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HOTELS

Hotel hacks that really work (and some that don't)

USA TODAY
In a since-viral tweet posted earlier this month, Rick Klau posted about the hotel hack that has " improved every night I ' ve spent in a hotel since. " Use a skirt/trouser hanger (the one with the clips) to keep your hotel curtains closed. This travel-changing hack got us thinking about other solid hotel hacks that might improve travelers ' stays, so USA TODAY scoured the internet and tried some of our favorites.
In a since-viral tweet posted earlier this month, Rick Klau posted about the hotel hack that has "improved every night I've spent in a hotel since." Use a skirt/trouser hanger (the one with the clips) to keep your hotel curtains closed. This travel-changing hack got us thinking about other solid hotel hacks that might improve travelers' stays, so USA TODAY scoured the internet and tried some of our favorites.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Bringing in several bags or loads? Often the closet is right behind the door, which means you can rig up a hanger system that props the door open by the door guard lock.
Bringing in several bags or loads? Often the closet is right behind the door, which means you can rig up a hanger system that props the door open by the door guard lock.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Put a wrinkly piece of clothing in the bathroom as you shower (and let ' s be real, they ' re all wrinkly when they come out of a suitcase). Make sure the bathroom door is closed all the way and that your shower is hot so the bathroom gets nice and steamy, which will help those wrinkles disappear.
Put a wrinkly piece of clothing in the bathroom as you shower (and let's be real, they're all wrinkly when they come out of a suitcase). Make sure the bathroom door is closed all the way and that your shower is hot so the bathroom gets nice and steamy, which will help those wrinkles disappear.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
But if that doesn't suffice, you can also use the hair dryer at close range. Just be sure not to leave it in one spot for too long, lest it overheat or burn your clothes!
But if that doesn't suffice, you can also use the hair dryer at close range. Just be sure not to leave it in one spot for too long, lest it overheat or burn your clothes!
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
If you don't have a refrigerator in your room but want to keep beverages frosty, grab some ice from the ice machine and turn your sink into a cooler.
If you don't have a refrigerator in your room but want to keep beverages frosty, grab some ice from the ice machine and turn your sink into a cooler.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Don't want your toothbrush bristles to touch the counter? We don't blame you. Punch a hole in the bottom of a cup, and you have a ready-made toothbrush holder.
Don't want your toothbrush bristles to touch the counter? We don't blame you. Punch a hole in the bottom of a cup, and you have a ready-made toothbrush holder.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Hotel rooms sometimes just smell funny. Never fear: Grab an inexpensive car air freshener (the kind that attaches to a vent) and put it on the A/C vent. Crank on the A/C, and the fresh scent will waft through your room in no time.
Hotel rooms sometimes just smell funny. Never fear: Grab an inexpensive car air freshener (the kind that attaches to a vent) and put it on the A/C vent. Crank on the A/C, and the fresh scent will waft through your room in no time.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Did you forget your phone charger? Lucky for you plenty of other people do, too — at the hotel. Ask the front desk if they have any extra chargers in the lost and found that you could borrow. Be sure to return it for the next guest to use!
Did you forget your phone charger? Lucky for you plenty of other people do, too — at the hotel. Ask the front desk if they have any extra chargers in the lost and found that you could borrow. Be sure to return it for the next guest to use!
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
So you remembered your phone charging cable but forgot your charging brick. No worries: Look at the back of your hotel TV for a USB port. Plug in the cable, turn on the TV and your phone will charge.
So you remembered your phone charging cable but forgot your charging brick. No worries: Look at the back of your hotel TV for a USB port. Plug in the cable, turn on the TV and your phone will charge.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Not every hack is a win. Making pasta using a hotel coffeemaker is widely touted across Reddit and social media. But unless you have a coffeemaker that gets water scalding hot, making macaroni and cheese, a cup o ' noodles or something else that requires boiling water won ' t work well.
Not every hack is a win. Making pasta using a hotel coffeemaker is widely touted across Reddit and social media. But unless you have a coffeemaker that gets water scalding hot, making macaroni and cheese, a cup o' noodles or something else that requires boiling water won't work well.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Water that isn ' t hot enough makes for a pretty unappetizing meal.
Water that isn't hot enough makes for a pretty unappetizing meal.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
A better hotel meal hack is this one: Use your iron and some parchment paper to make grilled cheese or a panini. We turned this convenience-store sandwich into a delightful panini.
A better hotel meal hack is this one: Use your iron and some parchment paper to make grilled cheese or a panini. We turned this convenience-store sandwich into a delightful panini.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
It was seriously good! But make sure you use parchment paper on the bottom and the top. Don't let the iron actually touch the sandwich; that's just gross.
It was seriously good! But make sure you use parchment paper on the bottom and the top. Don't let the iron actually touch the sandwich; that's just gross.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
If you did a lot of walking on your trip and your shoes are looking pretty grimy, put them in the shower cap before packing them in your luggage for the trip home.
If you did a lot of walking on your trip and your shoes are looking pretty grimy, put them in the shower cap before packing them in your luggage for the trip home.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
Several social media posters suggested using a towel to block out noise and light from the hallway. It didn't seem to make much of a difference, but it's still worth noting here as the effectiveness might vary based on door location in the room and also how big the gap is between the bottom of the door and the carpet.
Several social media posters suggested using a towel to block out noise and light from the hallway. It didn't seem to make much of a difference, but it's still worth noting here as the effectiveness might vary based on door location in the room and also how big the gap is between the bottom of the door and the carpet.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
This isn ' t so much a hack as it is a suggestion: Leave a tip for housekeeping. The selfish reason: They ' ll give you better service the next day. The unselfish reasons: Hotel housekeepers aren ' t making bank and are providing a valuable service to you. According to jobs website Indeed.com , the average pay for a hotel housekeeper is $11.01 per hour in the United States. Tip $1-5 per night. The American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests tipping $1 to $5 per night and notes the tip should be left daily, preferably in an envelope or with a note so that it ’ s clear it ’ s for housekeeping.
This isn't so much a hack as it is a suggestion: Leave a tip for housekeeping. The selfish reason: They'll give you better service the next day. The unselfish reasons: Hotel housekeepers aren't making bank and are providing a valuable service to you. According to jobs website Indeed.com, the average pay for a hotel housekeeper is $11.01 per hour in the United States. Tip $1-5 per night. The American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests tipping $1 to $5 per night and notes the tip should be left daily, preferably in an envelope or with a note so that it’s clear it’s for housekeeping.
Julia Thompson/USA TODAY
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