Are Hotel Bathtubs Clean?

S ocial media is flooded with beautiful hotel bathtubs. With views overlooking the city, or in the heart of the jungle, or even filled with flowers in Bali, it’s easy to get swept up in bathtub wanderlust. And while I often fall victim to these images, one thing always pulls me back to reality: the idea that these tubs, while beautiful, are likely disgusting.

1. My interest in hotel bathtubs began two summers ago, when I was in Alaska,
2. In the small town of Valdez, I checked in at my hotel, and noticed a sign, with a little fish on it, perched atop the front desk.
3. In a computer-generated cursive font, it read, “Please Do Not Process Fish in the Bathtub.” At first, I thought it was a gag—I had spent so much time around silly signs like that in gift shops that I didn’t think much of it.

But a few minutes later, the front desk manager pushed a contract printed on formal letterhead in front of me. It was an agreement, promising that I wouldn’t clean, gut, or store any fish I caught in the mini fridge or in the bathtub of my hotel room.

I signed immediately and never went anywhere near the bathtub during my stay. But I couldn’t stop thinking about “normal” hotel bathtubs (read: hotel bathtubs not near fishing spots). Are they filled with germs? Are they gross? And, perhaps most importantly, if they are dirty, is it potentially dangerous to take a bath? It turns out, it’s difficult to say how dirty these tubs are.

One study suggests that many bathtubs have a biofilm that only comes off with intense scrubbing. Another study found that 81 percent of surfaces sampled in hotels had fecal matter—suggesting that perhaps bathtubs aren’t the grossest thing in your hotel room.

1. Another suggested leaving your luggage in the hotel bathtub to avoid bed bugs because “they prefer dark crevices where they can hide properly,” and these are unlikely to be found in a bathroom.
2. Then, there’s the category of wellness tubs and pools.
3. In 2010, a woman died from a disease she contracted in a wellness hot tub.

Between 2000 and 2014, hotel pools were cited as the most frequent locations for chlorine-resistant bacteria infections, according to the CDC, Despite research on ways to improve hygienic practices in hotels, one can’t help but be concerned about unchlorinated hotel bathtubs, if chlorinated pools pose such a problem.

Naturally, the debate on whether or not to soak has boiled over to TikTok, with hundreds of videos and comments, ranging from “y’all are really getting in hotel bathtubs?” to “I’m not comfortable sleeping on the beds you guys are taking baths?” to a rogue conspiracy theory about Whitney Houston avoiding bathtubs (that is worth watching if you’re a fan).

Maddie Mooney, a 25-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, says that bathtubs are one of the most disgusting spots in a hotel room—if not the worst. Her hotel bathtub phobia began after a particular stay in a hotel where the towels had a “gross, brown, amber like stain on them.” She mentioned she’s stayed in several hotels where the bathtub would “backflood with gross, off color water,” or where she could see “mold in the grout, or grime and dirt still present, and sometimes even a hair or two.” Mooney didn’t want to give up baths for good.

After all, a bath can be a relaxing part of a vacation. She turned to Amazon for a solution and found one: bathtub liners, She playfully calls them “tub condoms,” in her video, and they work as you’d expect them to. The plastic sheets just cover the bathtub, allowing water to fill the plastic, so you and the water never touch the physical tub.

“When you think about it, the water’s clean, so you just need something to cover the bottom and sides of the bathtub,” she tells me. There’s another problem, though. Many hotel bathtubs, at least the ones worth spending time in, are much closer to hot tubs.

• They come with rocketing jets that massage your back, and melt away the pain of a long day.
• TikTok is filled with videos of water gurgling from these jets and turning brown, as well as guests taking matters into their own hands.
• Some have tried spraying the jets with cleaning solution before filling it up, while others have resorted to a more intense method.

Think of it as a bath bomb that cleans the tub instead of you: Guests are instead turning up the jets and adding a dishwasher tablet to the bath to clean their hotel tubs before using them. Margaret Bienert, 32, from Los Angeles, has never gone this far.

