Hotel insiders name two common room items that 'aren't washed' regularly

You check in, drop your bags, and flop onto what looks like a pristine, freshly-made bed. But behind the perfectly plumped pillows and crisp white sheets, a disgusting secret may be lurking. Guests would expect a "thorough clean" before checking into their room, yet under the pressures of a busy turnover, staff admit that corners are often cut. A former hotel worker took to Reddit to expose the dirty truth, pinpointing the single item most commonly missed during the routine clean-and it's found on almost every hotel bed.

The anonymous insider issued a chilling warning: "The top blankets aren't washed regularly, so don't get too intimate with them and don't foul them up for the next person." While many guests smartly remove these throws before sleeping, they inevitably sit on them, unpack on them, and treat them as a clean surface.

The surprising truth about hotel throws and decorative runners is that there is generally no specific legal requirement mandating their wash frequency after every guest check-out.

Health and hospitality regulations primarily focus on barrier linens (sheets, pillowcases, and towels) that have direct, prolonged skin contact, which must be sanitised and changed.

Decorative items, known as "soft goods," are categorised as non-barrier, meaning they are typically only spot-cleaned or laundered during infrequent deep cleans, leaving the decision about their hygiene largely to the hotel's internal brand standards and discretion.

One hotel worker admitted: "I used to do housekeeping at four different hotels and we were always required to change the top sheets and every piece of bedding when we cleaned the rooms."

But housekeeping is a fast-paced job, and some workers "skip cleaning certain things to save time", said the Reddit users.

One even suggested that some staff simply don't care to follow the rules. "They didn't care about the job or hotel guests at all, especially the top sheets. So I always suggest removing the top sheet if you're worried about cleanliness," the forum member claimed.

They cautioned: "Also, inspect your beds to ensure they're clean before getting into them. If they don't appear fresh, call and request a new room or a bed change!"

Whilst discovering bedbugs is rare, the ramifications of coming across them can be extraordinarily troublesome; they find soiled linens especially welcoming.

Holidaymakers are advised to inspect their beds thoroughly for any small red spots that may indicate bloodstains, commonly found around the edges, which could suggest a bedbug infestation.

Should such evidence be spotted, travellers are recommended to notify staff immediately.

Additional guidance from a hotel insider advises those reaching their accommodation to use refillable water bottles and glasses supplied in the room.

They said: "When you get to your hotel room, if your room has a refillable bottle of water and glasses, immediately call down and ask politely for a new water bottle and glasses."

The insider additionally proposed another disturbing revelation about hotels: "Around 99% of hotels don't change the drinking glasses in the room.

"Housekeeping is instructed to rinse them in the bathroom (no dishwashing liquid) and put them back", they claimed.