Typical Laundering Cycles for Hotel Bedding Common industry practice states that sheets, pillowcases, and towels are processed and laundered between each guest stay.
Most hotels do have a schedule for washing “top of the bed” items like pillows. This may be done on a weekly, monthly, or as-needed schedule based on feedback from the housekeeping staff.
Other Items Commonly Stolen From Hotels
Since both the pillows and robes are hotel property, they are not meant to be taken, either.
If your pillow can be washed, it should be washed at least twice a year. If you eat in bed, have pets, or sweat a lot, you should wash pillows quarterly. Special pillows like body pillows or throw pillows should be cleaned every 3 to 6 months.
Sheets are usually changed between guests, and sometimes state law requires it, but there's no guarantee that they will be. As for bedspreads, forget it. As countless hidden-camera investigative TV programs have confirmed, they aren't washed regularly.
Make sure bed sheets are clean
If they look stained, crumpled or have hair on them, ask for a change immediately (or, better still, find a different hotel). Your nose can also be useful here – if they smell, it's a no-no. Check to see if the sheets have fold marks, and whether they feel crisp or soft and sticky.
Typically, hotels wash their linens once a week. That includes sheets, pillowcases, and all kinds of comforters. However, they usually change sheets and pillowcases between guests. Ritz Carlson, the Peninsula, and the Four Seasons chain say they change all bed linen and covers between guests.
Most throw pillows can be cleaned with the following guidelines: Remove the cover if possible, and wash it separately from the pillow itself. Use lukewarm water and a gentle cycle for throw pillow covers. Use warmer water temperatures and a delicate cycle for the inner pillows.
Why wash your pillows. While you sleep, your body sheds thousands of dead skin cells. They in turn attract dust mites, which, although harmless, do produce droppings that contain allergens. Letting these build up can trigger anything from asthma and rhinitis to itchy eyes.
The life of a typical hotel pillow is 18 to 36 months.
Glassware, linen and the TV remote
Typically, they don't get cleaned between guests and become a breeding ground for bacteria. Use the pillows from the closet; they're more likely to be freshly washed than the ones on the bed.
Hotel pillows are softer, fluffier and more luxurious. Their fill material is usually 100% genuine goose down or feathers. Hotel pillows offer long-lasting support for the head and upper body. The cloud-like feel of hotel pillows is amazing for keeping your head, neck and spine healthily aligned.
Taking pricy essentials, like sheets, makes it harder for hotel staff to do their job. According to the The Telegraph, however, 68 percent of people in a survey admitted they steal linens and towels from hotel rooms. Beware that some hotels can track stolen towels, thanks to electronic tags, Huff Post reports.
Pillows made from delicate fabrics like silk and wool, or those with down feathers, typically need to be dry-cleaned. Those made with foam or other washable materials, though, can be easily washed by hand or machine.
Although most hotels forbid maids from napping or using the toilet in guest rooms, some maids break the rules. Exhausted maids who have more time than usual to clean a large suite may secretly catch a few minutes of shut-eye in a guest's bed.
As far as tradition goes, it is often granted as a reward for good behaviour among children and even adults. Hotels and other accommodations also take part in this tradition. More often than not, they leave a piece of a wrapped mint, chocolate, or chocolate mint under the pillow for guests.
Pillows start to turn yellow due to a variety of factors, most of which involve the accumulation of moisture. Sweat, drool, wet hair, and even skincare products can contribute to yellow stains on a pillow. And these stains are more than just unsightly.
Pillows can hold onto many types of allergens, from pet dander to pollen and mold. You can fight allergens by washing your pillow, but eventually you're better off just replacing it with a new pillow.
Gently squeeze excess water from the pillow, then place it outside in direct sunlight to air dry. If you can't put the pillow outdoors, find a spot indoors with good circulation. Add a fan to help speed up drying. Check that the pillow is completely dry before returning it to the bed.
Make sure to dry pillows completely, as lingering dampness could reintroduce the mildew, bacteria, and dust mites you're trying to avoid. Dry pillows in your dryer on a low heat setting, checking them every 20 to 30 minutes to ensure even drying.
Typically, hotels wash their bedding once every week including various kinds of comforters, sheets, and pillows. However, they often swap out the pillowcases and linens between the guests. It's a common practice that the hotel comforters are rarely automatically changed – unless a guest requests it.
And in March, an etiquette expert weighed in on the most common mistakes you could be making when staying at a home away from home. Speaking to the Daily Mail, the consultant recommended always removing the bed linen before taking your leave - and an offer to put on fresh sheets never goes amiss.
It is important for hotels to maintain a professional atmosphere, so it is discouraged for employees to become involved in any kind of intimate relationship with guests. In most cases, the employee would be subject to disciplinary action if they were found engaging in such behavior.