Are Hotel Towels Hygienic?

1. Hotel towel replacement standards

(1) Basic replacement principle
"One guest, one change": According to the "Implementation Rules of the Public Places Hygiene Management Regulations", public items such as towels and bath towels must be replaced after each guest leaves the hotel to ensure "one guest, one change".

(2) Replacement for consecutive stays
Towels: Change daily (regardless of whether the guest leaves the hotel).
Bed sheets/bath towels: If the guest stays continuously, they will be changed every 3 days (some hotels implement this from the 4th day of stay).
Replacement on demand: Guests can request to change towels at any time, and the hotel must meet their request unconditionally.

(3) Replacement of physical life
Washing limit: Cotton towels must be discarded after 100-110 washes; blended materials can be extended to 300-400 washes.
Time period: Regardless of the frequency of use, it is recommended to replace new towels every 3 months. In humid areas or during the rainy season, the time is shortened to 2-3 months.
Replacement standard: Replace towels immediately when they are damaged, have stubborn stains, become hard, or their water absorption rate drops by more than 40%.

2. Hotel Towel Cleaning and Disinfection Process (Standardized Operations)

(1) (1) Collection and Sorting
A designated person wearing gloves collects towels, seals them, and transports them to the disinfection room. They are then sorted by color and degree of soiling.
Heavily soiled towels require pre-treatment (e.g., removing blood or oil stains) before entering the main process.

(2) Washing and Disinfection
Temperature and Duration:
High-temperature washing: Use hot water above 60°C for at least 30 minutes.
Disinfection Options (Choose One):
Steam disinfection: Use high-pressure steam at 121°C for 30 minutes or 126°C for 20 minutes;
Chemical disinfection: Soak in a 200x diluted disinfectant or 0.1% chlorhexidine for 15 minutes;
Physical disinfection: Use ultraviolet light for 1-2 hours or microwave disinfection for 5 minutes.
Detergent Requirements: Do not use strong acids or alkalines to prevent chemical residues from causing skin allergies.

(3) Drying and Storage
Use a drying temperature of ≥70°C to ensure complete drying.
Store disinfected towels in a dedicated, sealed cleaning cabinet, off the floor and away from walls, with good ventilation and moisture protection.

(4) Records and Traceability
Completely record washing time, disinfection method, and operator, retaining data for at least three months for future reference.