By Chloe Dobinson
Travellers adore that moment of tranquillity when they first check into their hotel room and settle in for a well-deserved rest. Yet, one globetrotting flight attendant has disclosed a cautionary tale about a common hotel room item you should think twice before using. Barbara Bacilieri, an Argentinian flight attendant who’s no stranger to hotel stays due to her profession, confides that the simple task of brewing a hot drink in your hotel room might not be so straightforward after all. Barbara advised her TikTok followers the vital step of checking the kettle for cleanliness , stating: “Always take a look inside the coffee pot. Before boiling water for making tea or coffee, think it through.” According to Barbara, there are odd tales of guests using kettles for unconventional purposes such as cleaning underwear, boiling sausages or even washing out menstrual cups! So, she recommends giving the kettle a good boil and rinse before indulging in that cuppa to avoid any nasty surprises. She added: “You weren’t expecting this one, right? Just imagine how many other things guests do and we don’t know”. Closer scrutiny doesn’t stop at the kettle, as Barbara also sheds light on the less visible aspects of hotel hygiene, particularly the bed. Even when linens seem pristine, she suggests a thorough inspection, instructing: “Before getting into bed, lift the sheets. Check for bugs or socks that other guests may have left behind.” The flight attendant expressed her astonishment at the lengths some people go to in order to pilfer items from hotel rooms. She clarified that we’re not just talking about the mini toiletries of shampoo and conditioner left in the bathroom. “Some people think that everything in the room is free, or because they paid a high price, they have the right to take it,” she added. “The batteries from the remote control or worse, the light bulbs from the lights.” However, she further explained in the clip that while items such as tea, coffee and sugar are free to use and take, the mugs and pillows certainly aren’t. “You wouldn’t believe how many guests take the hotel pillows home. “And how many people have hotel towels at home? A lot.” Barbara ended on a humorous note, suggesting you should check the hotel room’s safe just in case “you’re lucky and the previous guest forgot their millions.”