To think it's weird that my houseguest took all the guest-toiletries?

[SummerOfLadybirds]

We often have overnight guests so I keep a basket of spare toiletries in guest-room (in case they forget anything) and tell them to use whatever they need. Most people use a couple of things, some don't use anything, and I re-stock it between guests.
Recently my close friend stayed for 3 nights and when she left the basket was completely empty! AIBU to find this a bit cheeky and odd? Or did she think it was a basket of 'complimentary products' like hotels provide? I stocked the basket well (she's scatty and tends to forget things, so i expected a few products to be used but not for every item to vanish!)

Basket contained: new full-size pack of Olay cleansing wipes, mini bottle make-up remover, toothbrush, dental floss, lipsalve (all 3 in sealed packets), plastic comb, travel-size body-lotion, body-wipes, spray deodorant, some Clinique mini-products (free samples of make-up/creams that I collect and keep for guests) plus various sachets of moisturiser, BB creams, hair serum, facial scrub etc. Oh and a couple of individually-wrapped soaps, shower-caps and mini sewing-kits that I collected from hotels.

There is no way she could have used the whole lot in 3 days! If a friend provided a basket like this would you assume it was a gift for you to take home??

It all happens to you op doesn't it?

Do you REALLY provide all those items? A sewing kit?! Three lip balms ? And I'm interested to know why you have so many people stay over - you sound like a B and B - although I know this isn't prudent to the thread!

Thanks for all your replies ladies. So i sent her a text asking if she'd put them somewhere else and she phoned me straight away... apparently she packed her suitcase in a rush the night before she left- after she'd consumed 4 glasses of wine(!!)- and 'accidentally' packed the toiletries! She sounded mortified and very apologetic, so for the sake of our friendship i've let it go. She promised to bring them back next time!
Still not convinced it was a complete accident (how can you empty a whole basket of toiletries into your suitcase and not notice?) but doesn't seem like her to steal something so i'm guessing it was just poor judgement when she was drunk! She is very scatty and forgetful, with anyone else i'd have been less understanding. Reminded me of years ago when we were visiting my auntie and she used bathroom just before we left, at bus-stop 15mins later she looked down and said 'oh my god the towel!' and we realised she had the hand-towel draped over her arm It was white and camouflaged against her white cardigan but still!! So we took it back and luckily auntie found it hilarious.

Duchess and Ehric reason I keep basket is in case our guests forget something, there's no shop within walking distance. A few of our friends always seem to forget something, I've been asked for lip balm/toothbrushes etc many times and one or two friends have forgotten their whole washbag! So i try to include everything anyone might need. Basket saves them the awkwardness of having to ask. Also saves me rummaging through cupboards late at night trying to find them spares! And a nice way of using up free samples and sachets that would otherwise be wasted.

cozie, I snorted at your matching guest toiletries but absolutely shameless boasting there in your last post... Your husband's name isn't 'Richhh-arrrddd', is it?

I'd give her the benefit of doubt. These days I'm legless after 3 glasses of wine!
A bit disappointing she wasn't brazen about it

My mum lives in a very touristy area..lots of visits from people. She also leaves baskets of things around for people to help themselves to. I think it is gracious and welcoming. Cannot see in what way it is controlling. People may help themselves or not..She doesn't stand outside the bathroom yelling " For God's sake use the peppermint foot scrub, Victoria!"

YABU where was the guest San pro?

Kidding your friend is ruuuuude

You have some very forgetful friends Summer. I don't think I have ever had anyone ask me for anything they have forgotten.

I also have a toiletries basket for guests complete with new toothbrushes - and guest tampons after reading a thread here about them.

I don't see where Cozie was boasting

It would never occur to me to have guest tampons either. I don't have any in the house anyway.

Nowt so weird as folk. Three of my friends once stayed over at a fourth friends house in our 20s. Her flatmate's expensive toothpaste went missing from the bathroom. Quite a coincidence: the exact same unusual American gimmicky brand one of us was a big fan of. The girl in question denied taking it but it was clearly her! We're not friends anymore, she turned out to be quite odd.

We often have unplanned guests: DH's brother might pop over, be persuaded to stay for a couple of drinks and end up staying the night. Similarly when my grown up kids have friends over they might stay the night spontaneously. So yes, we have a little baskets of hotel toiletries, samples and value toothbrushes for people to avail themselves of. I think it's quite normal.

I don't see where cozie was boasting either. I suppose it was the reference to a 'roomyish house' how we love to find fault.

I think you both sound like lovely, thoughtful hosts. Me - I'm unsociable and don't encourage the buggers with such niceties

I live abroad. While I personally would always bring what toiletries I need with me due to skin issues, I've been asked enough times for toiletries for guests, that I just stocked the guest bathroom cupboard with some spares (and yes those mini bottles from hotels are perfect) and let friends and family know they can help themselves. I would be fairly shocked if they took the lot though!!

We aren't posh enough to have a guest bathroom.

Also because we live abroad and get visitors for weeks at a time, most of our guest toiletries are actually what guests have left behind. Usually half full bottles of shampoo or contact lens solution that they don't want to take home. I did splash out on some cheapo individually wrapped toothbrushes and razors though!

I was going o suggest packing in a hurry

My guests get a clean bed, clean towels and are instructed to help themselves to anything in the bathroom. If they're REALLY lucky they get a vase of garden flowers on the bedside cabinet.

"People bring that stuff if they need it"

People forget stuff. When I worked as a call handler for an OOH GP service people would phone up having made long motorway journeys to holiday destinations without vital heart medication so I can well see people forgetting a comb or shampoo.

I've forgotten to pack epi pens before.

My DF's partner puts boxes of chocolates in all the guest bedrooms with a kettle and tea tray like it's a posh b&b...v over the top but we happily eat them all ...only now she is too frail to get upstairs so my DF sorts the bedrooms and we just get towels

We just have 1 bathroom and soap shampoo conditioner are on display so I'd expect folk staying to just use those. It's usually immediate family any way. I find the idea of emergency use lip balm quite funny. I could tell folk I have spare toothbrushes I suppose but I'd expect them to ask if they want one. I have when visiting them

I take my own toothbrush, floss, shampoo, hairspray, cleanser, cotton wool and cotton buds but would expect to use the hosts' toothpaste and soap etc.

I'd be very grateful if I forgot my toothbrush to find one left in a little basket because I wouldn't ask for one. I'd just rub toothpaste on with my finger and scrub with a towel.

Unlike OP and cosietoesie I'm a crap hostess. I once forgot to replace the loo roll with a new one and after my friends had left, discovered the roll was empty. There's loads of loo roll in the cupboards but they'd obviously been too polite to explore because every roll was untouched. I hope they had their own supplies of tissues in their pockets

I fell foul of the wife of DH's friend. We'd gone for dinner and I went to the loo and washed my hands with the brand new posh soap in the soap dish.

It was lovely. Rose-scented with roses carved into it.

After dinner she went to the loo then came back and demanded to know who'd used her special soap. I owned up and she asked: 'That was for show. Didn't you notice the ordinary soap in the other dish?'

We've never been invited back.

Was the food for show as well? Or were you allowed to eat it?

Limitperiodonly, some people have ornamental guest towels - maybe you also tried your hands on the show towels!