This Common Hotel Room Amenity Isn’t as Clean as You Think

After a long day exploring a far-off place, it’s always nice to head back to your hotel, turn on the TV, and enjoy a cold beverage from the comfort of your room. If you need ice to cool the drink down, you’ll likely grab the ice bucket and head to the ice machine down the hall. But wait — should you? Here’s what some epidemiologists have to say about that seemingly innocuous ice bucket — and the extra precautions you should take when using it.

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The Unpleasant Truth

If you’ve scrolled through travel content on social media, you may have seen horror stories about how some hotel guests use the ice bucket inappropriately. For those curious, the website Lifehacker compiled a (potentially stomach-churning) list of anecdotal evidence from TikTok users, some of whom have claimed to use the ice bucket as a bowl for dog water, a foot bath, or even a diaper pail.

Even if you’re skeptical about these reports, it’s worth listening to the experts. In an interview with Travel + Leisure, Brian Labus, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UNLV, said that “the grossest thing is to use the ice bucket without a liner.” Labus cites a past norovirus outbreak in which people used the ice buckets when they got sick, since they could be kept close to bedside. Those buckets were then unknowingly used by future guests, spreading the virus even further.

According to Labus, part of the reason ice buckets are breeding grounds for germs is the way they’re cleaned. While hotel bathrooms are often disinfected, ice buckets are often just rinsed with water instead of being fully sanitized. So while ice buckets may appear to be clean, they could contain microscopic bacteria. Given all of the above, it’s probably best to avoid using ice buckets altogether.

Steps You Can Take

If you do want to use the ice bucket, there are steps you can take to lessen the chance of ingesting harmful bacteria. The first step is to travel with a pack of Clorox disinfecting wipes, which you can use to wipe down the ice bucket, the remote control, the door handle, and all of the other germ-riddled touch points in your room. You can also bring a UV blacklight, which may reveal some stains you don’t know are there — this is an excellent tool for checking to see if the bedding is clean, as well. If you have extra room in your luggage, you can even bring your own personal ice bucket. 

No Alternatives? Use the Plastic Liner

Fortunately, most hotels provide fresh plastic liners along with the ice bucket. If you don’t have any in your room already, contact the front desk to see if they can provide you with one. This thin layer of plastic provides an essential buffer between the germs and ice. For added safety, you can forgo the bucket entirely and just fill one of the plastic liner bags with ice. When you get back to your room, store the bag in the sink so it doesn’t leave condensation all over the countertop. Another alternative is to use the shrink-wrapped plastic cups provided in most hotel rooms. While these tiny cups won’t be able to fit tons of ice, they can definitely hold enough for a drink or two. 

What About the Ice Machine?

With all this talk about the ice buckets, you may be wondering about the ice machines themselves. Unfortunately, these machines aren’t the bastions of cleanliness that we hope them to be, as most are rarely given a thorough cleaning. (As an example, see this TikTok video that shows extensive dirt and grime.) 

Back in 2012, the CBC conducted random swab tests on ice machines at six hotel chains, only to find that traces of coliform bacteria were found on each and every one of them. The tests also revealed that one of the machines had a nondeadly strain of E. coli.

While hotel cleaning staff often do an excellent job, certain areas such as the ice buckets and machines can get overlooked more often than they should. At the end of the day, it’s best to avoid using them if you can — or follow the advice above to ensure you’re adding clean ice to your favorite beverage.