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Hotel bedsheets: The truth about how clean they really are - The Manual

Let’s get straight to the point: are your hotel bedsheets clean?

Picture your next trip — sun and sand, maybe picturesque mountains, a great view from your hotel room where a comfy bed with fluffy pillows and the softest sheets beckon you. Peel back the covers, and everything looks amazing, but before you crawl in, take a minute. Are hotel sheets clean … really? Cotton Bedding Set

Hotel bedsheets: The truth about how clean they really are - The Manual

A 2016 investigation from Inside Edition uncovered a disturbing trend. Some hotels weren’t changing linens between guests. These aren’t the grimy roadside motels of your nightmares either. The nine hotels in question were part of a group of upscale city hotels.

This shouldn’t put you off travel entirely. We have a few suggestions for how to tell if your bedsheets are clean and what to do if you suspect otherwise. Here’s what you need to know, including preparing for and staying safe at a hotel.

An earlier investigation showed similar results using hidden cameras. In the hotels — this time in New Jersey — housekeeping staff failed to change pillows and cut corners cleaning bathrooms.

The demand for hotels to keep up with the influx of guests could suggest that standard protocols aren’t always on point in some cases. Both hotel groups in the investigation had strict policies in place designed to protect travelers and create a clean, sanitary experience. A few bad apples don’t indict all housekeepers.

The hotels in question were quick to discount the investigation, saying that they expected protocols to happen each time guests arrived and left. Of the nine hotels in the investigation, three violated those protocols.

The investigation was simple. The team booked one particular room undercover and spray painted things like “I slept here” in black light liquid on the sheets or left labels on things like pillows. The offending hotels left some or all of the same pieces found when the team booked the same hotel room under a different name.

Unless you’re staying in bargain-basement types of hotels, there’s still a great chance your luxury hotel is doing everything it can to make sure that your room is spotless. That said, you’ll want to go a step further than trusting the perfect goodwill of strangers. A basic check can give you an indication of whether to request new linens. Asking tons of questions and using your senses can help you determine what hotels are following protocols. The best thing you can do is use common sense and look for the right details.

“I don’t stay in a hotel to clean it myself.” No, you don’t. You shouldn’t have to. Regardless, there are some precautions you can take.

Hotels do have legal cleaning protocols they must follow. While no hotel room can be 100% free of germs, most nice hotels are doing everything they can to ensure your room is sanitary and ready for each guest.

Taking a few precautions puts you ahead of most travelers, and you wouldn’t even have to bring your own sheets to take advantage of that. You come in contact with germs throughout your travels, so there’s no need to hyper-focus on your hotel room.

Unless you’re choosing to stay in an ultra-budget motel or hostel, the hotel is eager to create a good experience for you. Good reviews and maintaining stars keep a nice hotel competitive in the cutthroat world of hospitality. Use that to your advantage and do your research before staying.

By avoiding these germ-laden spots in your hotel room, you’ll be doing your body a favor. While we always hope for the best hotel hygiene, unfortunately, it’s not always guaranteed. Safeguard yourself by steering clear of these items whenever possible.

When trying to find the best bang for your buck in an airline ticket, piecing together baggage fees, seat fees, ticket levels, hidden fees, and departure/arrival times leaves many people flustered by the time a ticket is actually purchased. Southwest Airlines has been popular for years thanks to its dedication to making flying both simple and affordable. 

While the rest of the world is finally catching the psychedelic wave, the Netherlands has been ahead of the game for a while now — at least when it comes to psilocybin mushrooms. While the country’s laws regarding so-called "magic" mushrooms have swung back and forth frequently over the past few decades — ultimately resulting in a ban on possession as of 2008 — a legal loophole still allows for the sale, possession, and consumption of psilocybin mushroom "truffles:" the slightly less potent part of a mushroom that grows underground. An entire industry has sprung up as a result.

Honestly, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of great restaurants in America. Nailing down the top 25 is challenging and an ever-changing thing, as the best restaurants in the U.S. are always evolving, changing their menus with the seasons or further improving classic recipes. But we're pretty pleased with this list, made up of restaurants all over the country that impress in a variety of ways, from culinary and hospitality facets to just plain being iconic.

These are the places that will make you love food even more. It could be the pairing of a dry red wine or the presentation of a remarkable dish. Maybe it's a classic dish that's been turned out in a city for generations. Perhaps it's a Michelin star-winning chef redefining what it means to eat in America. No matter which direction the following establishments go; know that they excel at that very route. Hungry?

Hotel bedsheets: The truth about how clean they really are - The Manual

Bedding Sets With Matching Curtains The Essential Guide for MenThe Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, including fashion, food, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis.