Hotel Bed Sheets

Hotel chains are saving millions of dollars by reducing their changes of sheets. Of course, all new guests get new sheets, but those with extended stays will no longer see the daily sheet changes that used to be industry standard.

Hotels are explaining the move as an effort to be more environmentally friendly, using less hot water, detergents and bleach to clean sheets. But the hotels see big savings from less laundry and reduced labor costs. The upscale, full-service hotels of Marriott International, the world's largest hotel chain, began switching to every 3 days earlier this year. Privately-held Global Hyatt Corp. went from changing each guest's sheets daily to every 4 days last year.

Some leading chains, including Holiday Inn, do not have uniform policies on sheet changes across the chain. Some lodging companies, including Sheraton, Westin and St. Regis, all owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, still make daily sheet changes. Most hotels are willing to change sheets daily for any customer who requests it. According to a report by US Today, about 5 to 7% of guests make that requests, although that varies by hotel.