No, there is no industry-wide standard, so practices vary significantly by hotel. While sheets and pillowcases are always laundered between guests, thick comforters are often only washed seasonally or when visibly soiled.
There is no industry-wide standard, but comforters are generally washed much less frequently than sheets. While fitted sheets, flat sheets, and pillowcases are always laundered between every guest, comforter cleaning frequency usually depends on the hotel class:
Duvets with removable covers are generally easier for hotels to keep clean since the covers can be washed with regular bedding loads, similar to how hotels change sheets between guests.
While many hotels only wash comforters seasonally, some brands and high-end properties commit to washing them between every guest. Hampton Inn (a Hilton brand) is well-known for an official policy of washing all bedding, including duvets and covers, between guests. Major chains like Marriott generally use and wash duvet covers, ensuring a clean layer.
High-touch surfaces like phones, remotes, light switches, and carpets can harbor germs. Oft-overlooked items such as barware, ceiling fixtures, and bathtubs may be overlooked during standard housekeeping cleanings.
Towels are the most commonly stolen item from hotels, with nearly 88% of hotel staff and owners reporting they frequently disappear from guest rooms.
The "mirror trick" in hotels refers to the viral social media test used to determine if a mirror in your room is a normal mirror or a "two-way mirror" that someone could potentially see through.
The "washcloth trick" is a popular travel hack where a folded or rolled-up washcloth is wedged into the gap of a hotel door latch, deadbolt, or handle. It is most commonly used for enhanced safety to prevent intruders from tampering with the lock, though some travelers also use it to block light or sound.
1. Chargers and Cords – Phone chargers, laptop power cords, and other electronic accessories top the list of most-forgotten items. People often unplug them from outlets behind nightstands or desks and forget to pack them before heading out.
Martha Stewart recently went on the In Bed with Paige DeSorbo Amazon livestream and dropped a hot take about how often she swaps her bedding. Stewart revealed that she has her sheets changed every two to three days.
Travelers usually put tape over hotel outlets for two main reasons: to block distracting LED lights from electronic devices and ensure a dark room, or as a makeshift childproofing measure to prevent small children from poking foreign objects into the sockets.
Yellow sheets on your boyfriend's side of the bed are completely normal and usually come down to biology. Men naturally have more active sweat and oil glands and higher testosterone levels than women, which leads to body oils and sweat oxidizing in the fabric.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference, what you're used to, and how often you're willing to wash your bedding—some find it easier to just toss their entire sheet set into the wash rather than having to re-stuff their duvet back into its cover.
High-touch surfaces such as light switches, TV remote controls, and phones can also be neglected places for cleaning in a hotel room. You should also be wary of hotel glassware, especially glassware that is tucked away in drawers; these could have been handled by former guests without housekeeping's knowledge. Yikes.
Key Takeaways
Gen Z often skips the top sheet for simplicity, while tradition holds it as a bedding staple. Experts have mixed feelings, with some valuing the top sheet's hygiene benefits and others seeing it as unnecessary. Ultimately, your choice might hinge on comfort, temperature preferences, or ease of bed-making.
Yes, they can. Down comforters are thick and warm, and bed bugs are always looking for a place close to where you sleep. These pests do not stay in one spot. They move across your bed, and a down comforter is close enough to make it their next stop.
Towels are the most commonly stolen item from hotels, with nearly 88% of hotel staff and owners reporting they frequently disappear from guest rooms.
The 15/5 Rule is a foundational customer service standard in the hospitality industry designed to make guests feel acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. Popularized by major brands like Marriott Hotels, it outlines specific non-verbal and verbal actions based on a staff member's proximity to a guest:
One of the main reasons is that guests often steal the 420 plates as souvenirs, while others use the room for marijuana consumption. That's why one hotel introduced the sign "419+1" to discourage both thieves and those who associate the room with smoking.
Putting a towel under your hotel door is a popular travel hack because it acts as a quick, physical barrier to block smoke and fumes in a fire, muffle hallway noise, and stop light from creeping into the room.
Putting your luggage in the bathtub or shower is a highly recommended travel hack used to protect your belongings from bed bugs and keep them off dirty floors.
Throwing a water bottle under your hotel bed is a safety trick popularized by flight attendants. By tossing the bottle from one side so it rolls across, you can easily check if anyone or anything is hiding under the bed without having to physically bend down and look yourself.
Travelers usually put tape over hotel outlets for two main reasons: to block distracting LED lights from electronic devices and ensure a dark room, or as a makeshift childproofing measure to prevent small children from poking foreign objects into the sockets.
Hotel Travel Hacks
Travelers place bandages on hotel or Airbnb mirrors as a security hack to check for hidden cameras or "two-way mirrors". The idea is that if you place an adhesive bandage on the glass, a normal mirror will reflect the bandage and the pad, while a two-way mirror might not.