I’d consider myself to be a selective germaphobe, though I usually do a good job compartmentalizing things, and take the approach of “what you don’t know can’t hurt you. At the same time, curiosity sometimes gets the best of me, even when it shouldn’t.
We all know that hotel bedding is washed between every stay. At least that’s how it’s supposed to be, though some undercover investigations over the years have revealed that’s not always the case. But what bedding items are washed, specifically? That brings me to some general things that I’m curious about… even though I probably shouldn’t be.
In this post:
Are hotel duvet inserts washed, or just the covers?
There’s huge variance in terms of the quality of hotel beds. Some are downright heavenly, while others… aren’t. Most hotels have duvets, and those include both the duvet cover and the duvet insert. Personally, I really like when a hotel bed’s duvet insert is fully enclosed in the duvet cover, using something like a zipper or buttons.
Other hotels simply have a duvet insert that’s sandwiched between the duvet covers, and then it easily comes apart, meaning you may often find yourself in direct contact with the duvet.
That leads me to the question — the duvet sheets are of course washed between all stays, but how often are the duvet inserts washed? In an ideal world, everything would be washed between all stays, but I don’t think that’s actually the case.
Is duvet insert washed once a week, once a month, never until it’s no longer usable, or what? You’ll sometimes find that these duvet covers have quite a bit of staining, which isn’t a nice thing to think about.
Hotel decorative pillows & blankets are just gross, right?
The duvet situation is one thing, but probably what I find most disgusting is decorative hotel bedding, whether it’s decorative pillows or blankets, or those decorative sheets at the foot of the bed.
As much as I wish it weren’t the case, I assume those aren’t actually washed with much frequency either, right? Certainly not between all stays? But are they washed with any consistency at all, or just nope, they stay there until they’re gross and can’t be used anymore?
I understand the sort of gross duvet situation is just a function of that type of bedding making life easier for housekeepers. However, the decorative bedding is purely for aesthetics, and if anything, is at higher end hotels. So it’s kind of irony that at more luxurious properties, your bed is probably a bit less clean… it’s one of my hotel pet peeves.
I know people want things to look nice, but I can’t wrap my head around intentionally putting gross, unclean things onto an otherwise fresh bed. So many guests throw these things on the floor, and then they’re just placed back on the bed, as if that’s not gross.
Bottom line
I love a comfortable hotel bed as much as the next person. However, I’m kind of grossed out by some of the aspects of hotel bed cleanliness. I can get over the sheer volume of people who may sleep in a given hotel bed, but it’s the duvet and decorative bedding situation that really gets me.
Anyone have any insights on the reality of hotel bedding cleanliness?
We were always careful with rooms. Definetly remove the bedding decorations as they are not cleaned.
Years ago Kathy Lee and Hoda NBC Mornings, did a segment on hotel rooms. Leave it to the women, they were so keen on many items in the room. (Before Covid).
The remote control, clean it thoroughly. Yes there should be a sheet between you and the duvet.
Inside duvets are not cleaned often, but the outside must...
We were always careful with rooms. Definetly remove the bedding decorations as they are not cleaned.
Years ago Kathy Lee and Hoda NBC Mornings, did a segment on hotel rooms. Leave it to the women, they were so keen on many items in the room. (Before Covid).
The remote control, clean it thoroughly. Yes there should be a sheet between you and the duvet.
Inside duvets are not cleaned often, but the outside must be new.
Its tough out there, need to be aware, and just about everyone has forgotten about Covid. Oh Say La VEE
Not sure why this article is limited to the bedding. I would think the desk and other furniture is relatively clean but the sofa or softer chair?....
I hate hotels that put your towels on to of the filthy duvet - sometimes in stupid animal origami.
Why don’t you do a test…. Maybe put a “hidden mark” on one of these decorative items. Check out. Check in a few days later and request the same room. If the same pillow is there, it’s probably a very strong sign that it’s the same one….
RE: '... the decorative bedding is purely for aesthetics..."
I always thought the decorative throw/blanket across the lower half of the bed was to prevent people from soiling the actual bedding by lying on it with their shoes on. If that's true, even more reason to see it washed regularly.
Also, I'm a three-pillow guy when it comes to sleeping (one goes under my knees), and if there are only two pillows, I ask for...
RE: '... the decorative bedding is purely for aesthetics..."
I always thought the decorative throw/blanket across the lower half of the bed was to prevent people from soiling the actual bedding by lying on it with their shoes on. If that's true, even more reason to see it washed regularly.
Also, I'm a three-pillow guy when it comes to sleeping (one goes under my knees), and if there are only two pillows, I ask for an extra pillow. That works most of the time, but if I arrive late at night, I often place a decorative pillow under the pillow for my head. In the morning, I'll ask housekeeping for an extra pillow. I know, YUK, but I'm careful not to let the decorative pillow touch my face or body. And I'm still here...
