Do you leave things in hotel room after departure for the maids to take if they want them?

Yes I do depending on where I am. I often stay at a ski resort which has a mini kitchenette in the hotel room. I used to throw out opened boxes of cornflakes, bags of sugar, butter etc. until I asked the hotel staff (mostly young people in their 20s) if they wanted it. I was surprised by the response. Apparently the staff are all clambering about when someone leaves to see what they can salvage.

If I go to India etc. I always leave behind clothes and shoes that I am unlikely to wear again. I leave them on the floor next to the bin but not actually in the bin so that the staff can do whatever they want with them.

Some of the places my MIL used to go to had boxes to put bottles of stuff in that future guests could take (Or I assume staff)
It saved people taking part filled bottles of sub creams etc on to the plane.

I've left unwanted shoes balanced on a waste bin to show that they have been left deliberately.

On a tour that ended in Cape Town, our Tour Manager asked for "leftovers" to be collected for distribution to those in need. This included unwashed clothing, which the hotel laundered.

We recently stayed in apartments in Spain. Downstairs they had space for any toiletries shower gel/ shampoo etc that guest left because of flight restrictions on liquids. Actually I thought it was a great idea as there is a big switch towards less waste and reuse where possible

Nope, it's never ever occurred to me before. I've not actually heard of anyone else doing it either. Don't often stay in hotels to be honest but I will be making sure I leave a tip from now on

Depends where you are - have done it before in Thailand but was asked to sign a receipt stating it was a gift so staff could prove it had been given to them. Otherwise anything left was thrown away

I stayed in an air b&b in a country with a huge wealth disparity. The woman who cleaned arrived before I left so I asked her if she knew anyone who'd want the baby toiletries and nappies we'd had to buy as we wouldn't be able to take them on the flight back. She was very keen. I don't think it was insulting to ask, I think it was practical. I framed it as not wanting to throw away perfectly good stuff and she could easily have said she didn't know anyone with a child had she not wanted to accept.

Probs wouldn't have just left them without speaking to her though. That would have felt like leaving her more mess.

I've never heard of anyone really doing this, so seems odd to me unless you're in a very poor country. When we go to Greece and stay in an apartment, we usually buy a sun umbrella for the beach which we leave, but we always mention it at the desk so they know it's not broken/useless and they are always grateful for the the next family.

I've recently come back from a SE Asian country where people were so poor (and unwasteful) you'd see washed carrier bags being dried on balconies and fences. I left things like my older trainers/toiletries/t shirts in most hotel rooms with a note saying 'please keep if useful'.

sadly I accidentally left a very nice Chillys water bottle in one room. I hope the staff kept it and enjoyed it rather than binning it.

You obviously have little idea of what reality is like for many staff in these hotels in certain countries.

It’s never occurred to you to tip your hotel room cleaner?

The point I think that the poster is making is that guests don't think twice about using 'second hand' toiletries provided by the hotel (in the refilled bottles). so, by the same logic why would cleaning staff mind using guests half-used toiletries.

I always leave my change, it normally around 5-7 euros. If I have taken and read a book I will also leave that. I leave my toiletries but that's because I don't pack them, I always buy locally when I get there

Well, that makes total sense, though.

Me and a load of the girls (well, other middle aged women but we call ourselves "the girls") regularly take bits - serums, creams, hair stuff, makeup etc - in to work that we've tried and don't like and swap them 😃

I don't get the weirdness about what op is suggesting on this thread, but i would check just in case it would get anyone in to trouble

I've never heard of anyone doing this.

I have left a massive unopened bottle of water with reception before as I couldn't take it on the flight home and thought it could be used by the hotel.

I’ve just returned from a self-catering holiday on an island with one quite expensive food shop (everything has to be shipped via two ships). When the cleaner arrived I asked him if he would like me to throw away the unused dried pasta, coffee, tea, nearly full cordial etc. He said he lived on pasta and it would all find a good home with him!

No, that's so rude. They'll just chuck it so you're giving them more work to do.
I hate waste so I always bring any unused toiletries home again.

I don't see any harm in leaving them in the room if you don't want them, they can bin them or take them, you'll never know!!

They are paid but not very well. I've never thought to leave a tip before but it's something I may consider. It's quite often an unpleasant task.

When we used to have a cleaner in the toilets in Northampton city centre I often used to put money in the bowl, those toilets were immaculate. It's showing appreciation to someone, something I think we have forgotten how to do

In certain countries yes, along with a note and a cash tip. When we left Mexico after backpacking for a year, I left a few things* including a couple of dresses that the maid had admired. She came to find me in the restaurant (in the hotel) where we were having lunch before heading to the airport to say thank-you.

*Needed to make space for the 5 foot wooden skeleton I'd HAD to purchase!

I think it depends where you are staying. If in the UK or an similar country, put them outside. The maid won't want them.

In a poorer country, absolutely leave them in the room.

No, take it with you or bin it.

You're overthinking this.

the housekeepers want to have as clear run as possible to just change the bed, clean the room and not waste time clearing up unnecessary crap