Most travelers expect a sense of comfort and relaxation when they step into a newly cleaned hotel room. But there may be hidden hygiene risks behind that welcome feeling.
While hotel toiletries may seem like a handy perk, Dawn Morwood, co-director of cheap deals, warns that what's inside those bottles isn't always the case. “Travelers often assume that hotel toiletries are safe and fresh, but the reality can be quite different,” she explained. Years of experience in the travel industry have led Morwood to recognize a subtle, disgusting set of red flags that could turn the entire experience upside down.
According to Dawn, guests must first carefully inspect toiletry seals before they can be comfortable and jump into the bed.
“Do not use if the seal appears to be damaged or if there is residue around the cap,” she advised.
Broken or missing seals are often the first indicators where a product may have been tampered with or reused. This is an incredibly common practice in some accommodations that are trying to reduce costs.
Even if the package appears undamaged, the product inside can still cause doubt. In that case, it's best to avoid that.
“Shampoo should not look like water. Lotion should not contain any lumps floating around,” warned Dawn.
Strange consistency or unexpected discoloration is a “major warning sign” and is reason enough to avoid it.
Scent is also a powerful indicator of quality (or lack thereof). This is because bad or unfamiliar smells can suggest an expired or contaminated product.
“Trust your nose,” urged the expert. “If something smells, like a chemical, or it's completely different from what you expect, take a step away.”
It's instinctive, but Dawn recommends paying attention to the cleanliness of the bottle itself. “A clean hotel maintains clean toiletry containers. If the outside of the bottle looks sticky or dirty, imagine what's there.”
Finally, travel experts recommend that you inspect labeling at all times, as “professionally branded products require proper labeling.”
“Handwritten labels or common stickers are red flags right away,” Dawn added.
These could refer to either homemade, diluted or completely misrepresented products, so Dawn simply says, “The safest approach is to always bring your own toiletries.”
