Here's what should happen: The standard operating procedure is for towels and sheets to be changed between every guest, according to Joe McInerney, president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (www.ahla.org). Towels are also swapped out every day at some, but not all properties. "Some do, some don't," he says.
According to one hotel management, they first treat all stains on the laundry. Then, they toss them in a big pot full of a mixture of baking soda, laundry detergent or soap, and cold water. The towels are then boiled for around half an hour, wrung out, and thrown into the laundry machine.
The short answer to your question is yes and yes—yes, many hotels do actually let guests reuse towels, and yes, the note is there to make the hotel seem as green as an organic farm.
The main reason is that they wash their towels in hot water 40-50c with commercial detergent and no fabric softener. Fabric softener can really reduce the absorbency of your towels,which leave a waxy residue on towels, for example. Also, cotton gets more absorbent with use, and hotel towels are well-used.
Most hotels use peroxide-based laundry detergents to keep their sheets and towels bright. While these compounds are extremely successful at preventing white linens from greying or yellowing, they do necessitate some amount of knowledge. When used incorrectly, they might cause damage to your linens.
Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.
As a general rule, launder your bath towel (or swap in a clean one) at least once a week and your washcloth a couple times a week. Wash towels more frequently if you're sick to avoid reinfection.
Suggested Inventory – How Many Towels Do I Need? Adults: Four bath and two hand towels per week, plus two washcloths per day. Kids: Four bath and four hand towels per week, plus two washcloths per day.
Experts recommend washing or changing sheets once a week.
To cut to the chase, Dr Browning says we should be changing our sheets once a week, or every two weeks at the most. Hygiene is a big factor, and one of the reasons is sweat. If you've ever tried sleeping in a heatwave, you'll know how difficult it can be.
How often you need to wash your bras isn't an exact science. But dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says that as a general rule, you should wash them after every two to three wears.
Gather all towels
Many hotels have signs in the guest room bathrooms instructing guests to leave towels they don't plan to use again on the floor (or in the bathtub) as a sign to housekeeping that you want them replaced.
Strip the sheets off the bed and pillow cases and leave in a pile on the floor opposite the bathroom door. Take all used towels, washcloth, and bath mat and place in one pile on the bathroom floor.
Bleach and Peroxide Detergent Usage
One of the most well-known secrets of the hotel industry in keeping their sheets enviably is peroxide-based detergents. Bleach is also added to the mix.
Here's what should happen: The standard operating procedure is for towels and sheets to be changed between every guest, according to Joe McInerney, president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (www.ahla.org). Towels are also swapped out every day at some, but not all properties. "Some do, some don't," he says.
The chemical build-up of fabric softener also clogs the pores of Egyptian cotton sheets, preventing them from breathing, thus decreasing the luster and gloss that customers come to expect when staying at a quality hotel or bed and breakfast.
Most hotels rotate their sheets and towels regularly according to their guidelines and regulations. Some hotels change linens in every room once every three days, while others will only change the sheets and towels if a customer specifically requests it.
Think about it: Hotel towels are almost always white, likely for the same reason. They can be bleached, just a little, with every wash to stay fresh and clean looking for a very long time, without the unsightly bleach stains you'd get from doing the same thing with colorful towels.
Instead of getting thrown away, depending on it's condition, a bed sheet might be transformed into a pillow case, a table cloth, or covers, if it merely was torn and still in good usable condition. Hotels that have restaurants may even use old linens to make napkins or aprons that their staff can use.
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.
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.
Feeling of luxury.
White sheets assure guests that the bed is clean and fresh, which can also give the impression of luxury. The fresh, crisp, and clean feel can help the guest forget they are in an overall, generally germy place.
Basically every person who lives in your house needs two of each thing. Two towels per person. Two sheet sets per bed.