She’s a travel influencer, whose niche is adult-only hotels, and has stayed in some pretty spectacular looking hotel bathtubs—from one particularly intriguing champagne coupe tub to a plethora of heart-shaped tubs across the country. Recently, she posted a video encouraging others to overcome gross bathtubs,

She admits that at first when they started staying in these hotels and using the tubs she was more careful than she is today. In her experience as a hotel maid, she admits they barely spent any time cleaning the bathtubs. Bienert recalls one room she stayed in where the person before them must have had a spray on tan.

There was just a brown film when I turned the water on in the bath, and it reminded me of showering with spray on tanner,” she says. And yet despite these experiences, Bienert remains optimistic about hotel bathtubs. “We’re going to a lot of sexy hotels, where a lot of the tubs are seeing a lot of activity.

I asked a doctor how worried I should be about catching a disease,” she says. According to Bienert, the doctor said it would be “shocking” if that was how she contracted an STD. One study asserts that there is no harm in hotel bathtubs, even if they are gross.

1. They just recommend not drinking the water.
2. And experts agree here.
3. Erica Hartmann, an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University told The Daily Beast, “When you first get into a hotel room, there are probably microbes left over from the last guest to stay there.

But the longer you’re in the room, the more the room’s microbes reflect your own.” Hartmann added that despite the fact that there are microbes despite regular cleaning, they likely aren’t worth worrying about too much: “The most important thing to remember is that the vast majority of microbes will not make you sick,” she said.

Are bathtubs in hotels safe?

You’ve got questions, SmarterTravel has answers. In this month’s edition of the travel website’s advice column, Check Your Baggage, SmarterTravel reveals if hotel bathtubs are clean. Q: “Sometimes I hesitate to soak in a hotel tub even if it looks inviting. I can’t help thinking of all the people that have been in there before me! Are hotel bathtubs really clean?” — CS A: Considering that everything from hotel room remotes to in-room drinking glasses have been called out for their filthiness, it makes sense that the hotel bathtub would seem suspicious. But I don’t bring along a blacklight or germ culture kit when I travel (yet), so I did the next best thing and asked the experts. Rob Dunn, professor of applied ecology at NC State University, reassured me. “Your chances of encountering a microbe that will make you sick in the bathtub while bathing aren’t very high,” he said. “They are far higher from shaking the hand of the person at the front desk than from lounging in the tub. In short, lounge in the tub and don’t worry about it. But wash your hands with soap and water ( though never antimicrobial soap ) after shaking hands.” Erica Marie Hartmann, assistant professor at Northwestern University, notes that even if you do encounter some microbes in your hotel bathtub, they’re unlikely to cause any problems for a healthy person — and you may be more likely to find microbes in your hotel showerhead than in the bathtub anyway. Both professors agree — don’t drink the tub water, and you’ll be fine. Advice: How to survive a dirty hotel stay 28 loos with views: These are some of the most scenic hotel bathrooms in the world More from SmarterTravel

What are hotel bathtubs made of?

10 reasons why glazed titanium-steel is the material for the hotel bathroom • Hotel Designs 1 – So durable Bette has BBQs in its baths! Bette baths and shower trays are so durable and scratch resistant that the company has BBQs in its baths to prove how indestructible its glazed titanium-steel is! Once the charcoal has cooled and the bath has been cleaned it looks as good as new.

While you might not go that far, durability is key to choosing a product that will stay looking great for many years, with no amount of hotel guests and regular cleaning diminishing its shine and flawless finish. It’s all down to the perfectly uniform thickness of the titanium-steel and the precision of the enamel glaze, which makes it super-strong.

Bette is so confident about the durability, that all its glazed titanium-steel products come with a thirty year warranty.2 – Easy to clean The surface that makes Bette’s products so durable, is also what makes them so easy to clean. It is so hard and smooth (like glass) that dirt simply washes off, as it has no scratches or texture to cling to.

