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 would never strip the bed on the basis that I assume people do what I do and have categories of laundry, so if they're doing bedding, they probably have a day when they gather it all up at the same time and put on a full load. They don't need bedsheets on the floor if it's not the right day.

I think it's incredibly rude to strip the bed. It messes up the look of the room and you are dictating to your hosts to do the laundry there and then to get the room looking nice again.
Tidy up, make the bed, leave it looking as you found it. Job done.

It's never occurred to me to strip the bed when I stay somewhere!

I'd rather people not do it at our house. I tend to leave the bedding on the bed and wash it just before it's used again. I like freshly washed bedding when the guests arrive. And our mattresses are clean but not necessarily pristine so I'd find it embarrassing.

I think it also depends who it is. If it's family you know well and you've been there often, it's different from someone you don't know and haven't been there before. If you know them well, there's a good chance you know their household routines and fit in with that. Less well, I'd ask. If I didn't really know them at all, I'd probably just make the bed and leave it neat.

Also, I have mattress toppers on my beds, so wouldn't expect anyone to see the mattress itself.

I read once in an etiquette type thing that the best thing is to leave bed with sheets/ duvet pulled back, so that's what I do.

I don't strip it but I do fold duvet neatly back to the bottom of the bed to air it in case hosts aren't going to change sheets.

I ask which is preferred. However, when I have guests I prefer them to make the bed because I usually leave the sheets on and change before the next guest, rather than putting clean ones on straight away. That way the cats that rule our house can sleep on the bed if they want.

People I'm really close with - strip.
Others - make.

I just pull the bedclothes down so the bed gets a good airing.

My family do, but my dm once seriously upset one host so i will always ask now

Make after one night, ask after a few. I stay with family and they don't always change after a night as it may not be used until I visit again or my sibling (who I don't mind sharing bed linen with and vice versa). No point in making unnecessary washing!

I make, but expect them to strip, I wouldn’t want them to be embarrassed if 8 stripped and their duvet was less than perfect.

That's very rude! I only wash mattress and pillow protectors every few months.

Just make the bed. I'll strip the bed when I'm ready.

I make the bed put fold the duvet/top sheets back (as if being aired) when leaving hotels etc.

I would only strip if I had asked if it would be helpful (or specifically told to as in a couple of air bnb type holiday lets I've been in).

I cant imagine staying in someone's home if I couldn't say "shall I strip the bed"?

I ask when I stay at my sister's, sometimes she'll say yes please, they can go straight in the machine. Other times she'll say the machine's full I'll do it later. Neither is anything to do with a worry that they won't be changed.

I make the bed, because I assume they will change it on their own schedule.

I strip and neatly fold the sheets before placing on the bed.

I make the bed and would want my guests to make. That way I can go round and change the sheets at my convenience when my routine permits.

I always provide clean sheets for new guests, but at least this way the room looks half decent and the pillows and duvets etc are protected from dust in the meantime.

Strip. It really annoys me when guests just leave it. It’s not a hotel.

I ask.

I always ask if they would like me to strip the bed. No worries that way.

I ask, especially if the host is older or infirm, so I do whatever they prefer. If I am the host, I quite often ask guests to leave it so I can change the linen when it suits me.

Hosts have good reasons for either option.

If you know them well enough to spend a night in their house, surely you can just ask what they would prefer?