Staying in a hotel should be a luxurious and relaxing experience, but, let’s face it, sometimes that is just not the case. From noisy neighbors to lumpy beds, some hotels just aren’t up to snuff. Nonetheless, most guests don’t consider the idea that they may end up getting sick from simply staying in a room. Warning: This story may make you re-think taking your next vacation!
News station WAGA in Atlanta released an exhaustive report about the cleanliness—or lack thereof—of three popular hotel chains. Now, this issue isn’t regarding dirty sheets or stained carpet. It’s something that most of us just wouldn’t second guess: drinking glasses.
Randy Searles, the former manager of an Embassy Suites in Alpharetta, Georgia, goes over the highly questionable cleaning procedure in his interview with the I-Team. “Basically what they’re doing there is using glass can cleaner to spray into the glasses, wipe them out, and put them back.” GLASS CAN CLEANER?! That cannot be healthy!
Searles goes on to explain that this cleaning routine was in place for the full six years that he had worked at the hotel. In other words, theoretically speaking, the exact same glass could have never been properly sanitized for an entire six years.
When reporters checked into the hotel and set up hidden cameras, they in fact did catch a maid using the glass can cleaner on the cups, just as the former manager had described. The liquid cleaner even had a warning on the side of the can reading “DO NOT DRINK.” Unbelievable!
Disease control expert Roy Costa explains that when glasses are not properly sanitized, users end up being exposed to some pretty nasty stuff. Costa says, “You can get any of the pathogens that were on that person’s hand when they touched the cup, which could be things like e. coli and salmonella, your mononucleosis, you have your herpes . . .”
Watch WAGA’s video below to see the complete report for yourself.
What do you think about these hotels’ poor sanitation practices? Have you ever gotten sick from staying at a hotel? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!