1. No special cleaning formulations are needed.
2. Cosmetics and coloured shampoos and shower gels won’t mark the surface and even nail varnish can be removed easily.3 – Sustainable, natural and 100% recyclable With a growing focus on the environment and desire to reduce the use of plastics, Bette offers the natural, non-plastic/acrylic alterative.

Bette baths, shower trays and basins are made from only natural materials and are 100% recyclable, which means they can be a more sustainable choice. Bette’s sustainability is confirmed by an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) based on the ISO 14025 and EN 15804 standards.4 – Invisible, easy-clean anti-slip Bette’s Anti-slip Pro finish isn’t like the ‘gritty’ anti-slip finishes of the past. Image credit: Bette

• 5 – Strong material meets strong design
• Bette has a strong design focus and this, together with the strong titanium-steel, means that Bette products include many clever features, like super-slim rims on baths and washbasins, steep sides for more standing or lying room and ultra-comfortable lying areas.
• 6 – Tailored to you

Not only does the Bette range offer a large choice of sizes and styles, including space-saving designs, but the manufacturing process means that Bette can tailor products to fit a space perfectly. So, if there’s an awkward space, like a recess, that needs a perfectly sized shower tray or bath, Bette can create it.

• No compromise required.
• And the hand-crafted element of Bette’s manufacturing process also means that shower trays and fitted baths can be ordered with BetteUpstand to the exact measurements required.
• So you can say goodbye to silicone where the product meets the wall tiles.7 – A choice of 500 Colours Because Bette products are made from titanium-steel and then the surface is enamelled there are around 500 colours to choose from.

There are matt options, as well as gloss, Bette can colour-match to ceramic items, and for larger projects, Bette can even create bespoke colours.

1. 8 – A warm, comfortable bath
2. Glazed titanium-steel is the perfect heat conductor, taking on the temperature of the room and then of the bathwater, to provide a truly comfortable bath, including around the neck area.
3. 9 – Quiet with special sound-proofing
4. Bette’s expertise extends to clever installation systems that reduce the transmission of noise from the bath or shower tray to the building, so making for a more relaxing experience for everyone.
5. 10 – UV Resistant
6. Bette’s special surface is colour and light-fast so, even after years of use, will be as bright and shiny as new.

Bette is one of our recommended suppliers. To keep up to date with their news, click here. And, if you are interested in becoming one of our recommended suppliers, please email Katy Phillips by, : 10 reasons why glazed titanium-steel is the material for the hotel bathroom • Hotel Designs

Is it safe to use hotel shower?

Hotels are required to meet certain standards of cleanliness and safety, so you can rest assured that the water is safe for bathing. However, it’s always best to check with the front desk or housekeeping staff before taking a bath just in case there have been any recent changes or updates made to the plumbing system.

Why are hotels getting rid of bathtubs?

Is sustainability at play? – The average standard-sized tub takes up about 13 square feet, whereas a standard shower-only option only needs about nine square feet. But studies vary on the question of which bathing option uses more water (long, hot showers may actually use more water than the average bath).

Either way, according to Sirna, travelers are looking to reduce their carbon footprints — and hotels can play on that by removing expensive tubs and replacing them with showers, some small and basic while others are more luxurious. Related: 8 sustainable travel tips from expert green travelers As a result, there have been some interesting innovations when it comes to hotel showers, including low-flow showerheads that reduce water waste, and the use of natural materials like stone, to evoke the outdoors.

Hotels are also evoking more spa-like bathroom experiences with rainfall showerheads or even double showerheads, and increasingly intricate and unique tile work. Some new hotels, such as Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea, are opening without a single bathtub.

How long is it safe to stay in a bathtub?

How long should you take a hot bath? – On the whole, a bath should last no longer than 30 minutes on the high end. The normal average is anywhere between 15-30 minutes, with prolonged exposure causing severe dry skin which leads to agitation, irritation and promotes bacteria growth, which carries a multitude of health risks.

• A longer soak, however, does amplify the normal benefits by a great deal, IE; Stress Relief, Muscle and Soreness relief, Reduced blood pressure and promoting Better airflow through your lungs.
• But this does come at the risk of drying out your skin, with the solid indicator of wrinkly fingers being a good time to wrap up your bath time.

