Many experts recommend that travelers should be cautious when using seemingly clean and tidy glass cups in hotel rooms.
In most hotels, glass cups are usually neatly arranged on top of the refrigerator or on wooden tables. Many places even cover them with paper lids, giving them a fresher and cleaner appearance.
However, many experts advise against drinking from hotel glasses, even when very thirsty. Although they may look new and clean, hotel glass cups are often not thoroughly washed, according to Southernliving.
According to recommendations, travelers should use disposable cups wrapped in plastic instead of the glass cups provided in their rooms.
A secret investigation conducted by ABC News about 15 years ago revealed that in 11 out of 15 hotels examined, housekeeping staff did not replace cups after guests left. They simply wiped them with a cloth or sponge and put them back for the next guest.
In many cases, cups were only rinsed quickly in the sink. At one hotel, reporters even observed staff using mold remover to clean cups and kettles. Following the investigation's findings, many hotel chains said they would switch to disposable cups or retrain their housekeeping staff.
If being cautious, travelers can bring their own cups, paper cups, or wash and rinse the hotel's glass cups themselves using boiling water.
Experts also advise travelers to be cautious when using ice buckets provided in hotel rooms. According to an epidemiologist who spoke with Travel + Leisure , ice buckets are often only rinsed and wiped down quickly before being used by the next guest. Therefore, travelers should avoid using ice buckets without a liner bag.
According to Travel + Leisure , Brian Labus, an epidemiologist at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, reported on a norovirus outbreak at a hotel when a guest vomited into an ice bucket. The ice bucket was later cleaned, but this did not prevent the virus from spreading, leading to the infection spreading to other guests who unknowingly used it.
According to People magazine, coffee makers and electric kettles in hotel rooms are also on the list of the least clean items because they are often overlooked or only superficially cleaned by housekeeping staff.
Microbiologists warn that the damp environment inside these items is an ideal breeding ground for mold and bacteria. Therefore, hotel guests should disinfect the provided items before using them.
Khanh Linh
