Guests using your shower gel?

[MrsB76]

This is really just a minor niggle but I'm curious - is it really silly of me to begrudge visiting family members the use of my shower gel? I just had my MIL and SIL stay for a few days overnight and I bought them travel size toiletries (they came on a plane) and DH thinks I should be more hospitable and just let them use my shower gel (well mine and his) and toothpaste. Really?

I would always take my own unless told not to.

If host wanted to provide cheap stuff & keep their own for themselves, can't see a problem with that either!

I generally take my own fully packed washbag if I stay away, so wouldn't expect to use the host's.

In our house, there's a drawerful of travel sized toiletries in the spare bedroom, and guests are more than welcome to use whatever is in the bathroom. If I had something which was allergy-free or particularly precious, I'd put it away.

Who would begrudge family members some shower gel? Thwt's just weird!

I always take my own I would never use anyone else's stuff - it's not a hotel!

I listened to an etiquette guy on the radio recently (i think he had advised on Downton Abbey or summat) and he said it was very low brow to give guests travel toiletries in a basket, etc. Apparently 'ones house is not an 'otel' and it's all a bit trying too hard middle class aspirational etc. I always steal the stuff from hotels so i can leave them in a basket in the bathroom and pretend i'm posh - epic fail apparently

Just reread OP & notice that you & your husband both use the stuff so, I'm now veering towards yes, it's odd not to just leave the stuff there for guests.

I have stuff just for me which I would probably put away & provide something else.

when I have guests (often) I do actually try and make it kind of 'hotel-like' for them, leaving out clean towels and new soaps etc. Probably that is haute-bourgeoise of me or something but it makes me happy - hopefully the guests too.

My lovely friend leaves me a stack of new magazines when I stay at hers. Bliss.

Gosh, surely this has to be a reverse aibu? If you've issues with them using yours then put full size nice ones in their room.

Intimate wash?
What's that?

I would be embarrassed not to offer my guests everything they would need especially family. If I have it they can use it.

And let's not even get started on intimate wash...

Yes. Best not.

Why didn't they bring their own?

If I have very expensive or otherwise "special" shower gel- occasionally I'll be bought a present of stuff I wouldn't normally splash out on- I just put in my bedroom for the duration.

Anything in the bathroom is fair game to guests and they can help themselves.

I think it was a really nice gesture of yours actually. It saves them feeling they might be overstepping by using. I once used a friends toothpaste and I felt awful, I really forgot to pack mine. I just think it's a bit cheeky to use other people's stuff. I wouldn't mind if people used mine though.

Unless they were unexpexted guests I'd assume they'd bring their own to be honest. They'd bring their own deodorant and toothbrush (I'd hope!) so is it really any additional hardship to bring their own shower gel and shampoo? Sometimes I just use soap anyway and I wouldn't want to share that.

If they'd forgotten to bring stuff then sure, they're welcome to use mine. But I don't think it's a given.

"
Intimate wash?
What's that?"

A clever bit of marketing.

Aren't the minis sized ones more expensive? I know it's not a cost issue but if buy one separate ones anyway why not go full size?

Or indeed, just let them use yours.

Not the 'intimate wash' though. That's a step too far. Whatever intimate wash is?!

Family members and very close friends, yes, go ahead, use what you want. My best friend walks in my front door, makes her own way to the kitchen, and starts making herself a cup of tea But just other guests (I.e. We have Family friends who visit from abroad once a year) I wouldn't be comfortable with them using my stuff.

Being a host = being hospitable = if someone is a guest in my house, then food, toiletries etc. are freely available for their use. I'm baffled as to why anyone would begrudge their guest this. Basic hospitality is just good manners. If I thought somebody was so tight as not share food and toiletries with a guest, then I'd sooner fork out for a hotel or b & b than stay in their house.

Bertrand :)

I often forget to take things like shower gel and toothpaste (we all have two toothbrushes, an electric one and a normal one, so when we go away I just pack one and leave the other out for the morning before we go)and would think nothing of just having a tiny bit of what ever shower gel or toothpaste was in the bathroom. I never knew people would have an issue with this. I will try harder to remember to take my own toothpaste on now on.

Actually I know it's off topic but if my intimate parts needed a special solution to wash them, I'd not keep such a thing out on general view!

Also meant to say, I have no problem with guests using our stuff. I am quite tight about some things, but when I'm hosting, I am really generous and have no problem letting people share my things, eat my food or use my toothpaste.

"intimate wash" - you mean water? I don't begrudge that

I think the mini-toiletries set out for them with towels is a lovely idea, but I'd also let them know I wouldn't mind them picking from anything in the bathroom. Anything I didn't want used, I would move.

I am happy for guests to use my stuff but if I went to someones house to stay and they had bought me travel toiletries I would feel very special! So can't see anything wrong with what you did if it makes you more comfortable.