Items to avoid using in hotels.

Tourists should be wary of refillable shampoo and body wash bottles in hotels. Photo: Anna Tarazevich/Pexels .

Hotel bathrooms often feel clean and well-equipped, especially with the toiletries provided. However, according to Denise McCabe, a travel expert at the renowned Irish travel company Prestige Tours, not all items should be used indiscriminately. She says the increasing popularity of reusable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash dispensers makes her more cautious when staying at hotels.

Denise shared that after many practical experiences in the industry, she had encountered containers with strange smells or unusual textures. "After a bottle has been opened and refilled multiple times, it's difficult to know for sure whether it still contains the original product or if it has been altered or contaminated," she said.

Therefore, the expert's rather simple solution is to always carry your own small-sized toiletries to avoid risks and maintain peace of mind.

These concerns don't just stem from personal experience. According to a 2023 study published in the scientific journal MicrobiologyOpen , a survey of 104 detergent dispensers in hotel rooms in Germany showed that 70.2% of refillable dispensers were contaminated with biofilm, compared to only 10.6% of non-refillable dispensers. This result indicates that the problem lies not only in the risk of external interference but also in the cleaning and maintenance procedures of the equipment.

Disposable products or personal hygiene items are considered safer than the refillable dispensers available in hotels. Photo: Alexander Mass, Timur Weber/Pexels.

Simultaneously, the trend of using large, refillable bottles is rapidly increasing due to pressure to reduce plastic waste. According to California's AB1162 law, hotels are gradually being restricted from providing small, single-use plastic bottles. The New York State Department of Environmental Protection (NYSDEC) also stated that similar regulations will take effect in 2025. As "greening" becomes the standard, refill systems will become even more common, leading to higher demands for hygiene control.

Several international travel publications offer similar advice. According to SmarterTravel, travelers should bring reusable personal care items.

With many hotels reducing complimentary amenities, travelers should bring their own shampoo and body wash to avoid skin or scalp irritation from switching to unfamiliar products.

However, Denise said not all dispensers in hotels are a cause for concern. Those that are fixed to the wall and have locks, which guests cannot open themselves, are usually safer because only staff can refill them. But if she's unsure whether the dispenser is truly locked, she still chooses to bring her own to be safe.