Interesting thread. Some things I learned from school:
1) The white sheets in hotels (pillowcases, fitted- if they actually are-, and flat sheets) are washed before every check-in. They are either sent out or done inside the hotel's laundry room. They are (usually) very, very clean, as once they are washed they are brought up to the linen closet and stored or used immediately (if they are stored they have a high turnover rate so don't worry about spider webs or dust gathering). If they are sent out, the sheets will normally be transported in plastic wrap, and is thus kept clean.
2) When there is a comforter (usually down or at Disney's GF last week or other tropical/warm resort locations it is one of those velvety thick blankets) sandwiched between two flat sheets, that is called "triple sheeting." It is becoming more and more common in the industry and favored among industry workers and guests, as it keeps things very hygienic. (Although housekeepers hate doing this, as it's extremely labor intensive because it requires more time than just throwing a comforter over a bed. Furthermore, housekeepers have to do it properly or you can see wrinkles and creases.)
3) If there is a comforter on a bed, yes, it probably has not been washed for a long time (sometimes they are only washed once a year or less!) and you should avoid having it touch your face if anything. We usually fold the comforter down so it rests over our feet or just fold the blanket up and store it in the corner of the room or something.
4) If you experience bed bugs, you should contact housekeeping immediately because it's not the sheets that's the main cause of the bedbugs, it's the mattress. There were several extensive articles out last year pertaining to this problem on college campuses. Bed bugs are horrible because they require professional extermination and should not be kid with.
If this happened to me, I would request a new room, as merely changing sheets won't get rid of them.
5) Linens (not the comforter, or even the comforter inside triple-sheeting) are usually changed every three days. Housekeepers (depending the level of service your hotel provides) are usually accommodating if you wish to have them changed more often.
6) If you are discouraged by this information, never fear. In reality, the best thing you can do is take daily vitamins, wash your hands frequently, and if you feel necessary, wipe down the hotel room with those handy Clorox or bleach wipes (remote controls, door knobs, drawer handles, etc.).
Now, I don't want to preach, but I do want to mention that most people don't change all their sheets every day at home. I understand that some people feel that paying oodles of $ for a hotel room should allow them to get the best service and clean towels and sheets and whatnot every day just because they can. Yes, I understand that mentality; however, keep in mind that water is precious and while many don't want to think about saving the environment when they are on vacation, we're living in a world that is forever changing. The four-diamond resort that I worked at this summer is LEED-certified and cares so much about being green, yet the amount of waste from that hotel was horrifying. I can't imagine the amount of waste a regular, non-LEED certified hotel generates. Having worked in that hotel as a housekeeping supervisor and studying hotel administration, I am becoming more aware of the fact that green hotels are becoming more and more prominent throughout the world and there is a new generation of hospitality that we should all watch out for.
Hope this helps.
The world is a germy place and if I can scrub down my own home with germ fighting stuff and cleaners then I should have no issues about cleaning our "home" while away to remove germs and other "contaminants"
