so always take my own toiletries, so that’s on her. It’s an Airbnb, why is she’s expecting individual toiletries?

I was all for saying it was fine until the details that they are 500ml bottles which you only replace when empty and every TEN MONTHS. :(

I have 350ml bottles of shampoo/conditioner in my shower which only I use, and do refill, but much more frequently than that.

Over time they will become gungy, and I agree with the other comment that the guests who get the last bottom inch would find that unappealing.

Suggest supply some single-serves, or purchase smaller containers and top them up frequently.

And replace the bottle more often than yearly!

Just been away, stayed in a couple of fabulous hotels both of which had large bottles of very expensive toiletries which I used to my hearts content knowing that they'd just be topped up on a regular basis. Any potential issue is exactly the same with tiny bottles as large ones, both can be refilled. Wouldn't give this a thought and it definitely wouldn't affect any reviews.

Your b&b sounds lovely where is it?

It isn't unhygienic.

The worst it could be is not totally controlled ie; in theory a previous guest could have unscrewed the lid and peed in it or spat in it (for instance ) and OP would be none the wiser.

But then if someone was that intent on behaving perversely, they could do it to an individual one, replace it to look unused, and the next guest gets it anyway.

They are just being hyper.

ETA and if they just mean the pump has been touched - which is equally ridiculous as the door handles and everything have been - they could pump a bit out, rub the pump and rinse, as after all they are in a shower. It's easier to clean it than the furnishings.

Ridiculous!!! Nearly every hotel I stay in now has big bottles rather than mini ones. TBF the mini ones are such a waste, usually naff brands and bad for the environment. Ps your place sounds amazing

I have seen reports on people doing stuff to the large bottles (mainly men, being disgusting) and there are also urban legends about people washing their underwear in the kettles too.

(I've read this, so now you can too!)

Increasingly hotels use the larger bottles- much more environmentally friendly. I wouldn’t have a problem with it and would be delighted with Aesop toiletries. It sounds like a great set up!

She is being ridiculous. I’ve had the good fortune in life to spend a lot of time with microbiologists and there is nothing unhygienic about those large dispensers. People with daft notions are just making life more difficult for themselves, which is their problem. She shouldn’t have removed a star just because she is daft!

I don't see it as any more unhygienic than washing your hands in a public toilet with the communal soap they provide.
It's far more hygienic to provide them than not to wash your hands after using the toilet for example.
Many hotels i have recently been to now providing big bottles as it's kinder to the environment.

I could understand it with a bar of soap that touches your skin, but you use the shampoo after it comes out of the bottle. Your skin or hair at no point touches anything that's left in the bottle.

I am interested to know if the posters who would not use these toiletries ever eat out?

I would be far more concerned about the state of some kitchens plus the possibility of someone spitting into your food.

I’ve stayed in a lovely spa hotel where there were free standing large bottles of Temple Spa toiletries in the bathroom (along with a pointed notice asking guests not to remove them and that they could be bought from reception). It honestly did not cross my mind that they might have been tampered with.

I would include photo in description on your Airbnb page so people can see what to expect and then can pack their own if they arent happy. I wouldn't change what you supply.
The 1 star knocked off is petty.

Lots of major hotel chains have the big bottles with screw holders screwed to the wall. I don’t see the issue. It’s not like you’re telling them to use a bar of communal soap on their bits! The products are in bottles! I really don’t see their issue tbh

I don’t know whether someone else has already mentioned this… a bloke was in court for wanking into bottles like this. Grim. It was only discovered because of CCTV of some kind, I don’t remember the details.

Most of us can ignore that risk. Some of us are now twitchy forever more!