Hygiene matters for the non-hard boiled

If hotels now notice an uptick in the number of orders for room-service tea or coffee, they can thank the person who posed a question on Twitter recently on how many travellers boil their underwear in the kettles provided in the room, and the “expert” who has warned that such methods do not kill all bacteria — in the receptacle or the garment.

Complimentary in-room facility to make tea or coffee is easily one of the most popular perks for travellers next to sachets of shampoo and lotion.

Now, the revelation that these kettles are used by an alarmingly large number of people as improvised autoclaves to sterilise their undergarments is certainly likely to impact the number of self-brewed cuppas. Indeed, as social media has subsequently detailed other even more unexpected — and usually gross — uses that kettles are put to, some guests may call for their removal from hotel rooms altogether. Some say cabin crew do the same on long-haul flights, putting air travellers in the same predicament.

A century ago, some top hotels would ask guests to bring their own bed and bath linen due to hygiene concerns; that issue has been resolved by tough modern laundry standards. Travelling kettles may be the only solution to the current hygiene issue, unless hotels start providing mini autoclaves to cut out misuse