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AIBU?

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:

Report

blue88 · 07/11/2013 13:54

Just stumbled upon this - how about this one? I once shared my (then) friend's house as a lodger - paying a more than reasonable rent. My friend and I went back more than 20 years. Part of the deal was she provided my towels until one night when I made the big mistake of giving my boyfriend (on one of the very few nights he stayed over) a clean towel from her linen cupboard. Next day she described how she felt violated and that as I was only her lodger he was not to stay overnight again!

JohnnyBarthes · 05/11/2013 07:26

mrs

I honestly don't understand how anyone could be offended by being asked to chip in in some way when staying with friends or family.

There are some odd people about.

mrscog · 04/11/2013 22:20

There was also cheeeecake JohnnyB! :D

JohnnyBarthes · 04/11/2013 21:14

Beef casserole? Is that it? Fuck off, mrscog - I'm off to stay with my REAL friend, Martha Stewart.

That's exactly what I'd say.

Bring my own towels and after that indignity, casserole for dinner.

I ask you

mrscog · 04/11/2013 21:04

So SuiGeneris you'd feel unwelcome if your oldest friend said (this is almost verbatim what I said a few years ago)

'Sui, are you still coming this weekend? We can't wait to see you all, yes it's going to be fab. Is beef casserole ok for dinner? And does Mr Sui still not like mushrooms? Ok, great no probs. Just arrive whenever you like, we'll eat late. Oh by the way, we're still unpacking would you mind bringing towels with you - I've got no idea where they all are!'

SuiGeneris · 04/11/2013 20:49

YABU. Providing for guests is part of being a host. I would feel quite unwelcome if I was asked to bring own towels and find it quite odd when people do- always wonder what is wrong with the ones I provided.

Also, what is wrong with two towels each? Surely you need at least one for the face and one for the rest?

mummy1973 · 04/11/2013 20:45

I wouldn't be offended if you asked me to bring one either but if you don't want to host they may be better off in a hotel? Surely you want to make their stay as easy and enjoyable as possible so washing a few towels at the end is hardly a hardship?

mummy1973 · 04/11/2013 20:41

yabu

BackforGood · 04/11/2013 20:30

Imperial - no, I missed that one, but have picked up on the incredible number of things some professionally offended people get offended over.

ImperialBlether · 04/11/2013 20:23

BackForGood, there is an endless capacity for being offended on MN. Didn't you read about the OP who was in a temper because she was sent flowers?

OTheHugeManatee · 04/11/2013 16:15

All this talk of towels reminds me of

Oriunda · 04/11/2013 14:20

If I shower and wash hair then I use 2 towels. Bath and no hair wash then just one towel. DH uses a towelling dressing gown with hood.

Best wedding present ever .... an enormous quantity of Calvin Klein towels. The most luxurious and fluffy and 9 years on as good as ever. I recommend them!

samandi · 04/11/2013 13:51

I only use one towel. If someone put two towels out for me I'd only use one.

worsestershiresauce · 04/11/2013 13:51

I've asked guests to do this before, and do you know what they didn't mind in the slightest. Admittedly I did have 12 people staying for the weekend, a washing machine down the end of the garden and no tumble dryer.

I love all the laundrette comments. Some people really don't have any idea. The nearest laundrette to me is miles away, and for years I had no car so couldn't have used it. Not an unusual scenario. Not everyone lives with every facility on their doorstep.

diddl · 04/11/2013 13:42

I also use 2 towels-but for one night my husband & I would use 2 between us-even if 4 were left out.

MillyONaire · 04/11/2013 13:36

I bring my own towels - as do my parents when they come here (they even bring their own bed linen so I don't have to wash theirs after!)

spookySwitched · 04/11/2013 13:33

Isn't it normal to use two towels after a shower ? 1 for your hair and 1 for your body? I can't be the only person who always uses 2 towels (can I??)

I have to admit that I was would just put the towels on the radiator to dry and reused them (unlesss they were obviously dirty). Same with the bed sheets, they would have stayed on the bed too.

diddl · 04/11/2013 13:21

Did you put out 4 towels for them?

In which case they probably thought it was OK to use them all?

BackforGood · 04/11/2013 13:16

I am absolutely stunned at the response on this thread.
If I were packing an overnight bag, or if my dh were or if any of my dc were, or my sister or her family or my brother or his family, then it would contain......
PJs/nightware, slippers, (maybe dressing gown - depends on other varients), clean clothes for the next day, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, deodorant, and a gift for the host. It's just part of what we would all, automatically do. dh has had to train himself to not take a towel when he's staying in a hotel for work.

Yet another "thing" I've discovered on MN, that I never knew was a "thing - being offended if your guest is trying to be helpful

ephemeralfairy · 04/11/2013 13:11

Unless they had OCD-ihs fears themselves of course, in which case I'd understand totally!

ephemeralfairy · 04/11/2013 13:09

I take a towel with me as a matter of course but that's cause I am all weird about germs (ishoos!) but if someone asked me to I'd be a bit put out...

JohnnyBarthes · 04/11/2013 12:50

Anyone taking offence at being asked, really ought to be asking themselves why they've accepted an invitation in the first place.

Be a gracious host by all means, but also be a gracious guest (aka a friend).

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valiumredhead · 04/11/2013 11:49

Yes I think you definitely should ask them to bring towels, also their own bed sheets and food, that way you won't have to do a thing.

Beastofburden · 04/11/2013 11:37

Would the OP do the same? Would she take all the towels for her own family, if she went to stay somewhere? indeed, does she already offer to do that?

It does just seem very inhospitable to me.

YesterdayI · 04/11/2013 09:28

If someone was travelling by public transport or flying then, of course, it would be unreasonable to ask them to bring their own towels but if the visitors are travelling by car and are returning to their own home afterwards then it's hardly inconvenient for them

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