Have you ever been to a hotel and found the bed sheets or bathroom towels were a color other than white? Chances are you probably haven’t, but have you ever wondered why? After all, white fabric is the easiest to stain and get dirty.
However, hotel sheets and towels are nearly always white, and there are a number of reasons why it’s the best choice for both the hotel and the traveler. Here are a few of the physical and psychological reasons white linens are the norm for hotel chains.
WHY ARE HOTEL SHEETS AND TOWELS WHITE?
When you think of the color white, what comes to your mind? Perhaps cleanliness? Or freshness? That’s one reason hotels use all-white bedding and towels. Here are a few more.
Standard of cleanliness. Overall, white linens are an easy way for hotels to set their standard for cleanliness. White is an easy color to get dingy and stained, so when a guest sees a perfectly white set of sheets, they’ll feel more comfortable and confident in the hotel cleanliness and housekeeping.
After all, who wants to sleep on hotel sheets or use hotel towels that are colors that can easily hide stains or dirt?
Doesn’t hide stains. The fact that white doesn’t hide stains is good for the hotel because it often makes the guest more cautious. Typically, guests remain more alert while eating food or drinking to avoid leaving stains, which helps the sheets last longer.
Feeling of luxury. White sheets assure guests that the bed is clean and fresh, which can also give the impression of luxury. The fresh, crisp, and clean feel can help the guest forget they are in an overall, generally germy place. White sheets can also give the guest an overall better perception of the hotel, and it can even contribute to a better night’s sleep.
Enhances personal connections and peace. The color white can also represent peace, relaxation, and purity, which is why a woman often wears white on her wedding day. For those staying at the hotel with a loved one, white sheets can increase the bond of closeness and intimacy, helping guests to feel relaxed and forget their worries.
This contributes to overall relaxation, peace of mind, and less stress, which can drastically improve the guest’s experience.
Practical. All-white linens also serve a practical purpose. They can all be washed together without any color bleeding, and they can be easily bleached for a maximum clean.
WHEN DID HOTELS START USING WHITE SHEETS?
The Westin is typically credited with popularizing white linens for hotels back in the 1990s. According to the company, the white bed created a “halo” effect and made guests think their room had been recently renovated or was new, contributing to the overall brand and satisfaction of guests.