Duvets are potentially nasty. Always insist on a top sheet between you and the duvet
Do you actually know, what a duvet is? I am used to it, because I grew up in Europe and I consider this whole double sheet system in the US a PITA. A duvet is a type of bedding consisting of a soft, flat bag filled with down, feathers, or synthetic fibers, designed to be used with a removable, washable duvet cover. Unlike a comforter, which is a single quilted piece, a duvet is a...
Do you actually know, what a duvet is? I am used to it, because I grew up in Europe and I consider this whole double sheet system in the US a PITA. A duvet is a type of bedding consisting of a soft, flat bag filled with down, feathers, or synthetic fibers, designed to be used with a removable, washable duvet cover. Unlike a comforter, which is a single quilted piece, a duvet is a two-piece system that allows for easy cleaning of the cover and the ability to change the style of the bedding by simply swapping covers
I always do so as they only put comforter on the bed NO TOP SHEET ?? they think I am nuts when I request a top sheet.. When I check in some hotels say to me " we put a top sheet on your bed". The other day the hotel I was in had the comforter with a top sheet thrown over the comforter???? strange I do not want to havae the comforter near -on me without a top sheet between..
Sounds like you stayed in some 'seedy' kind of place. I stayed in 8 hotels around the world last summer, none of them had comforters.
Ready for another ick? There's quite a bit of content on the internet that contains - let's just say - a lot of nudity. And some of it is filmed in hotel rooms right on top of the decorative bedding elements, the chairs, etc. etc.
Not sure what you're referring to.
Can you attach a link?
Perhaps you could use your connections to actually find out some facts? And, please use your reviews to draw attention to filth, poor housekeeping practices, etc. Your reviews are good, but lack consistent info on housekeeping and cleanliness including public areas, elevator panels, doors, etc and other places grime and high contact requires vigilance. Good hotels should be rewarded. If you're constantly bemoaning the hotels that don't offer free breakfast perks with point programs, the...
Perhaps you could use your connections to actually find out some facts? And, please use your reviews to draw attention to filth, poor housekeeping practices, etc. Your reviews are good, but lack consistent info on housekeeping and cleanliness including public areas, elevator panels, doors, etc and other places grime and high contact requires vigilance. Good hotels should be rewarded. If you're constantly bemoaning the hotels that don't offer free breakfast perks with point programs, the least you could do is focus on the basics. Fwiw, have vacationed in many hotels and cruise ships that should get high marks for cleanliness and many, some very expensive, that have been awful. Similarly, restaurant reviewers should also mention the bathrooms.
I think the idea here was to get some readers with relevant knowledge to provide answers, but it seems nobody in housekeeping management both reads OMAAT and wants to comment on such things.
You seem to think the author of this blog is a journalist.
You are wrong. You want investigative journalism? You're in the wrong place.
Question: How Dirty Are Decorative Pillows, Duvets, Etc.?
Answer: FILTHY!!!
I own a vacation rental cleaning company in Hawaii. Before Covid all the beds had 'comforters'. They were 'dry cleaned' about once a year. And folks actually slept under them. Disgusting. After Covid we changed to 'triple sheeting', so everything is being washed with every clean.
Hey Ben, article idea, what are the most comfortable hotel mattresses from your experience?
I had always thought those decorative linens that just sit on just the foot of the bed were basically a protector for the duvet, because that's where somebody's feet would be if they laid down on top of the bed. That's the setup for every mattress I've ever seen in a store at least. So to that point, I'd hope that they'd be cleaned at least every week, if not every stay. But maybe I just have way too high an expectation for hotel housekeeping.
Yes, I too see them as protecting the sheets, which are washed, from dirty footwear.
The duvet inserts that are just sandwiched between sheets with nothing hold them together are absolutely awful. 30 minutes in bed and the entire thing is a tangled mess.
how often are the headboards washed???
As travel and dining go hand in hand, please next discuss fast food restaurant hygiene. Include links to readily available YouTube videos.
LOL! That is what the YouTube search icon is for ;-)
I was hoping you were going to whip out a picture w/ a UV light or something but, yes, decorative stuff has to be considered worse than anything during the covid era.
In every single hotel I stay, first thing i do is putting these decorative pillows down in a corner of the room or in the closet and then, the next day, housekeeping puts them back, like they don't understand why i put them away.
I wonder if i should live instructions at the desk every time to avoid doing it again again.
Haha right? Thats why I dont want housekeeping coming into my room. That do not disturb sign lives in my door for the duration of my stay. If I need anything I'll get it from the front desk.
I hate those decorative covers and pillows as well but suspect they are not purely decorative.
When you go to bed to sleep, you're probably not doing it in your day clothes. But people sit fully clothed on the bed to watch TV, work, etc.
I think the thicker top draperies like take a lot more abuse than the Egyptian cotton or whatever you get in an upscale hotel...