Never use an electric kettle in a hotel room—it can be disgusting

The cozy illusion of a hotel kettle. After a long trip, many travelers first notice the small electric kettle in their room. A cup of hot tea, coffee, or even a quick cup of noodles helps them feel more comfortable away from home. This unassuming appliance seems perfectly safe: pour water, turn on the button, and within minutes, you have boiling water. Most guests believe that the high temperature automatically keeps the kettle clean and hygienic. However, some hotel staff and seasoned travelers warn: the reality can be quite different. What lies behind the cleanliness? When it comes to hotel room cleanliness, many are wary of TV remote controls, door handles, and light switches. But few consider what happens inside the kettle between guest stays. Hotel staff regularly clean rooms, change linens, and empty trash, but internal appliance cleaning is often not included in the mandatory procedures after each guest. This means that previous guests may have used the appliance for other purposes. Unexpected Uses of Kettles Stores periodically appear on various travel forums and in stories from hotel staff about guests using electric kettles to wash small items. In particular, there are reports of people attempting to "disinfect" socks or underwear by soaking them in hot water directly inside the kettle. The logic behind such actions is simple: boiling water kills bacteria, making the items cleaner. However, such experiments can leave dirt and detergent residue on the appliance's interior walls, which a simple rinse may not remove. Should you avoid tea in your room? There is no evidence that this happens in every hotel. Nevertheless, stories of unusual uses for hotel kettles make many travelers wary of them. If you're unsure about the appliance's cleanliness, you can thoroughly rinse it before use and boil water once, then use it again. The safest option, however, is to order drinks from the hotel cafe or restaurant. Sometimes, the most innocuous items in a hotel room can hold stories best left undiscovered over your morning cup of tea.