# Why do hotels have ice machines? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 7, 2019, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665 "2019-03-07T00:59:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/101 "2019-03-08T00:58:38Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > When I took organic chemistry, there was an ice machine down the hall, and one of my classmates popped a chunk of that in her mouth and ate it. :eek: Fortunately, nothing bad happened to her, but heaven knows what chemicals might have been in that machine. Maybe even the dreaded dihydrogen monoxide! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/102 "2019-03-08T03:51:27Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Meh, if you want to really impress people, you need to learn how to pop the top with a metal spatula or thin knife, or just stick it in your eye socket and use your cheekbone! You can even do it with a sheet of paper if you fold it well enough. It’s not all that hard. Most commonly, though, I just use a spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/103 "2019-03-08T04:15:47Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > First thing the Mrs. and I do after moving into the room is get ice. And neither of us drinks alcohol. > > But we’re from frozen tundra country, so there’s that. Do put it in your pillows?:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/104 "2019-03-08T05:32:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You can even do it with a sheet of paper if you fold it well enough. It’s not all that hard. Most commonly, though, I just use a spoon. [Can you do this with a spoon?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE4G1wlMxJ8) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/105 "2019-03-08T08:20:41Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Most commonly, though, I just use a spoon. > [@Sparky812](#): > > [Can you do this with a spoon?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE4G1wlMxJ8) Guys, please stop. All this work is killing my back! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/106 "2019-03-08T09:00:17Z")
Really, doesn’t all ice come from an ice maker of some sort? Unless you’re filling ice trays. Bagged ice comes from a big icemaker in the back of wherever you buy it from. Or it’s delivered from some place with an icemaker. I’ve seen some nasty icemakers at the concessions I volunteer at. I’ve cleaned ‘AT’ a few. Impossible. (note to self: Beck clean your icemaker, it’s probably nasty) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/107 "2019-03-08T12:25:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That’s more than a little rude. Why? The alternative was to let food spoil, and the only other rooms on that floor were conference rooms. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/108 "2019-03-08T15:52:06Z")
Or you could, you know, _buy_ bags of ice. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/109 "2019-03-08T15:59:49Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Or you could, you know, _buy_ bags of ice. When you need a lot of ice extended over an extended period of time, there is no place to store those bags until you need them, so either the hotel supplies those bags every couple of hours all day at hotel rates(and those will be _high_), or you send someone out to the nearest grocery store for fresh bags every couple of hours(which is a hell of an inconvenience a lot of the time)…or you use the machine down the hall. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/110 "2019-03-08T19:45:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why? The alternative was to let food spoil, and the only other rooms on that floor were conference rooms. The hotel has it’s own ice machines for catering, and hotel guests might want some ice, too. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/111 "2019-03-08T20:03:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The hotel has it’s own ice machines for catering, and hotel guests might want some ice, too. What part of “conference rooms only on that floor” and “hotel catering rates are high” are you having trouble understanding? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/112 "2019-03-08T20:08:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What part of “conference rooms only on that floor” and “hotel catering rates are high” are you having trouble understanding? Could you get one of your group to cast a Wall of Ice spell and then use an ice pick to get what you needed from that? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/113 "2019-03-08T20:44:20Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What part of “conference rooms only on that floor” and “hotel catering rates are high” are you having trouble understanding? So, hotel guests arent allowed on the conference room floors, eh? And yes, hotel catering rates are high, no doubt. So? Of course, using some ice from the machines is fair, but totally clearing them out time after time is indeed, rather rude. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/114 "2019-03-08T20:51:35Z")
Can you please drop this stupid hijack? Pit **Czarcasm** if it bothers you that much. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/115 "2019-03-08T20:54:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So, hotel guests arent allowed on the conference room floors, eh? > > And yes, hotel catering rates are high, no doubt. So? Of course, using some ice from the machines is fair, but totally clearing them out time after time is indeed, rather rude. If the guests have used up the machine on their levels and have to resort to going all the way down to the conference level to get some, maybe _they_ should consider going elsewhere to get more. As it is, we have permission from the hotel to use the one on our floor for the reasons we use it, so unless you have some other reason to try to guilt trip me, I’m moving on. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/116 "2019-03-08T20:56:52Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Could you get one of your group to cast a Wall of Ice spell and then use an ice pick to get what you needed from that? The spell attracts yetis, who in turn eat up all the macaroni salad before others can get to it. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/117 "2019-03-08T21:00:25Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > When I took organic chemistry, there was an ice machine down the hall, and one of my classmates popped a chunk of that in her mouth and ate it. :eek: Fortunately, nothing bad happened to her, but heaven knows what chemicals might have been in that machine. At some universities getting free ice from the chemistry labs is fairly standard. I’ve drank a lot of Diet Dr. Pepper chilled over the stuff and nothing has happened yet. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/118 "2019-03-08T21:07:57Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > As it is, we have permission from the hotel to use the one on our floor for the reasons we use it, so unless you have some other reason to try to guilt trip me, I’m moving on. How did you get permission from the hotel? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/119 "2019-03-08T21:14:26Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > How did you get permission from the hotel? Written into the contract. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2019, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665/120 "2019-03-08T23:44:24Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Written into the contract. I think people are thinking you are cleaning out the ice machines on floors other than the one(s) on the conference room floor (i.e. no guests on this floor). I use the ice machine all the time. First thing I do after making sure everything is ok and setting down my bags is to head for the ice… even if my room has a full fridge with ice maker (they are supposed to clear them out when the last guest leaves). After a long day of travel, as long as I’m not going to a work site, I like to make a drink (scotch) and kick back and relax a bit. The worst is if you are in a hotel that is booked with several club sports teams for a tournament. First thing in the morning everyone fills up their water jugs with ice. Parents will fill up coolers to take to the fields. After the game lots of ice bags get filled, and sometimes a team will want to take ice baths. Some of the good hotels close to sports complexes bring in tons of extra ice and give it to the teams. That is a smart move because it gets them great reviews. I had three kids that played club/travel sports so I have had lots of experience with this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-hotels-have-ice-machines/830665.md?page=7)