A well-known American TV personality has shared a surprising piece of advice about the unexpectedly unhygienic aspects of staying in a hotel room.
Lori Greiner, an entrepreneur best known for her appearances on Shark Tank, travels extensively for work.
In a recent video, she named and shamed three items commonly found in hotel rooms that should be avoided where possible.
‘Never ever use these three things in a hotel room,’ she warned in a video.
Her first tip was to avoid using the ‘wall-mounted refillable containers with soap and shampoo’ now commonly found in hotel bathrooms.
‘Yes, they look safe, clean and sealed. But when researchers tested the refillable soap dispensers in 20 hotels, 75 per cent had bacterial levels way above what’s considered safe for your skin,’ she said.
‘And most of the time, they’re just refilled, not cleaned out, which means bacteria can build up inside.’
In recent years, many hotel chains have switched from mini bottled toiletries to large wall-mounted, refillable bottles or dispensers.
Shark Tank’s Lori Greiner shared a video naming three common hotel room items that she would never use
A recent study analysed refillable dispensers from 20 hotels, finding that over 70 per cent of samples contained bacteria
This change is often promoted as environmentally friendly, helping to reduce unnecessary plastic waste – but it’s also a savvy cost saver for hotels.
However, as summarised by public health professor Dr Alex Sundermann in a recent TikTok video, a study analysing these dispensers revealed the alarming statistic that over 70 per cent of samples contained bacteria.
The study looked at samples from 40 rooms across 20 hotels, all rated three or four stars.
The US-based Associate Professor in Epidemiology also noted that bacteria may thrive due to cross-contamination when these dispensers are refilled, since new product is constantly being topped up rather than dispensers being thoroughly cleaned.
The soap dispenser wasn’t the only hotel room item Lori suggested avoiding for health reasons.
Her next suggestion was to skip using the hotel hair dryer.
‘It’s one of the most handled and least disinfected items in the entire room,’ she explained. ‘Guests touch it with unwashed hands, place it on bathroom counters, and it rarely gets deep cleaned between stays.
‘When researchers tested them, bacterial levels were significantly higher than personal hair dryers used at home,’ she concluded.
The hotel hair dryer was also singled out as something to avoid using
Lori is best known for her role as a ‘shark’ investor on Shark Tank. She’s pictured here with fellow sharks Daymond John, Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec
The TV star’s third and final item to avoid is the humble kettle – disappointing news for anyone who likes to enjoy a cuppa in their hotel bed.
‘Did you know that some guests have used the kettle to wash socks and small undergarments? Ew!’ Lori exclaimed.
‘And those kettles are almost never fully sanitised between guests,’ she added.
‘So, if you need hot water, call the front desk and ask for it fresh.’
The Shark Tank investor ended the video with a final word of caution: ‘Think twice before using what looks clean. Share this with someone who travels a lot.’
One of Lori’s most savvy investments on Shark Tank came in 2012 when she invested US$200,000 for a 20 per cent equity share in Scrub Daddy.
The popular cleaning product has since gone on to achieve significant success, reporting revenue in 2024 of US$340 million.
