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Where do old hotel towels go: methods of reuse
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Aaj Tak
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Where do old hotel towels go: methods of reuse

With regular use and washing, the thick, soft white towel found in a hotel bathroom changes its condition over time. It can become thinner, lose its whiteness, and reduce its ability to absorb water. In such cases, hotels remove it from guest use.

However, this does not mean that every old towel immediately goes into the trash. According to Clean India Journal, hotels use various methods for reusing old bedding and towels. These methods include making cleaning rags and using them for other purposes.

If a towel is no longer suitable for guest use, but its fabric remains in good condition, it can be used for other needs within the hotel. For example, it can be used as a cleaning cloth or a broom. Sunway Hotels & Resorts, as part of its sustainability program, indicates that old towels are reused as cleaning wipes. Furthermore, old bedding can be used as protective covering during painting work.

Thus, even after leaving the guest room, the towel's usefulness does not disappear; it can continue to be used for some other purpose inside the hotel.

The policies of different hotels vary. In some places, there is a system for donating discarded linen to people or organizations in need. The Washington Post, in its report on methods of reusing old towels in the hotel industry, reported that some hotels turn them into cleaning rags, while in other places they are donated to shelters, orphanages, or charities. The report also mentions Hilton's initiative to donate old terrycloth items to animal shelters.

When a towel is so worn out that reuse becomes difficult, textile recycling is one option. During recycling, the fabric is processed, and its fibers are reused. Initiatives for recycling hotel linen are also being implemented in India. According to Revive360, linen from hotels and hospitals is collected and transformed into new usable items. This company's platform provides information on linen recycling in partnership with many hotels.

It is important to understand that recycling does not mean that an old towel will always become a new towel. Its application may depend on the quality of the fibers. Clean India Journal also mentions cleaning wipes and other options for reusing old hotel linen.

Therefore, the towel's story does not end after it leaves the hotel bathroom. If it is in good condition, it can be used for cleaning, donated, or directed to another purpose. And if it is completely worn out, its fibers can be reused through recycling. So, next time you look at a white towel in a hotel bathroom, you should consider not only its whiteness and softness but also its entire life cycle, which includes use, reuse, donation, and recycling.

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The reason for placing a towel on the toilet seat in hotels: an explanation of its use
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www.aajtak.in

The reason for placing a towel on the toilet seat in hotels: an explanation of its use

When people travel, they often choose high-class hotels, delighting in the cleanliness and shine of the rooms. However, upon entering the bathroom, a towel placed on the toilet seat is sometimes noticeable. A natural question arises: why is this done—for cleaning, for drying feet, or is it simply a decorative element?

Many travelers feel confused about this towel on the toilet. This information is intended to dispel these doubts and explain why many hotel bathrooms place a towel in this manner.

In fact, this is not an ordinary towel, but a bath mat, which is intended for use underfoot after exiting the shower. The question arises: why is it placed specifically on the toilet if it is supposed to be used on the floor?

Often, hotel bathrooms lack space to place a bath mat separately, especially if there is no bathtub or other suitable area near the shower. In such cases, hotel staff places the bath mat on the toilet lid.

The main purpose of this thick towel becomes apparent after taking a shower. After bathing, water drips from the feet, making the tiled floor wet. The bath mat laid on the floor absorbs this water, thereby reducing the risk of slipping on the wet floor.

In a hotel, hand and body towels are usually neatly organized in one place. The separate placement of the bath mat serves another purpose: so that the guest does not confuse it with a body towel. Thus, the placement on the toilet can be a simple way to indicate to the guest that this towel is intended for the floor.

An interesting question also arises: if the bath mat is meant for the floor, why does the hotel staff place it on an already wet floor? The reason lies in the room cleaning process. When cleaning is performed, the bathroom floor may be wet. Therefore, it is more appropriate to place the mat on the toilet lid, and the guest can place it on the floor as needed during bathing.

Next time you see a thick towel on the toilet in a hotel, do not be surprised. It is not intended for drying the body, but as a bath mat that needs to be placed on the floor. This small detail in the hotel bathroom turns out to be very useful, although its true purpose often remains unclear to most people.

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