‘Beyond gross’: Influencer washes underwear in hotel coffee maker, internet revolts

A travel influencer has sparked widespread outrage online after revealing that she uses hotel room coffee makers to wash her undergarments — a hack that many social media users have called “disgusting,” “unsanitary,” and deeply inconsiderate to other guests.

In a now-viral video, the influencer demonstrated her unconventional method, explaining that whenever she runs out of clean underwear while traveling, she places the garments inside the hotel coffee machine, presses the brew button, and lets boiling hot water run through them. She presented the trick as a clever and efficient solution for travelers who don’t have immediate access to laundry facilities.

According to her, the idea came from a flight attendant, and she described it as “brilliant.” She also claimed that “tons of people already know this,” suggesting that the hack may be more common among frequent travelers than most people realize.


However, the video quickly triggered backlash across social media platforms, with many users expressing horror at the thought of using hotel coffee machines after such practices.



Sharing the clip on X, one user wrote, “The clip is spreading fast and hotel guests are realizing that innocent little coffee maker in their room might not have only been used for coffee. Hotels aren’t exactly dismantling and sanitizing those between guests. So how many cups of ‘hotel coffee’ have you actually been drinking?”

The influencer, identified as fitness and travel creator Tara Woodcox on TikTok (as verified by Grok), has since become the subject of intense criticism, with users questioning both hygiene standards and travel etiquette.

Many commenters pointed out that there are far more appropriate ways to clean undergarments. “How hard is it to wash your underwear in the shower or sink? That’s disgusting!” one person wrote. Another added, “What happened to just hand-washing your underwear and socks using shampoo in the bathtub and hanging them out to dry overnight? The amount of water that runs through those single-cup coffee machines is negligible anyway.”

Others stressed that coffee makers are not designed for cleaning clothing and may not be thoroughly disinfected between guests. “That’s unsanitary and strongly discouraged — hotel coffee makers aren’t meant for this. Use sinks, laundry services, or travel detergent instead,” one user commented.

Another person summed up the growing discomfort among travelers: “Seriously, that’s beyond gross. Thinking about all the times I’ve trusted those hotel coffee makers makes my skin crawl. From now on, I’m packing my own travel coffee setup. It’s safer and far less disgusting.”

The controversy has reignited conversations about hotel hygiene and the unseen practices that may occur in shared spaces, leaving many travelers questioning whether their in-room coffee makers are as clean as they appear.