John

I own a B&B in New Orleans and use mattelasse coverlets rather than comforters or bedspreads so they CAN be washed between guests. (I don't know why more hotels don't do the same!) I worked for Omni, Intercontinental and Westin in my earlier days and do agree that blankets and bedspreads are not changed nearly often enough! However, I don't worry about it. It's not much different than airline seats, rental car seats or any other "fabric" which is used by many people.

L

Cheslie, are you reacting from your own experiences? I found them to be a bit too starnge to be of much bother. But good luck to you ... I believe you'll need it.

S

Some people go overboard, some consider any reaction is going overboard. I'm somewhere in the middle. As long as you realize how nasty bedspreads can be - and that the nastiest surface in the bathroom is the sink faucet - (I could go on and on) - you are prepared in advance.

I get too cold to ditch the bedspread, but as long as it's not in my face, I'm not going to worry about it. If I sit on it, I'll be fully clothed. I always use the clean cloth bath mat to step on, but don't shower in flip flops. Using a public restroom, I flip the seat up and NEVER sit. If I can turn the faucet off with the towel I just used to dry my hands, I will. Also use it to open the bathroom door, and while propping it open with my foot, toss the towel in the trash. If I can't do that, I won't obsess. It's just a little bit more germs to build up my resistance.

FYI, the amount of water thrown up into the air when you flush the toilet is unbelievable! And we're not talking about the fresh water coming into the toilet. The worst possible place you can leave your toothbrush is on the sink counter beside the toilet! Go brush your teeth in the morning thinking of all the minute fecal matter that you left on your toothbrush the last time you flushed! Have a nice day now!

OliveOyl

Get a grip, S!! What the h*** kind of toilet do you have, a reverse action macerator?? ROFL

S

From what I've read, ANY toilet!

TidyBowlMan

Oh, "S" is right on the mark on this one!
It's a pretty impressive airborne display from the water level up!
Men will tell you that the painted walls behind a urinal in an old restroom will peel and rust (if on metal) great distances away. And those flushes aren't nearly as powerful as the toilet bowl's.
There's a government study on this I'd be happy to refer you to...but since it'll be dinner time soon, I'd rather not.

Former Maid

Seems a silly battle -- bedspreads vs. plumbing -- but for what it's worth:

Maids have to clean sinks, faucets, etc. because it's very obvious when they haven't been. Also it's relatively easy: rubber gloves, some "fierce" liquid cleaner in a bucket, swip-swipe, and you're done. This happens every day, more or less.

The bedspread, on the other hand, gets dropped on the floor while sheets are straightened or replaced, and sometimes it gets walked on. And yes, I've seen some pretty disgusting things on bedspreads, but it takes time to go get another one from the closet -- you don't get added tips for that, and the management often doesn't want the added laundry. If they see a bedspread in with the sheets and towels, they'll call you in and chew you out.

Me, when I travel? Bedspread goes over a chair unless I can tell this is a place that washes them between guests -- which is about 1 in 50 places, often the less expensive ones, too (clue: it's not a quilted spread, so it's as washable as the sheets).

britabroad

This is my first taste of the US forum - I think I'll stick to Europe!

Alexis

I hate to break it to anyone but the bedspreads are generally not changed after each guest. Even in the upper-end hotels, national chains, etc. Dateline had a segment about this about a year ago. They analyzed materials found on those covers and found...you guessed it...urine, blood, feces and.. well, ya' know. Does this mean I immediately throw the thing in the closet upon entering the room? No, I don't but I just can't help pulling down the spread to look at the underside (that's usually white) to see if there are any obvious stains. Let's face it, someone else's dried urine (or whatever) isn't going to kill you but you don't have to be a germophobe to still think it's pretty yucky!

Iluvcolby

OMG! I'm gonna get fired from laughing too loud at my computer screen! I've never pulled them off b4 but after reading this gruesome series of posts will definitely start to do so, why taken any chances?

Vicky Jalandoni

Chelsie,
I find that the best way to get rid of the bedspread is to call housekeeping or get hold of the cleaning lady immediately and tell her you don't want the bedspread placed on the bed during your stay and instead please put an additional sheet on top. A tip always works.

Anna

I'm pretty careful about germs--- using a paper towel to open the door in a public restroom, taking the spread off the bed in a hotel room, etc, so it's nice to read there are others who worry like I do. Last year I was staying in a hotel in Houston, and the maid came to clean up the room while I was there. I told her to go ahead, and I chatted with her as she worked. As I was talking to her, she picked up the bathroom wastebasket, emptied it, and then proceeded to leave me "clean" towels, without ever washing her hands. I was completely grossed out, but rather than trying to explain the problem to her (she spoke poor English and I speak poor Spanish), I took the towels down to the laundry and washed them myself. Extra work for me, but at least I knew they were clean. I try not to think about the gross things that happen that I DON'T know about!

ce

Hey Chelsie, this is pretty funny, all this talk. Actually, I freaked out sometime back when I went to this cheesy travelodge with unlimited free porn, on Tv, and next door. The sheets were pretty dirty, and the whole place had a whore-like atmosphere. I usually dont worry so much in bigger hotels. But, what you can do is, sleep with long sleeved pyjamas, socks, and put you own towel over the pillow. Just keep the sheets off your face. Then shower using your own towels. If you have to use their towels, down dry your face with it, or your private areas. Chelsie, Im your MANNN!

Rebecca

I just try to keep in mind that people aren't dying from unclean hotel linens, but what about Lysol? It works better than European Detox spray at killing mold and mildew, so I bring some home whenever I visit home (US). I bring it with me when traveling and always spray the bathroom areas and floor, now I'll consider the bedspread as well.

Cheryl

Chelsie, I thought I was the only person who ever gave thought to the germs on hotel bedspreads!!! I always fold them way down to my ankles at bedtime, pull the blanket down, turn down the air conditioning and sleep with the sheets. If I get too cold, I snuggle up nice and close to the hubby!

I've seen all those 60 Minutes, etc. shows and you would be surprised how dirty hotel rooms really are! Sometimes, the maid will clean the sink with the same cloth she used to clean the toilet! I take along some small packets of antibacterial wipes and use them on the faucet handles and doors when I first get there. My husband thinks I'm nuts, but it all makes me feel a little better.

ttt

ttt, for all those extra frisky vacationers and everyone else who wants to avoid their byproducts

Help

I will never leave the house again!

A

Antibacterial this, Lysol that. The recent fad is ridiculous. Can anyone quote ANY statistics that say that people who pull the bedspread off their beds and use antibacterial sprays/lotions/gels get sick any less?

Z

YES!

Suzy

Hey, y'all, it could be worse. Here's a link to an Urban-Legends-debunking site that documents several real incidents.

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/gruesome/bodybed.htm