A local Atlanta TV news station put secret cameras in five different hotels, and watched how the housekeeping staff went about cleaning used drinking glasses in the guest rooms.

This is pretty gross.

http://clipsyndicate.com/publish/video/438812?cpt=3

eeeeeuuuuwww! I'm not one who worries much about germs but this is too gross. I just always assumed that the dirty glasses were taken away and clean ones left, and that the dirty ones were put through some kind of sterilizing dishwashing process. Some hotels still give glasses wrapped in paper. That makes me feel somewhat more secure.

This is not a surprise. Years ago a friend of mine told me a story that it was not uncommon for housekeepers to use the same rag for wiping the toilet seat as they did to wipe the glasses. I never never never use the glasses unless I give them a good scrub under hot running water with a squirt of shampoo or soap for good measure.

You do occasionally see a housekeeper's cart in the hallway stocked with trays of glassware ---- but not that often. Figure it out.

I am surprised you did now know this...
I try to get paper or plastic cups to use in the room, even high end hotels. I also never leave my toothbrush out.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qwaktb79exc

I didn't know it, but I do now. First stop on next trip - drugstore for dixie cups.

OK, it's gross, but it's also true that germs can't live long on an inert surface like glass and are therefore harmless. The mattress, if you think about it, is much grosser.

Let's just hope they wash the sheets instead of just shaking them out!

There's plenty in a hotel room that is gross if you stop and think about it. Glasses are the least of your problems.

Isn't it amazing that anyone survived before the 20th Century?
Can you imagine the filth one was exposed to everyday?

It it enough to make me want to forego hotels and just go camping. We get plenty dirty out in the woods, but it is "clean dirt"

That is just gross. I do often look at the housekeeping carts to see if they are carting away the dirty glasses and replacing with clean ones.

Hi

I saw this today and I have to admit that I have never really thought about this. But it was pretty gross and when I'm of to NYC in the end of the month I think I will take a closer look at the glasses. I wouldn't have been surprised if this was a cheap motel we were talking about...but this is Sheraton. I thought they were a quality hotel chain.

regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

This is gross but a true story.
My husband and friends were in the BVI. After they got home and had their film developed there were pictures that looked unfamiliar. Upon closer examination it was a picture of someones butt----with a toothbrush sticking out!!! And yes it was one of theirs!!!! How disguisting.

Apparently housekeeping took the picture with the camera that was left in the room. They then put the toothbrush back on the counter.

Needless to say I NEVER leave my toothbrush or anything else that's not in a container that can be closed out.

I never thought about this until we bought our B&B five years ago - we change out the glasses and put them through the sanitizing dishwasher, thank you very much - but I realized that I never saw new glasses on a housekeeping cart in a hotel. I will say if they use a bleach solution to spray them and let them air-dry, that would meet our county's health department standard.

"I wouldn't have been surprised if this was a cheap motel we were talking about...but this is Sheraton."

I noted that the maid did the same thing at the Ritz Carlton.

Bam - That story has been circulating as an urban myth for years....I've heard it quite a few times. Check it out on: www.snopes.com. Type in "toothbrush film" in the search bar.

Myth or not it's totally gross.