'I'm a travel agent - I never use free toiletries in hotel rooms and you shouldn't either'
If you were planning on relying on those refillable free toiletries found in hotels during your next holiday, think again as there could be getting much more than just shampoo
If there's one thing that can really add up when travelling abroad it's the amount of toiletries that either have to be bought or included in luggage allowance. Suncream, moisturisers, make-up, deodorant – it can be a welcome relief to know that your hotel room will at least have shampoo, conditioner, and body wash included.
However, a travel agent has revealed the disgusting truth about what could be lurking in those refillable bottles. Hotel rooms get used by all sorts of people, and let's be honest, not everyone treats them as well as they ought to.
This can unfortunately lead to damage to the room, or it being left in a condition that's messier than you might expect as a guest. Hannah Westphal, an owner of byHannah Vacations, used to manage vacation rentals has revealed why free toiletries shouldn't be trusted by visitors.
She said: "I have to admit, I would never use those refillable shampoo and conditioner bottles in the shower. It's a bit off-putting not knowing exactly what's in those dispensers. There's always the worry someone might have refilled them with something... and believe me, I've seen hair removal creams and God knows what else.”
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The advice has been shared multiple times on social media with many people horrified by the fact that people add all sorts of things to the bottles. And while Hannah suggests that it should be fine to use bottles that have been securely locked and cannot be tampered with, other people beg to differ.
She said: "Some toiletry pumps have a design that makes them look securely locked. You actually need to unlock them to refill, which prevents guests from altering the contents of the ones already in the hotel room. So, you definitely can use them."
However, underneath a video of someone discussing exactly this point, one user chimed in: "I work at a holiday inn; you can easily use a pin to unlock it." Another TikToker revealed she had heard the same advice about not using the shampoo and conditioner, adding: "This woman who was the manager of a hotel said she’s found nair, bleach, dye, etc in those bottles. When you think about it, anyone could really put anything in there…"
Discussing exactly that, another video claimed: "My friend, he was like, never, ever use the shampoo. And I was like, why? He goes people [ejaculate] in that? Yeah. And I was like, who would do that? He goes, I did it."
Reacting to the shocking revelation, one user wrote: "This is why we have so much single use plastic waste. People are monsters."
Hannah further adds: "It might be wise might be wise to bring your own miniature toiletries, like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, for your trip." However, for those who forget to bring their own, the best thing to do is to "head to reception and enquire about any spare ones they might have," suggests Hannah.
The news comes as the American state of New York is set to ban single-use toiletry bottles in hotels, beginning on January 1, 2025. The ban will see hotels with more than fifty rooms forced to scrap their mini toiletries of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and moisturisers.
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