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EXCLUSIVE: 'I'm a hotel expert - there is a disgusting reason why you should avoid your room's kettle'

Checking into a hotel can be a little slice of luxury with that plush bed, crisp bedding, and chic bathroom with a rolltop bath, but guests are being warned about the kettle

[Preparing cups of tea in hotel]

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You might second think about using the kettle in your room next time(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Whether you're checking into a lavish hotel or a budget-friendly inn, a hotel expert has explained why you should avoid using the kettle - and there's a revolting reason why.

There have been numerous tales and tips for what you should and shouldn't do when staying at a hotel. Whether that's surveying the room for questionable marks, looking under the bed and checking the shower temperature, to removing the decorative pillows, washing out the mugs, and wiping down the TV remote with an antibacterial wipe.

But among these hotel habits, etiquette expert William Hanson has warned everyone about using the room kettle. "People use it like a little washing machine, and it's often used for smaller items," he exclusively told the Mirror.

[William Hanson]

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William Hanson has warned travellers about using the hotel kettle(Image: Hotels.com)

In fact, research from Hotels.com found that 23% of Brits have washed underwear in the hotel kettle.

In response to the idea of people washing their knickers in the kettle, William, who has stayed at various hotels around the world, said: "Even if in some bizarre alternate universe, that was acceptable, I don't think you're going to get the result that you think you are going to get from that. That's not even a very good way to clean them.

"Most hotels have a laundry service, whether it's in-house or they send it out. Or if you're that desperate for underwear, go to a shop and buy some more. There are so many other options before you have to use the kettle, which you shouldn't do anyway."

He added: "There are probably all sorts of things that happen with a hotel kettle, but I don't want to know."

There have also been stories of guests putting noodles directly into the kettle to use as a makeshift saucepan while staying in a hotel. To which William said: "By all means, use the kettle to cook your noodles, but not in the kettle."

[A hotel drinks tray in a hotel room]

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Hotel guests have used the kettle for various reasons, and some can be quite disgusting(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

If people really do need to use the kettle, the expert advised: "I would always boil the kettle first, on empty, dispose of the water, and then start again, just because I think it's just better all round. It will also help remove some of the limescale if it's in there, but there are lots of reasons to do it."

But it's not just the kettle that guests should be wary of, as their hotel etiquette is just as important. Research from Hotels.com also found that 40% of Brits believe their hotel manners are slipping, with 51% confessing to being rude to staff, 43% being loud in hallways or late at night, and 25% saying they left their hotel room excessively messy.

While it's common practice to have manners during any hotel stay, it can also have its extra perks. William explained: "Better hotel etiquette doesnt just benefit others; it can directly enhance your own stay."

[William Hanson]

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The travel expert said that 'thoughtful behaviours add up to big rewards'(Image: Hotels.com)

In a bid to help guests shape up for their next hotel stay, William created a 'grand etiquette hotel guide'. He explained: "At the heart of my guide with Hotels.com is the idea that small, thoughtful behaviours add up to big rewards: from a better nights sleep and improved service to savings on future trips."

William Hanson's top tips

1. The art of engaging staff with dignity - Treat every member of staff, from the cleaner to the manager, with genuine respect and an open ear. This isn't just about being nice; it's about unlocking personalised service. Staff are far more likely to go the extra mile for a guest who treats them as valued individuals.
2. Halcyon hallways (and the virtue of silence) - Corridors are not thoroughfares for celebration, but shared spaces requiring a degree of restraint. One should move through them quietly, particularly in the later hours, keeping voices low and footsteps gentle.
3. Libationary lessons - A well-enjoyed drink need not become a public performance. Moderation is key, particularly in shared spaces where ones behaviour is on quiet display. By remaining composed, you retain dignity and control of your surroundings.
4. On burning embers and better judgment - Hotel rooms are designed for comfort, not combustion. Lighting a cigarette indoors undermines both the space and the experience for future guests and inevitably results in penalties that could have been easily avoided.
5. Housekeeping is not an archaeological activity - A hotel room is not ones private domain to abandon entirely. Keeping your space in reasonable order (not pristine, but certainly not chaotic) ensures that housekeeping can do their job efficiently.
6. Lavation gentility - The kettle, charmingly utilitarian as it is, exists for hot drinks only. Incredulously, some people attempt to use it for laundry, and they deserve to be cut off from society. Repurposing it for this is a step too far.
7. Borrowing, ownership, and other dangerous assumptions - Hotels provide generously, but not without limits. Slippers and toiletries may accompany you home; larger items most certainly may not. Understanding this quiet distinction spares one both awkwardness and unnecessary charges.
8. Marshalling ones morning repast - The breakfast buffet is not a free-for-all, but a civilised ritual governed by the simple act of queuing. Waiting ones turn may feel distinctly British, but it ensures order and ease for all.
9. The folly of flagplanting by towel - Placing a towel on a sun lounger at dawn and vanishing until mid-afternoon is a practice best left unadopted. A lounger is not secured by textile alone, but by presence.
10. Loyalty, and why it gets one further - A surprising number of travellers overlook the simple advantage of loyalty programmes. By consolidating bookings and collecting rewards, one quietly accumulates tangible benefits, like Hotels.com Rewards earn 100 in Hotels.com cash after 10 eligible nights.

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