It’s one thing to expect clean sheets at your hotel; it’s another to find out how they got cleaned. A hotel in Fargo, North Dakota, is facing some serious backlash after a video surfaced showing an employee scrubbing stained bed linens in the hotel’s hot tub.
The viral TikTok, filmed at Expressway Suites in Fargo, shows a staff member tossing piles of sheets into the steaming water, then stirring them around as if it were a giant washing machine. Unsurprisingly, the clip spread fast and furious across social media, landing on X, where horrified users could not believe what they were seeing.
In the face of the outrage, hotel management attempted to explain the bizarre scene, saying the “hot tub cleaning” technique was used only to remove small stains. “The sheets are put into the hot tub, and it gets out tiny little stains, then the hot tub is drained,” management said in a statement. “It is really heavily cleaned by a huge deep cleaner.”
North Dakota Hotel Washes Bed Sheets In Hot Tub
That explanation didn’t exactly win over the public or their guests. The hotel claimed that the sheets are still washed “the traditional way” afterward and insisted the method is only used as a last resort and only when the pool is closed. Still, that hasn’t stopped locals and travelers from questioning whether the practice is remotely sanitary.
The whole fiasco started when a North Dakota family staying at the hotel noticed something strange happening near the spa area. One guest, Alex Kenmille, told Valley News Live, “At first, I thought maybe the hot tub was down, the drain was broken, they were trying to soak up the water, but then he started adding more in there and I was like what is going on?”
When the realization hit that those were bed sheets floating in the water, Kenmille said, “That’s disgusting, like, are you kidding? Are we sleeping on those sheets? I was really disgusted.” Another guest didn’t hold back either, saying, “Just sitting in a hot tub, with the heat, your skin will literally just come off… you’re like deshedding.”
The family filmed the incident and posted it online, sparking a flood of comments calling out the unsanitary practice. Some people joked that it gives hot tub soup a whole new meaning, while others simply swore off staying in hotel spas altogether.
This Is Gross
Now, the Environmental Health Division at Fargo Cass Public Health has stepped in, launching an investigation into the hotel’s cleaning practices. The management has said they’ll be consulting with city health officials to determine if their unusual laundry method violates any safety codes.
“Wait until you see where they were washing the dishes,” one person commented. “The more I see from hotels the more nasty I realize they are. I’m glad I can’t afford them and just stop at a restaurant stop and sleep in my car when traveling,” said another. “It sounds nefarious!” a third comment read.
In the end, it’s a cautionary tale for anyone traveling through North Dakota you might want to think twice before hopping into that hotel hot tub. Because apparently, at least in this Fargo hotel, it’s not just for relaxation. It’s for laundry too.
Casey James 
Sofia Bassett 
Emma Taylor 
