Tara Woodcox, an influencer and fitness coach, is facing backlash after washing her underwear in a hotel coffee maker.
Woodcox originally posted the video on TikTok in November 2025, showing her followers what she called an efficient way to clean undergarments while travelling.
She said she learned the “hack” from a friend who is a flight attendant.
The clip, which initially got just 3,600 likes, has resurfaced in 2026 and been viewed by thousands, drawing widespread criticism.
“First, you place your underwear where the grounds normally go in the machine. You close it, you press brew, and it puts scorching hot water through it. You got yourself a cleaner pair of underwear to wear! I did not realise how many people already knew this hack,” Woodcox said in the original video.
She suggested using a hair dryer to dry them.
Social media users reacted with disgust.
Katelyn on TikTok wrote, “I would love to know why you wouldn’t just wash your underwear in the sink… with soap.”
Another user, Kush, asked, “Did you stop to think about people who actually drink from the coffee maker?”
Yuna called for the hotel to take action: “The hotel should sue. This is a new level of nasty.”
There has been speculation that the hotel filed a Sh129 million ($1 million) lawsuit against Woodcox, though this remains unverified.
This was not the first time she referenced the coffee maker for laundry.
In 2023, she posted a TikTok asking, “Does anyone else not use their coffee maker in their hotel room because of the gross stuff that you don’t know what happens in there?”
Despite the backlash, Woodcox laughed off the controversy on Instagram, captioning a post, “I have the best friends/followers ever! Y’all’s arguments are cracking me up.”
The response drew further criticism.
Mtl Food gal on Instagram said, “Apparently guests are now requesting refunds and the hotel had to replace coffee makers. I wouldn’t be laughing if you’re damaging a business.”
Justin Anderson added, “You told people to do something genuinely unsanitary. That’s not comedy. That’s reckless and gross. This feels like backtracking now that the engagement shifted. Maybe just own it—this feels forced.”