The Nasty Reason You Shouldn’t Use the Kettle in Your Hotel Room

Hint: It has something to do with germs. Lots and lots of germs.

This-Is-the-Nasty-Reason-Why-You-Should-Never,-Ever-Use-the-Kettle-in-Your-Hotel-Room_12156268_Tito-WongTito Wong/Shutterstock

Sure, you could save a few bucks on your next vacation by brewing the free coffee in your hotel room. But unless you want a mouthful of somebody else’s disgusting germs, you might want to think again about that cup of joe.

Rumor has it that some people actually wash their underwear in the kettles found in your hotel room, Gizmodo reports. That’s right—these desperate travelers boil the water and stick their used undergarments in there. Splurging on a latte from the Starbucks across the street is sounding better and better. So is showering at home since taking a bath in your hotel is one of 5 ways you can get sick on vacation.

The discussion began on Twitter, where a user heard about the gross habit from a friend. As to be expected, everyone is uncomfortable with the idea of people using kettles to clean underwear. Why you should never use the hotel hair dryer will gross people out, too.

To add insult to injury, Dr. Heather Hendrickson, a senior lecturer in Molecular Biosciences at Massey University in Aukland, told Gizmodo that boiling your underwear in a kettle isn’t even effective. Boiling kills most germs, but it doesn’t kill all the microorganisms lingering in your underwear. So, if you’re one of the culprits, please do us a favor: “Be respectful of other people and don’t do this!” Dr. Hendrickson says. “I am totally grossed out!”

Sadly, that isn’t the only germ-ridden spot in your hotel room. Sleeping in the car during your next vacation? We might just join you.

[Sources: Huffington Post, Gizmodo]

Brooke Nelson Alexander
Brooke is a tech and consumer products writer covering the latest in digital trends, product reviews, security and privacy, and other news and features for Reader's Digest. She's a two-time Emmy-nominated reporter with nearly 10 years of publishing experience, and her work has been recognized by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.