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 always offer to strip the bed but don’t do it without checking.

Sheets should be washed between guests but preferably relatively soon before a guest arrives, not weeks or months in advance. So in a room where guests are infrequent it’s optimal to remake the bed so it looks presentable in the interim. You also don’t want to leave someone with a pile of sheets to work around or deal with if they weren’t ready to do a load of sheets just yet.

I always remake the bed though.

With Family I strip the beds and fold neatly put into basket to be washed. I also do a quick vaccum and empty bins etc (parents and elderly family)

With others I leave tidy as found.

I actually find doing it to be quite physically exhausting (two small kids I guess is my excuse?!). I have family to stay quite frequently and always ask/ remind them to do it for me, which they seem happy to do.

I always ask hosts if they'd like me to strip the bed.

Same here, I always wash between guests but I don’t want an unmade bed in the room where I’m working.

If people stay for a few nights leave as found. If they've stayed weeks or months I'd wish them to strip bed , put on a wash and give the room a clean around.

I find it a bit weird that people are re-making dirty beds - what's the point?

I always strip the bed and have only ever been thanked for doing so. I wouldn't mind if someone left it "as is" but I'd find it very odd if they re-made it knowing I'd have to strip it anyway!

Make. I'm not washing one set of single bed sheets on it's own, because that's a waste of my time and energy, and the planet's energy to run the washing machine with a part load. Unless I have more guests staying the night you leave (unlikely since I usually have guests 4-6 nights a year), I'd rather leave the sheets on the bed until I'm washing other sheets, than have a pile of sheets in the way somewhere.

I would just fold the duvet back neatly. If someone was shaking the duvet out and over the bed that only takes seconds too. Just so it's not in a mess. It might not be changed until the next guest is due to arrive.

If a bed was slept on by cats for some time I'd want to change it for a guest so stripping it immediately would just double the washing.

I hate it when people strip the bed! I know people think it’s helping, but it takes seconds to strip the bed. I have cats, so I always make up a fresh bed when someone is staying on the day they arrive so it smells nice and isn’t hairy.

I prefer to leave the old bedding on so the cats can sleep on it and not get their fur on the bare mattress/ duvet. If I put a clean one on straight away I’d need to wash it again before someone comes to stay.

I find it a bit weird that people are re-making dirty beds - what's the point?

I think I'd feel taken for granted and unappreciated if they left a tangle of duvet and pillows with no attempt at tidying, even if they don't strip the bed. Leaving it to air is good, but that can be done tidily too.

I prefer the bed not to be stripped. I'll wash the sheets within a few days when its convenient for me. I prefer the bed to be left looking neat but I don't judge anyone who doesn't do that. When I'm a house guest I just leave the room looking tidy.

I generally ask as a guest which the hosts prefer (eg I have a few friends with pets/babies who prefer to strip the bed to their own schedule so the pet/baby doesn't ruin the bare mattress) but I think either making or stripping the bed is polite and if a host has a strong preference it's on them to be clear!

ask them what they prefer. Most decent hosts would say don’t worry about it.

Yes I'd ask the host. Easier for them and for me. 🌹

I just ask the host

I prefer guests not to strip the bed. Whilst I always remake with fresh for new visitors, if, for example, my sister has stayed, I would use it as it is, as I often retreat to the spare room to avoid snoring!

We had a guest strip the bed once and I'd never heard of this before and was very suspicious of why lol

I would just make the bed. I like the room to have a made up bed until I do a bedding wash. Don't like having a pile of sheets in the middle of it or my washing basket.

One of my friends is allergic to dust so I don’t wash the sheets until the day before her visit. Make the bed, don’t strip it.

I'm with @Mazuslongtoenail on this one!

Leave it tidy but with the duvet folded back so it airs the bed.

no idea if it really does ‘air the bed’ but I hate making a bed as soon as Ive got out. Feels like I’m trapping all of the sweat in it so it has to ‘air’ while I’m in the shower. Hence why I do the above as a guest.

Leave it. Some wash the sheets just before someone arrives instead of just as someone leaves

I'd ask, but for me, I prefer they leave it. I always change the sheets between guests, but if none are expected, I'd prefer to see a made bed than a stripped bed, until I get around to washing the sheets and remaking it.

I'd prefer guests not to strip it as I prefer to leave it and then make the bed before the next guests arrive so it smells fresher -- and in case the cat has slept on it in the meantime!

I just don't like the idea of other people seeing sheets partner and I have been on. Or seeing other peoples sheets.

Better a guest strips the bed and no one sees things like a hot flush or drool or man stains or anything like that.