July 9, 2026, 1:50 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
A hotel bed is typically adorned with a bed scarf. However, it is often immediately set aside without much thought. Yet, the cover does serve a purpose.
In many hotels, a narrow coverlet, known as a bed scarf, is placed at the foot of the bed. It is often about a meter wide and made from a more durable fabric than the bedding. While the cover may appear visually appealing at first glance, it also seems quite useless–it’s hardly suitable for snuggling. Those who want to slip under the covers often just toss it beside the bed. However, the bed scarf has a purpose, as Best Western Hotels & Resorts explains. It serves to maintain hygiene and protect the bedding.
The Bed Scarf in Hotels Serves as a Base
“Guests often sit at the foot of the bed in their day clothes or place their jacket, handbag, keys, or other items there. A plaid at the foot of the bed prevents direct contact with the fresh bed,” explains a spokesperson for the hotel group. Additionally, keys and smartphones are less likely to slip between the covers and mattress thanks to the bed scarf.
“I would make sure throughout my hotel stay to only sit on the bed scarf with street clothes. It might not be cleaned separately during my vacation. Those traveling with children should also ensure they don’t play with it, as it can really be a germ catcher,” explains myHOMEBOOK editor and hygiene expert Laura Kästner.
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According to the hotel group, the bed scarf is also the modern and more practical alternative to the large and unwieldy bedspread. It is intentionally used as a design element: “It enhances a room visually and is designed and colored to match the design of the entire room and hotel,” says the spokesperson.
Biggest Germ Hotspots in the Hotel Room
As mentioned, the bed scarf also serves hygiene purposes–preventing dirt from landing directly on the fresh bed. But where else do germ hotspots lurk in the hotel room? Besides the bed, kettles, remote controls, toothbrush cups, or carpets are ideal for germs. In this article, insiders reveal the hygiene of hotel rooms.
With material from dpa