Hotel hygiene

[whateveryousay]

I’m currently on holiday in a 5* hotel. Will
state now that I am fully aware that I am very privileged, and that yes, this is a first world problem.

So I came back to our room after breakfast today, and housekeeping was making up the room. Lovely, smiley woman, signalled that I could come in as she was nearly done.

She then picked up our coffee cups which were draining on the counter next to the coffee machine, gave them, and the counter, a wipe with what looked like one of our used hand towels, and left. She did seem to be in a big hurry, I assume because she has to get through a certain number of rooms within a time-frame.

I was a bit non-plussed, and said nothing at the time (I realise now that that would have been better). But I’m now wondering how long those coffee cups have been ‘on the go’, and does she just rinse them in the sink and give them a dry with a dirty hand towel between guests too….ugh. I feel a bit grim thinking she just used my/DH’s towel, never mind a stranger’s.

I really want to complain and ask for new cups every day, but I’m not a massive dick, and realise that cleaning up after relatively rich people for little pay is not a great job, and I certainly wouldn’t want her to lose it.

What would you do?

I believe that's what they do in some places... I always wash the mugs out with soap before using them 🤢

with what looked like one of our used hand towels

Looked like being the operative words. You don't know if it was.

If you're that worried wash the cups again yourself.

I'd just rinse the cups again before I use them.

Unfortunately didn’t think to pack washing up liquid and tea-towels….doh!

But yes, could use hand-soap and leave to drain.

Just use the hand soap 🤣

You have soap and clean towels. You'll manage.

they also dry the bathroom tiles, etc with used bathroom towels. dont trust anything is clean there. nothing is as they look like.
i dont think there is hygeine in hotels. you are on your own.
wouldnt touch any handle, remote, light switches, phone there without wiping very well first, i still get the ick.

And yet we don't see waves of people dropping like flies from hotel-related illnesses.

i dont care. i feel so icky about it.

Hotels are gross, but the less you think about it, the more enjoyable life & holidays are.

That said, if I/my employer pays for 4-5* I’d expect at least visible cleanliness 100%.

I’m surprised you’re surprised. Just rinse them, it’s your own germs

I always take a J cloth with me nad wash cups out with boiling water. I don't think star rating and cleaning practices are related in any way, shape or form.

But it's only you and whoever that's dried themselves with towels and wiping down a wall is fine what do you think Is going to happen to you?

I always rinse cups out with boiling water in hotel rooms .

when a new guest arrives they use the towels of the previous guests.
anything can happen, its just lottery in those conditions.

Like what though its a wall .

do you want to touch the tiles that were dried with previous guests body towels?

This I don’t know how you can know it was your used hand towel when surely every towel in the hotel is probably white?

If you’re that bothered wash the cups again. I would assume between guests they put clean cups out but if it’s the same guests a quick rinse is all that’s needed really.

I have worked in spiffy hotels in the UK. I was told to use a used pillowcase to clean with. One for the bathroom (spray and wipe) one to dust the bedroom. You wiped the glasses / cups with the same pillowcase.

For this people were paying £300 quid a night. I always wash the cups / glasses with hot soapy water water when I go anywhere. I've been known to use hotel shampoo for this before. It's fine so long as everything is properly rinsed.

Oh dear! Five stars has nothing to do with this. It’s what chambermaids/men can get away with & it’s common practice in my experience …….

Just do as the rest of us are recommending ….

Wash cups in very hot water and soap, at a push, shampoo is an alternative (it’s all detergent in one form or another) leave to drain or use loo roll or tissues and away ya go!

Well I've touched a few shower walls and I haven't had any real thought about it I assume they are spray cleaned before I go in and I've only been ill once from a hotel stay I don't think it was from touching the shower tiles or a light switch because I wash my hands like most people.

I’m always dubious of crockery in holiday homes and hotels !
we always pack washing up liquid and give them a quick wash before hand

enjoy it then.

I've heard what people do to the kettles, so I don't use any of them!

Ooh, thats pretty disgusting, I had always naively assumed that coffee mugs would be swapped for freshly cleaned from a sterile dishwasher, but then you don't see a trolley of fresh clean mugs going from room to room each morning! Sometimes what you don't know won't hurt you, but after reading this I'll scald my hotel mugs in freshly boiled water!