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?

When staying in a hotel, b&b or cottage I always strip the bed after I’m done. They are going to strip it for the next guests anyway. During Covid times everywhere I stayed asked you to strip the bed. If I was staying with family I’d just ask first

Strip.

I would be aghast to think I slept in a bed that hadn't been changed after the last occupants.

People who feel upset that their guests are giving them a hint are being precious as well as mingers.

If I've had house guests, I'd prefer it if they don't strip the beds. I usually have my own laundry to catch up on (especially if I've been busy entertaining people for a few days) and I want to sort that out that before I tackle the guest beds. I'll get to the guest beds in a few days.

I leave it unless hosts ask me to (eg mil might sometimes say in the morning of last day, it's a nice day so could you bring me the bedding so I can get it washed and on the line).

When we had a spare bed I preferred it left on, partly because our square duvet / mattress were fairly old with marks on etc I prefer them not to notice, and partly because we didn't have guests often so would prefer the old used bedding to be the one getting dusty, and then put fresh on when more guests were coming, rather than guests have a clean, but on the bed for ages, new set, or have to change it twice.

Quite a few people have said they prefer to change the bed before the next guest instead so the bed is fresh and not covered in dust or fur.

I would much rather guests strip the bed, but I would never ask them to unless they asked me what I would like them to do.

When staying in somebody else's house I always ask two questions:
Nighttime flush or no flush?
Strip bed or leave it?

Always strip the bed. It's something I picked up from my parents. No idea if it's good,bad or ugly.

I would never strip the bed, just leave it tidy.

People who strip my bed are the worst. Please don't do it unless you have asked first

I was going to say this!

I'd ask.

I used to strip it, but recently I read on Mumsnet that if you do that, the hosts will think you've shit the bed. So next time I'll ask.

I haven't really had experience staying just 1 night somewhere but every time we stay at my MIL's usually up to 1-2 weeks as she lives far, I'll always strip the bed and put new sheets on and leave it clean.

Again no one other than family sleeps at my house but if anyone sleeps more than 1 night I guess I always change sheets again but I always put new sheets for them also prior to sleeping.

I think there's a fairly simple answer to this question. You ask your hosts what they would prefer.

Ask the host for fresh linen to make up the bed for the next guest. Leave the old linen neatly folded near the washing machine.

If they don't want you to change the bed they will tell you.

I'd love it if my guests would do this.

This.

There could be all sorts of nasties festering in the sheets between visits. I don't know why anyone would leave sheets on a bed and not wash them as soon as the guests were gone.

We have regular guests and some strip the beds and others make them. I don't mind either way, I don't see an issue with having to strip beds to wash them after they've left.

I don't think it's rude though. Laundering the sheets between guests is obviously something that needs to be done straight away. Guests exclusively use the sheets but don't tend to block up sinks or put dust down the back of the sofa.

I always strip

(Oo er)

Oh flushing at night is much more of a worry because you don't think about it in advance but I'm much more likely to need a wee in the middle of the night in a strange house

I don't like it when visitors strip the guest bed. It means I then have a pile of washing to do there and then, instead of when it's convenient to do it. I don't think it's exactly 'rude' for people to do it, but it's also not really polite if they haven't been explicitly asked to do it.

If you mean an Airbnb type situation, then unless the host has explicitly asked you to strip the bed at check-out (I'm a host and would never ask this), then it's absolutely fine simply to make the bed tidy before you go.

Depends. On the odd occasion I sleep back at my family home or my Sisters then I just old the duvet down to air the bed and then re make it. I know only I've slept in it and only I'll be sleeping in it again. Anyone else I'd ask what they'd prefer me to do.

Make, but fold back the quilt so the bottom sheet is partly visible.

When cleaning hotel rooms a made bed was a source of fear as it was usually hiding something unsavory.