Bath salts provide a wonderful aid for the benefits listed above, but summarily, you are adding salt to your water, which also poses the same problem-your skin will dry out that much faster. So if you are planning on using bath salts and taking a longer soak time, it is well advised you properly moisturize beforehand to keep your skin from cracking and drying out.

Will my stuff be safe in a hotel room?

Every “how to” article about keeping your valuables secure in a hotel recommends placing them in the in-room safe. Your hotel safe is a good place to keep valuables out of view and it is a much better solution than trying to hide them in your room. So how safes are hotel room safes? The answer is no hotel room safe is 100% secure, here’s why.

• All hotels have a backdoor or “special way” so the staff can get into the safe in case a guest forgets the code, or loses the key to the safe.
• Some safes may use a master key or card while others may have a special override code to open the door.
• Either way, when a safe has a way for someone other than you to get in it, your valuables are never 100% safe.

If a dishonest hotel employee does take something from your hotel safe, it is always going to be hard to prove who exactly stole from the safe during your stay, and hotel management may not always be willing to cooperate, especially in foreign countries.

How do I know if my tub is fiberglass or acrylic?

Grab a Magnet – Find a strong magnet and hold it against the wall of your bathtub. If it sticks, then your tub is made of steel or cast iron. Unlike metal, acrylic and fiberglass bathtubs are not magnetic.

Do they clean hotel showers?

Generally speaking, most hotels take great care to ensure that their rooms are kept as clean as possible for guests. Toilets should be flushed and wiped down with a disinfectant after each use; sinks should be scrubbed regularly; and showers should be cleaned with an appropriate cleaner at least once a day.

How can you tell if a tub is fiberglass or porcelain?

Step 3 – Hold a Magnet to the Tub – Steel and cast iron tubs are magnetic. If you hold a strong magnet near the wall of the tub, it should stick. You may already have magnets on the bottom of your shower curtain to hold it in place and keep the water inside the tub. If the magnets do not stick, that is a definite indicator of fiberglass or acrylic.

Are baths dirtier than showers?

– First, let’s address the obvious: Showers are cleaner than baths. If your priority is finding a way to thoroughly cleanse your entire body, a shower is the way to go. Showers evenly distribute water over your body and whisk contaminated water out of sight.

Is it safe to drink out of hotel bathroom sink?

Bottleless Water Coolers — A Hotel Water Supply You Can Trust – When you’re traveling and you need a glass of cold water, it’s always a good idea to be cautious of an unfamiliar water source. And, while the water from a hotel bathroom tap goes through filtration and treatment to mitigate contaminants, it’s safe to avoid this water supply if you can: The potential risks to your long-term health aren’t worth it.

1. So, how can hotels provide water that guests can trust? Hotels can leverage bottleless water coolers from Quench to ensure access to clean, great-tasting water.
2. We offer water-as-a-service solutions by providing filtered water through a broad array of bottleless machines — so hotels can keep their employees, customers, and guests happy, healthy, and hydrated at all times.

Inspired by innovation and environmental conscience, a bottleless water dispenser from Quench leverages cutting-edge filtration technology to deliver great-tasting, clean water safely and sustainably. So, when hotels and conference rooms need an endless supply of fresh, clean water — our bottleless dispensers can keep up.

Why do hotels get rid of the 13th floor?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Panel from an elevator in a residential apartment building in Shanghai, Floors 4, 13 and 14 are missing, because of the similarity between the pronunciation of the word “four” and “death” in Chinese. The thirteenth floor is a designation of a level of a multi-level building that is often omitted in countries where the number 13 is considered unlucky,

Omitting the 13th floor may take a variety of forms; the most common include denoting what would otherwise be considered the thirteenth floor as level 14, giving the thirteenth floor an alternate designation such as “12A” or “M” (the thirteenth letter of the Latin alphabet ), or closing the 13th floor to public occupancy or access (e.g., by designating it as a mechanical floor ).

