If you ever learn the truth behind the food you're munching, like how it was prepared from harvesting to plating, then you might not be able to eat it the same way again. Same with the food industry, the hotel industry does hide a lot of secrets. These things, however, won't remain secrets forever as several hotel insiders have spilled the beans for the past years.

From secrets that'll help you save on your next trip to the ones that'll change the way you look at seemingly pristine duvet covers, here are 10 revelations the hotel industry insiders are keeping from their patrons.

1. Seemingly clean and fragrant beddings aren't regularly washed

The fitted sheets are changed after every checkout, but the bedspreads and duvets? There's a reason why they're often white. Housekeepers are instructed to “eyeball” the bedding, cleaning or changing only when the previous guest left some visible stains and dirt. A majority of hotels chains change them four times a year.

Price dictates everything. Most hotel chains in the low to mid-range price category have their beddings deep cleaned or changed when they deem it necessary. Higher-end hotel brands, on the other hand, maintain stricter cleaning practices and automatically change all duvets and bed covers after each guest leaves. If you're a little delicate, always request for fresh linens.

2. The sofa and chairs aren't cleaned either

Do you really want to know the story behind that brown streak on your hotel room's desk chair? If most hotels don't clean the bed sheets regularly, then don't expect the chairs and sofas to gain more attention. So the next time you sit, make sure you cover a towel or sheet on them first.

3. Two reasons to steer clear of hotel glasses

It's safer to use a disposable cup for drinking and gargling than using the hotel's apparently squeaky clean in-room glasses. Why? They are either unclean or too clean. Since housekeepers have less than 20 minutes to prepare your room, they have the tendency to overlook the minibar and toilet glasses.

Okay, unwashed glasses are disgusting but how about the washed ones? Oh about that, well, there's a chance that lemon aftertaste from your glass is brought to you by Pledge lemon clean.

4. Nope, all rooms are NOT basically the same

There'll always be a corner room, a room that has a larger bath with two sinks, a room with a bigger flat screen TV, and a room with a scenic view. There's always a better room, and you can get it for the same price if you demonstrate a good attitude and you know how to tip.

5. Another top lie: We're doing the best that we can

When one of the crew says that someone is coming to fix the elevator soon, don't even assume “soon” means “today.” The manager doesn't want to pay the repairman's weekend rate so Monday might be the earliest.

6. Someone might've died in your room

No hotel insider is insane enough to ask, “Hey, sir. Someone suffered a heart attack and died last month in room 303. Do you still want to check in?”

7. Discount sites often mean discount experience

Let's be honest – discrimination exists here. The best rooms, as well as the first-class treatment, are reserved for the loyal guests and the ones who booked directly with the hotel. So if only the smoking rooms are left when you check in, don't expect the hotel staff to kick out higher-paying guests or loyalty card members from smoke-free rooms to accommodate you.

8. There's a way to avoid the same-day cancellation penalty

This is one of the perks of natural, direct reservations:

• Call the hotel directly and courteously ask the front desk to reschedule your stay on a later date. Make sure you're not speaking with the manager.

• Ask if you can reschedule your today reservation for next week. Be very brief about your request for nobody wants to hear a 30-minute long dramatic explanation. If they say yes, then you're a step closer to your goal.

• The next day, call back but this time, make sure you're not speaking with the same hotel representative.

• Tell the person you want to cancel your reservation for next week, as you are well within your rights to do so. I hope this works.

9. Hotels never notify about the price fall

While hotels love their patrons, business will always be business. If you already made a reservation for a hotel room and the rate goes down after you booked, they won't notify you.

10. Better experience is just one tip away

Think about this: Most hotel staff are paid minimum wage with the expectation of tips. So when your housekeeper feels that 20 bucks you slipped into his pocket, he'll do his best to deserve that tip. He'll try to make your stay more enjoyable, from finding you the best room to giving you access to free movies, late checkout and room service amenities.

Just because you gave him a couple more bucks doesn't mean you have the right to be rude or ask for an upgrade like you're entitled to it.

11. Watch your attitude or else...

Don't underestimate what the hotel staff can do.

Jacob Tomsky, a hotel industry expert, narrates one of his memorable working experiences: when he became an “agent of instant (bad) karma” to ill-mannered guests using a key bomb. “Any arriving guest should receive initial keys which are programmed to reset the door lock when they're first inserted and then deactivate all previous keys. Insert one key in and you can enter the room as long as you keep using that very first key you slipped in. But the chance is, you'll pop in the second key, making the first key you used invalid. In a nutshell, a guest may end up locked outside his room, jamming the deactivated keys.” says Tomsky.

Ask politely and be mindful about the way your treat hotel employees, guests, and even your family. Treat them nicely and you'll be treated well too. But treat them like crap and they can take gorgeous rooms for you and put you in a, not bad, but a less desirable room. Think about rooms that receive the most morning light yet has broken electronic blinds. Or haunted rooms, like that of room 303.

Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is one of the writers for Holiday Inn Parramatta Accommodation, a modern hotel in Western Sydney known for their exceptional accommodation, service, and location, which appeals to travelers in Australia. She has always been passionate about giving in to her wanderlust and collecting mementos from different places.