Houseguests - make or strip the bed when leaving?

[MrsPoliportsGoose]

Just that really. I have had houseguests to stay in the past who do one or the other.

Stripping the bed obviously makes my life easier, but I've been told by some that this is rude and suspicious (why?).

I'm a houseguest this week and am unsure what the etiquette is, and for various reasons don't feel comfortable asking the host!

So should I strip or make?

I wouldn’t dream of stripping someone else’s bed and wouldn’t want someone to do it in my house.

I would make it.

I agree with the majority - make it.

i will wash sheets when the washing machine is free and until then, its best for them to stay on the bed.

Just ask them. I’ve only ever had one house guest strip the bed and honestly, it made more of a hassle for me. I’d rather sheets left on the bed and I’ll get to it when I have time. Rather than dumped in middle of the floor (we use the room, which has a sofa/sitting area for various things, so then they were in the way) or dumped in the utility room where I need to get around to do more urgent washing. It’s not an Airbnb with high turnover, just leave it where it is and we’ll sort when convenient.

I ask. I'm happy to strip it, but I know it might not suit everyone.

Last time I stayed with someone, I did flood the bed with an epic period on the last night, so I did strip that and scrub the stains in the bathroom sink before they set.

Leave unless you've asked and they said yes. I don't change the sheets until I have another guest because the cat sleeps on that bed so better to change just before someone comes

And if I had guests - I'd probably tell them to leave it, but I would strip it after they have gone anyway. So really, I should let them do it if they offer, but I feel like it's my job, not theirs, if they have been my guests.

Make the bed unless you know they’d like it stripped.

I wouldn't strip a bed without asking, that's overstepping. People might not want a pile of sheets to deal with immediately. We keep the sheets on our spare bed after use as the cat sleeps on there sometimes, then change them right before guests arrive so they are fresh.

Generally I make the bed or sometimes I'll ask if the hosts want it stripped.

Smooth sheet and fold duvet back.

Strip the bed.

Its makes a huge difference to me if guests strip the beds.
We have two rooms guests can use, often both are if family stay. They are both 4 singles that can be pushed together as king or apart depending. So that’s 4 lots of bedding, plus 8+ towels (4 large, 4 small), plus bathmat etc per stay.
If I have to strip it takes me a while and have to carry up and down in a few loads. Trying to do that with baby or small toddler in arms was a right pain as opposite side of the house. If guests strips and dumped in laundry room I could just grab a load and wash.

If we are staying then I usually know hosts. So I do double check but usually I just say shall I strip beds and put first load in machine? Everywhere we stay is happy for us to do that. So I usually put bedding on, then leave dirty towels on floor next to machine or in a basket for next load if we haven’t time. It’s helpful for us to stay, I don’t expect our stay to make more work for hosts.

I think it's rude. It's overstepping and just weird, imo.
Do you also offer to hoover round the back of the sofa, clean out the fridge, put unblocker down the sink, etc, etc?

Just make the bed and leave it at that.

I would rather people made the bed, because although I will be washing them before the next guests I will do it before they arrive (so it is fresh), rather than when the last ones left, and I'd like it to look tidy between.

Oh blimey, Im' usually a "just ask" kind of person but it has never ever occurred to me to ask in this situation. I would never want someone to strip the bed and I have never stripped the bed either. I would always leave the bed made, or the bedding folded neatly (if sleeping on a couch) but it wouldn't have occurred to me to actually strip the bed.

Like a PP, I don't want random dirty sheets everywhere if I'm going to only do the washing in a few days. I'd far rather things looked perfectly neat and tidy and I can then wash at my leisure. The only possible exception I guess would be if I had new guests arriving the same day the old ones left in which case I might ask my guests to strip the beds as soon as they're up so that I can get them washed and ready for the next ones.

If we're there without her I strip what I can fit into the washing machine and do one load, and leave the rest just made up. If she's home, I make

It's ever so easy to use words. "What's easiest for you, strip the bed or leave it?" will suffice if you get stuck.

I prefer guests to make the bed - I wouldn't necessarily be planning on washing the bedding immediately as we don't have guests often. I prefer the room to look neat rather than a mess with stripped bedding in the interim.

You could just ask your host which they'd prefer.

If I know them well enough that an older mattress, which no matter what always seem to have stains, wouldn't be awkward for either of us then I'll strip it. But otherwise I just leave it neat and tidy.

I'd either leave it or ask the host if they wanted anything doing with the bed.

I'd always leave a room as I found it. Wouldn't dream of stripping a bed, never thought of it - but feels quite intrusive (maybe not the right word), and if anyone did it at mine, I'd think they'd had some kind of accident.

I think stripping the bed is a little rude (fine if you've asked). My spare room is small & also houses my wardrobe. I'd strongly prefer to do the laundry to my own schedule than have a pile of sheets on the floor that I have to deal with right that instant.

I did have one set of guests who kept on stripping the bed (including the mattress cover and pillow protectors?!) despite being repeatedly asked not to because we were all going out and laundry would therefore be done the next day. I thought that was really quite rude.

Thank you. I will make and not strip.
As I said in my OP I don't want to ask. I don't speak the local language and it could come across as rude, I'm being hosted in a professional capacity, not family.

I did have one set of guests who kept on stripping the bed (including the mattress cover and pillow protectors?!) despite being repeatedly asked not to because we were all going out and laundry would therefore be done the next day. I thought that was really quite rude.
Yup, very rude. It's quite performative, isn't it.

I always strip when visiting relatives but (a) they have spare rooms so can close the door if they think an unmade bed is messy (b) if the weather is nice they can crack on and get the sheets washed and on the line and (c) most of my relatives are not young so fighting a duvet in/out of the case isn't fun for them.

I would much prefer guests to just leave the bed/ room tidy and not strip the sheets. I would find it annoying and a bit aggressive sort of like "now you can do the laundry you lazy cow"!

It is a pain if the guest has only stayed one night and will be coming back in a couple of weeks - I would not plan to change the sheets in those circumstances anyway.

Even if the bed does need changing I'll do it when I have a suitable laundry slot. I don't want the bare mattress getting all dusty in between times. Plus I prefer to put fresh sheets on just before guests arrive rather than straight afterwards. If i don't have guests for a few months the bedding won't be laundry fresh even if it hasn't been slept in.

If you're really itching to do it just ASK.

I must be weird cos I always strip and neatly fold them😂