Reasons for omitting a thirteenth floor include triskaidekaphobia on the part of the building’s owner or builder, or a desire by the building owner or landlord to prevent problems that may arise with superstitious tenants, occupants, or customers. In 2002, based on an internal review of records, Dilip Rangnekar of Otis Elevators estimated that 85% of the buildings with Otis brand elevators did not have a floor named the 13th floor.

Early tall-building designers, fearing a fire on the 13th floor, or fearing tenants’ superstitions about the rumor, decided to omit having a 13th floor listed on their elevator numbering. This practice became commonplace, and eventually found its way into American mainstream culture and building design.

Vancouver city planners have banned the practice of skipping 4s and 13s, since it could lead to mistakes by first responders, for example going to the wrong floor.

Are jetted tubs sanitary?

A Risky Soaking: Study Shows Whirlpool Water Can Be Dangerous – Attention whirlpool bathtub users: That water you’re leisurely soaking in could be some of the filthiest and nastiest in the world. A study by a TexasA&MUniversity microbiologist shows that whirlpool bathtubs can literally be a breeding ground for dozens of types of bacteria, many of them potential pathogens, and such water can be a ground zero for infectious diseases.

• Microbiologist Rita B.
• Moyes tested 43 water samples from whirlpool bathtubs — both private and public ones — and found that all 43 had bacterial growth ranging from mild to red-level dangerous.
• A whopping 95 percent showed the presence of fecal derived bacteria, while 81 percent had fungi and 34 percent contained staphylococcus, which can cause deadly staph infections.

The lesson learned: Enter a whirlpool bathtub at your own risk, and it may be a considerable one. “Whirlpool baths are almost always a prime area for potentially harmful microbes,” Moyes explains. “The main reason is the lining of the pipes. They are full of inaccessible air, and water in these pipes tends to get trapped, often for long periods of time.

When the jets are then switched on, this water with harmful bacteria gets blown into the tub where a person is soaking and then trouble can start.” To get some idea of how much bacteria are in whirlpool tub pipes, Moyes says that a normal teaspoon of tap water contains an average of about 138 bacteria, with many samples not having any bacteria at all.

But the same teaspoon of whirlpool tub water contains an average of more than 2.17 million bacteria. “The stagnant water in a whirlpool bathtub pipe is a great place for bacteria to grow and grow,” Moyes says. She adds that such harmful bacteria can lead to numerous diseases, among them urinary tract infections, septicemia, pneumonia and several types of skin infections.

Because of the aerosol mist created by the whirlpool action, microbes are forced into the lungs or open cuts, she explains. One type of bacteria, L. pneumophila, can cause Legionnaires Disease, of which 90 percent of all cases can be traced back to bacteria developed from a warm environment. Moyes says that as long ago as 1972, studies were done to test the bacteria levels in whirlpool baths and hot tubs, but evidence collected has often not shown sufficient reasons for concern.

“That’s probably because a hot tub or whirlpool as a source of infection can’t be clearly distinguished from other sources,” she adds. “An example might be when you develop a respiratory infection. The doctor can tell you that you do have a respiratory infection, but he or she can’t tell you how you got it.

The best way to prevent such bacteria from forming is to clean out the pipes,” she adds. “The pipes in a whirlpool bathtub need to be scraped and cleaned just like you need to brush your teeth with toothpaste.” Whirlpool bathtubs remain a popular item with home owners: A survey by the National Association of Home Builders shows that 58 percent of owners want a hot tub or whirlpool, and whirlpool bathtubs are increasingly popular in hotels, hospitals and health resorts.

“Because of the popularity of whirlpool bathtubs, the public needs to be educated on the possible risks associated with them,” Moyes says. “We also need to explore effective ways to prevent the growth of bacteria in whirlpool bathtubs through new cleaning methods and new technology in tub design.”

How often should a woman soak in the tub?

Don’t take a bath every day: Daily baths can dry out your skin by ridding your body of its natural oils. Try for baths no more than twice a week. Shower between bath days. Use warm (not hot) water: Some people may experience dizziness or weakness when the temperature is too hot.

