North Dakota hotel under investigation after worker caught washing sheets in hot tub

North Dakota officials are investigating a hotel after a worker was filmed washing sheets in a hot tub

Health officials in North Dakota have launched an investigation after a hotel employee was caught using a hot tub to clean bed sheets, sparking widespread concern over hygiene and safety standards.

The incident took place at the Expressway Suites on 17th Avenue South in Fargo, where a guest recorded a video of a staff member dumping white linens into a bubbling hot tub and stirring them with a broom.

The guest, identified as Alex Kenmille, said she initially thought the worker was draining or cleaning the tub, but quickly realized the sheets were being soaked and swirled around.

“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?” Kenmille said. “That’s disgusting. Are you kidding? Are we sleeping on those sheets? I was really disgusted.”

Kenmille posted the video on social media and alerted city and state health officials. In a recorded phone call shared with local media, a hotel employee claimed the sheets were already cleaned and that the hot tub was used to “remove tiny stains” before being drained and sanitized. “It gets out little stains, then the hot tub is drained and heavily cleaned,” the staff member said.

NEW: North Dakota hotel is under investigation after an employee was seen soaking bed sheets in a guest hot tub

Guests at an Expressway Suites in Fargo recorded a worker washing hotel sheets in the chlorinated pool and stirring them with a broomstick

Hotel management said the… pic.twitter.com/YwpRE6wlMa

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Hotel management described the method as a “last-ditch effort” to salvage stained linens before disposal, insisting it was done only after pool hours. However, the video appeared to show guests in swimsuits nearby.

Officials from the Environmental Health Division at Fargo Cass Public Health confirmed that they are investigating the incident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that improper hot tub use can spread bacteria and lead to respiratory, skin, or gastrointestinal illnesses.