For some travelers, the idea of sleeping in hotel rooms is a little iffy. After all, it’s a room that has probably housed hundreds or thousands or even tens of thousands of people over the years without the furniture ever changing. For most of us, it’s best not to think about it too much.
However, one Florida woman has a PSA about something that touches too delicate an area in our bodies for us not to pay attention to: your face.
Florida Traveler Shares Hotel PSA
TikTok creator @suheally posted a short clip that racked up over 271,800 views, filmed inside the hotel room she was staying in.
“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but when you go to a hotel, these towels are technically for your face,” she says while flipping the camera toward the smaller white towels laid out in the room.
Then she follows it up with the warning. “But don’t use these on your face,” she adds. “People use these as washcloths and use this to wash their [expletive].”
Is This Actually True?
There’s little evidence suggesting that most hotel guests routinely use the small towels as washcloths for anything other than their face or hands.
In reality, many travelers bring their own intimate hygiene items when they travel for comfort and peace of mind.
It’s also worth keeping in mind how hotel laundry systems actually work. Most hotels rely on industrial-grade washing machines and high sanitation standards for linens and towels. These machines use high heat, commercial detergents, and disinfecting cycles meant to remove bacteria, oils, and residue from heavy daily use.
To keep towels fresh, hotels use scented laundry products, prioritize proper drying, and store towels in clean, dry environments. They also choose soft but durable materials that can survive repeated high-heat washes. Fabric softeners, specialized conditioners, and controlled wash cycles help towels stay intact even after hundreds of uses. In most cases, if a towel isn’t clean, guests will notice immediately.
Still, once the mental image plants itself, it’s hard to shake.
Commenters React With Mixed Feelings
Plenty of viewers jumped into the comments to try and calm nerves.
“Spoiler alert: they wash the towels,” one person wrote.
Another shared professional perspective. “I will say this. Towels are probably one of the cleanest and safest things in your room,” one commenter wrote. “Signed, former hotel employee 15+ years who did 10,000 loads of laundry.”
Someone else backed that up with the mechanics of it. “I’m pretty sure the industrial washing machines they have in the basement get these cleaner than the towels in my own house. Soap and water kill germs,” one person added.
@suehally Everybody knows somebody who need to hear this. People use small hotel towels to wash their a**. Don’t use them on your face. #hotel #towel #skincare #hygiene #warning ♬ original sound – SuehallySays
Still, not everyone felt reassured.
“Lol I never use hotel towels. I take my own towel,” one commenter shared. “You don’t know what they have been used for. Yes they get washed but I cannot,” they added.
The Mary Sue has reached out to @suehally via TikTok and Instagram messages for more info.
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