‘No idea’: Woman asks if airplane blankets are washed between flights, and flight attendants appear to reveal they’re often unsure themselves

A traveler’s question about airplane blanket hygiene has drawn attention after several commenters who identified themselves as flight attendants said they were uncertain about how often the items are cleaned. Nina (@nina4sher), who described herself as a frequent flyer, posted a TikTok video while on a Delta Air Lines flight asking whether blankets and pillows get washed between uses.

In the video, Nina can be seen inspecting a folded blue blanket and a white pillow with a skeptical expression. On-screen text in the clip reads, “These airline pillows and blankets are washed between flights… right?!😱.” In her caption, she wrote, “Trying not to think how many people have used them before me😬.”

The video has received more than 332,000 views, and a number of viewers who said they work as flight attendants responded directly to her question in the comments. Several commenters who claimed to be flight attendants said they did not know the answer themselves.

Flight attendants give conflicting answers in comments section

“Flight attendant here: I have no idea and neither do the other flight attendants,” one commenter wrote. “Spoiler alert: they’re not,” another added. A third commenter, who also identified as a flight attendant, wrote, “I’m a flight attendant and I bring my own if that helps lol,” seemingly indicating that this commenter does not rely on the airline-provided blanket at all.

Other viewers shared their own theories about why the items may not be clean despite appearances. “Absolutely not. The plastic wrapping creates an illusion that it is ‘washed/clean,'” one commenter wrote. Stains on board are not limited to amenities, either, and one passenger vomited on a fellow traveler before takeoff on a separate flight.

Reader’s Digest reported separately that the cleaning of airline blankets and pillows appears to vary depending on factors such as the specific flight, the time of day, and a passenger’s seating class. The outlet quoted flight attendant Cecily Anderson as saying, “If your blanket isn’t wrapped in plastic, it’s pretty safe to say it wasn’t washed.”

HowStuffWorks reported that Delta, the airline Nina was flying with in the video, regularly reuses blankets and pillows across multiple flights. It is not clear from available reporting how often, if ever, those items are laundered in between uses on that airline.

Despite the hygiene concerns raised online, microbiologist Jason Tetro told Reader’s Digest that using a previously used and unwashed blanket is likely not a serious health risk for most travelers. “For the most part, the levels that you will encounter most likely won’t make you sick,” Tetro said.

Fodor’s Travel reported on additional accounts from passengers who said they found hair, food, or other unsanitary material on travel amenities, including inside sealed plastic packaging. The outlet cited a Reddit post from a user who said they found food on a blanket supplied during a United Airlines flight.

Beyond blankets and pillows, some reports have pointed to airplane seats themselves as an area of concern. One commenter on Nina’s video appeared to agree with this comparison, writing, “Oh yes, just like the seats.” In one widely viewed case, a different traveler opened up about a grimy plane seat she encountered before a long-haul flight.

According to Daily Passport, cleaning crews typically spend only about 30 to 40 minutes on board an aircraft between flights on average. Citing these time constraints, some flight crew members have advised passengers concerned about cleanliness to bring their own sanitizing supplies when flying. Flight attendant Charity Moore suggested in a TikTok video that passengers consider disinfecting commonly touched areas of their seating, including seatbelts and tray tables.