The Unsettling Reason Some Flight Attendants Avoid Coffee Makers At Hotels

We appreciate them, but flight attendants can mystify us sometimes. Their cheerful smiles turn to scowls when we do seemingly innocuous things, like asking them for a glass of water at what turns out to be an inopportune moment. And they supposedly exchange cryptic code words when passengers are getting on their nerves, which is probably most of the time these days, understandably. But of all the strange behaviors associated with flight attendants, one of the most unsettling rumors involves using hotel room coffee machines to wash dirty underwear. The possibility has even made some flight attendants wary of brewing coffee in their rooms.

In a 2019 Reddit post on r/lifehacks, a user claimed that flight attendants use the coffee maker in their hotel room as a mini-washing machine for pantyhose and delicates. According to the post, the supposed trick involves putting clothing and soap into the coffee pot, running the machine a few times, and hanging the items in the bathroom to dry overnight. If anyone actually does this, though, the next guest might think twice about using that coffee maker.

The debate about whether flight attendants actually engage in this horrifying practice continues, with some flight attendants confirming they've heard the rumors and others calling it an urban legend. "Many senior mamas like to tell horror stories about in-room coffee pots being used to rinse pantyhose, among other things," wrote a flight attendant in her food and travel diary for an edition of The Receipt on Bon Appétit. However, she acknowledged that the story might be an urban legend and said she couldn't imagine anyone actually doing it. A Quora user who claimed to have worked as a flight attendant for 10 years similarly said they'd never heard of the practice. Whether it's fact or fiction, the story is enough to make some flight attendants and travelers hesitate to use hotel coffee makers. We can't say we blame them. 

Fortunately, there are a host of other effective and practical ways to wash clothes while traveling. We suggest bringing a small amount of mild laundry detergent in a travel-sized bottle. When it's time to do your laundry, fill your hotel sink or bathtub with cool or lukewarm water, and add a little detergent. Then gently wash the items and let them soak for a few minutes. Be sure to rinse them well afterward to keep them from stiffening as they dry. If you just need to focus on your undies, taking them into the shower or washing them in the sink is a much better option than using the coffee maker.

If you're staying overnight at a destination with a humid climate, drying items efficiently may pose a challenge. A tip to speed up the drying process is to use the burrito method: Roll the clothes tightly in a towel immediately after washing and press down to remove excess water. Then hang the clothes on a towel rack or portable clothesline in a well-ventilated area, allowing them to dry completely before packing. Be mindful about where you hang your wet laundry in your accommodation, though, as water drips can damage wood floors. Moreover, resort staff and other travelers may not want to see your boxers flapping in the breeze on the balcony of your hotel room or vacation home rental. 

Another option is to find a self-service laundromat in the city where you're staying. If you're pressed for time, it might even be worth it to splurge on a local laundry service, where they wash, dry, and even iron your clothes for a fee while you trot around the city doing much more fun things. Keep in mind that an independent laundry service may be cheaper than the one at your hotel, though having your hotel do it may be the most convenient.