Imagine checking into a hotel, only to discover that the very sheets you’re meant to sleep on were soaked in the same hot tub you were planning to relax in. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened at a North Dakota hotel, and it’s sparking outrage and a state health investigation.
In a shocking incident at Expressway Suites in Fargo, a hotel worker was caught red-handed using the guest hot tub as an improvised washing machine for stained bed sheets. Horrified guests, lounging poolside, watched in disbelief as the employee dumped the sheets into the chlorinated water and stirred them with a broomstick. But here’s where it gets even more unsettling—the hotel claims this was a last-ditch effort to remove stains, despite the obvious health risks involved.
Guest Alex Kenmille, who witnessed the scene, shared his disbelief with KVLY: ‘At first, I thought maybe the hot tub was broken, but then he started adding more sheets, and I was like, what is going on? That’s disgusting. Are we actually sleeping on those sheets? I was appalled.’ (https://www.valleynewslive.com/2025/11/06/fargo-hotel-under-investigation-after-worker-seen-soaking-bed-sheets-guest-hot-tub/)
In a recorded phone call, a hotel worker attempted to justify the practice, explaining, ‘The sheets are put into the hot tub to remove tiny stains, and then the tub is drained and deep-cleaned.’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysP3RAlHWA8) Management insisted this method is only used as a last resort and that employees are instructed to do it only when the pool is closed. However, senior staff admitted the worker had been reprimanded for performing the task in full view of guests—a detail that raises eyebrows about the hotel’s overall hygiene standards.
And this is the part most people miss—while the hot tub is heavily chlorinated, health experts warn that it’s still a breeding ground for bacteria due to the high presence of bodily fluids. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has long flagged hot tubs as significant sources of diseases, including respiratory illnesses, Legionnaires’ disease, and even ‘hot tub rash,’ especially when maintenance is poor. (https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/toolkit/operating-public-pools-hot-tubs-and-splash-pads.html)
Guest Amy Vandal summed it up perfectly: ‘Just sitting in a hot tub, with the heat, your skin literally sheds… it’s like deshedding.’ Both Vandal and Kenmille reported the incident to local health officials, who are now investigating the hotel’s practices.
But here’s the controversial question: Is this an isolated incident, or a symptom of deeper issues in the hospitality industry? While the hotel claims this was a one-off mistake, it’s hard not to wonder how many other shortcuts are taken behind the scenes. What do you think? Is this practice unforgivable, or just a misguided attempt to save stained linens? Let’s discuss in the comments—we want to hear your take on this shocking story!