How long should a shower take for a girl?

– According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average shower lasts 8 minutes. If you like to linger in the shower for longer than 15 minutes, you might want to rethink your hygiene routine. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr.

1. Edidiong Kaminska, MD, the recommended maximum shower time is about 5 to 10 minutes.
2. This is enough time to cleanse and hydrate the skin without overdoing it.
3. Our skin needs water, just like our bodies, but if we over- or under-do it, then it may have consequences,” she adds.
4. And if you have dry skin or eczema, Dr.

Anna Guanche, MD, FAAD, says shorter, lukewarm showers are recommended. Moreover, the Baylor College of Medicine says it’s especially important to avoid hot showers in the wintery months since the heat can damage the surface of the skin, which can lead to inflammation and increase symptoms of eczema.

How long is too long to soak in a bath?

2. You’re soaking for too long – If you’re taking hour-long baths, you might want to cut down you time. a lot. “When taking a bath, you should try to limit it to 15 minutes,” Dr. Chimento says. “Anything longer than that will begin to strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to inflammation and irritation.” Basically, when it starts to get cold, get out.

How can I be safe in a bathtub?

Did you know more than 43,000 children are injured in the bathtub and shower every year in the United States? January is National Bath Safety Month. Bath time can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the day for your child, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. Below are five tips I would like to share to help keep your little ones safe in the tub.

Supervision. Despite the temptation to step out of the bathroom for “just a second,” you should never leave a young child unattended in the bath. Many people believe they will hear a splash or a noise from a child in distress, but this is not so. Infants and toddlers can simply slip under the water silently. So never take a risk, not even for a moment. For children under the age of one, make sure you have everything you need within arm’s reach before you start. Falls. Children are slippery when wet! So is the tub, the shower and the floor. In fact, most of the bath injuries are from slips and falls. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this most common bath-time injury. Consider using a non-slip mat or coating for the tub and shower. There are also bath spout covers that can help prevent cuts, bumps and bruises. Water temperature. Set your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 degrees Celcius) or less to prevent accidental burns. Curious toddlers love to turn on the water themselves and can quickly sustain a burn if the water is too hot. It is also a good habit to turn the cold faucet before the hot – a great thing to-teach your kids too! Toilets, medications and cleaning products, Bathrooms in general can be dangerous places for children. Toilet seat covers should be installed on every toilet in the home. Medications and cleaning products should be stored out of a child’s reach, preferably up high and in a closet or cabinet with a safety lock. Shaving razors also need to be stored away and out of reach. Hair dryers. Electrical devices such as hair dryers and curling irons can cause electrical injury if they were to fall into water. Not to mention they both can cause serious burns! These devices must be unplugged when not in use and stored up high, in a locked cabinet or closet, or even in another room.

Follow these five easy steps so you can minimize the risk of injury in the bathroom and enjoy bath time with your child!

Is it okay to take bath towel from hotel?

What you can’t take: Wooden hangers, glass bottles, and mugs – There is a chance that taking these items from your hotel room could lead to consequences beyond an extra charge to your room—including being “blacklisted,” NBC reports. Hotels keep a record of guests who trash hotel rooms or steal items, and they might ban those people from booking rooms again.

In rare scenarios, some people could get arrested. The Telegraph reports that a couple in Japan was arrested for stealing robes and an ashtray. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so only take the complimentary items that you really need. Remember, just because you can take something doesn’t mean you should.

Next, find out what hotel housekeepers know about you, and make sure you know how to spot hidden cameras wherever you stay. Sources:

Ousman Conteh, general manager at Claridge House Chicago Curt Asmussen, managing director of Obie Hospitality Joanna McCreary, general manager for the W Hotel in Austin, Texas The Telegraph : “Top 10 items stolen from hotels” Huff Post : “Hotels Can Track Those Towels That You Steal” NBC : “Hotels upgrade their ‘no-stay’ lists”

Originally Published: December 31, 1969