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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wish house guests would bring their own towels?

141 replies

Isthisstormcomingorwhat · 03/11/2013 20:08

Just had guests to stay this weekend. They used four towels between two of them, and as we don't have a tumble dryer I now have four towels plus a set of bed linen hanging up to dry in the house.

Would it be unreasonable to ask future guests to bring their own towels (assuming they are driving and not travelling by public transport in which case I appreciate they might not want to carry too much with them).

Love having guests to stay, hate all the washing!

OP posts:
LaTrucha · 03/11/2013 20:10

Sorry, I would think this was deeply strange and off putting. Isn't providing for their needs one thing about being hospitable?

I hate my house festooned with washing too, but I love friends coming to visit.

Vivacia · 03/11/2013 20:10

It wouldn't be very hospitable.

Original poster
Isthisstormcomingorwhat · 03/11/2013 20:11

Fair enough. I always pack my own towel if I am going to stay with people. I only expect a towel to be provided if I am staying in a hotel.

OP posts:
weeblueberry · 03/11/2013 20:12

That's just part and parcel of having guests

You wouldn't ask them to bring their own bed sheets I hope

lovelilies · 03/11/2013 20:12

I wouldn't expect to bring my own towel when visiting..Shock
maybe next time lay out one towel for each guest?

YesterdayI · 03/11/2013 20:12

I think it would be fine to ask if they were coming fir a weekend and going home afterwards. Depends on who you are inviting and the circumstances but I wouldn't mind at all especially if I knew you didn't have a tumble dryer.

Norudeshitrequired · 03/11/2013 20:12

YABVU

Bollockeyes · 03/11/2013 20:12

YAB a teeny bit U...would you expect them to bring their own plates due to more washing up??

Original poster
Isthisstormcomingorwhat · 03/11/2013 20:13

They only came to stay for one night.
No of course I would not ask them to bring bed sheets Grin

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 03/11/2013 20:13

Go to the launderette if you haven't got drying space.

Chocovore · 03/11/2013 20:13

Part and parcel of having guests to stay. There are other options tugh. You could have given them just one towel each. You didn't have to wash all that in one go, and why not dry outside anyway?

lovelilies · 03/11/2013 20:13

Or if you have a ton of washing, pop to the laundrette to dry it

Artandco · 03/11/2013 20:13

Surely just put a towel on their bed per person so they use less? Ie x2 towels and just say there are some clean fresh towels on the bed for them

Alternatively have you considered hammam towels? They are much thinner and so dry quicker. They are handy for travel with/ using on beach/ as a sarong also. If you have no dryer they might benefit using all the time.

We use the hand towel size all the time and bath sheet size for travelling or as a beach mat to sit on

Jaynebxl · 03/11/2013 20:13

I'm with LaTrucha. Just make sure you have spare towels then you can wash them at your leisure. When I was a student we all took our own towels if we went to stay with friends but since we became grown ups and got our own homes things gave changed.

Original poster
Isthisstormcomingorwhat · 03/11/2013 20:13

No because it doesn't take four days for plates to dry Grin

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 03/11/2013 20:14

If I was staying with friends, I'd much rather they asked me to bring towels, even bed linen than seething about it.

skillsandtea · 03/11/2013 20:14

A lot of people would be offended if you took your own towel/bedding however well-meaning.

NeverKnowinglyUnderstood · 03/11/2013 20:14

ITSCOW
My aunt loathes it as well, she goes to the local laundrette and has a service wash done with towels and laundry it isn't very expensive and it certainly seems to ease the aftermath Smile

KneesoftheBee · 03/11/2013 20:15

I usually take a small towel with me when staying with friends - but that is only so I don't get mascara all over their towels. I do the same if I go to a hotel / guest house. I will still use their towels for showering though.

I wouldn't expect anybody to bring their own towels if I invited them to stay.

nextphase · 03/11/2013 20:16

I'd supply the towels, but throw the towels and sheets in the washing basket til I could start drying them outside - got towels almost dry outside yesterday, and sheets today. You just need it to be dry and breasy, and things dry soooo much quicker inside after a couple of hours out.

Hulababy · 03/11/2013 20:16

We just put out one towel per person on the spare bed when guests come, plus there is always a hand towel in the bathroom.

It is one less thing for people to have to pack and think about when coming to stay. Yes it make smore washing for the host - but ime it is expected. And tbf we never take towels with us when we visit people either. Easier not to.

yummymumtobe · 03/11/2013 20:17

Not unreasonable I think. Depends on who it is of course. We stayed with BIL last weekend and forgot towels. They have 3 kids so enough washing as it is so felt bad creating more washing for them by having to borrow a towel. I usually put a towel out if someone stays over but wouldn't mind being asked to bring a towel to someone's house.

Bollockeyes · 03/11/2013 20:17

Grin consider my bum smacked for being a sarky buggar.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 03/11/2013 20:17

It is not the done thing to ask guests to bring their own towels to someone's house. Take them to tumble dry at the launderette.

StetsonsAreCool · 03/11/2013 20:17

Go