Hotel anxiety and competitive tidying AIBU?

[CougheeBean]

Currently abroad, this is our first morning. I’d forgotten how odd and anxious I get about housekeeping staff. I never make the bed at home but when I’m away I always do and try and meet their standards. Try and pre-empt what they’ll clean or tidy in the hopes I make their job easier. They always find something to do though and it makes me feel guilty!! I hate having someone clean up after me, I can’t be the only one?

I’ve done cleaning work but not in hotels and I don’t want to be one of those obnoxious customers...

Please don't. Lock away valuables, for politeness, not for any other reason, put towels you want replaced in the bath and make sure there's nothing grim and slam the door behind you.

Cleaning is all part and parcel of staying in a hotel.
That's why we go.
So we don't have to clean up.
Of course, put stuff in bins and pull the bedding over but don't go over the top.
If all customers were like you then they'd all be out of a job.
You pay for it so use it!

Just think, if everyone was like you then they would sack staff as they would have little to do. Just relax and let them do their job!

Of course they’ll find something to do, it’s their job to clean your room! It’s part of what you pay for.
Of course you should be respectful and not leave it in a state, but this is a bit OTT.
Go and enjoy your holiday.

I can’t be the only one?

Erm..........

Yeah, thats weird

They will still have to clean all the surfaces they are supposed to clean and hoover the floor. Just make sure you leave the room tidy when you go out. Nothing strewn all over the floor, make sure toilet is flushed and no dirty tissues anywhere. Put your rubbish in appropriate bin.

The best thing you can do to make their lives easier is to get out if the room! Having to come back because you're faffing about inside really screws up ther day.

Yep, its just you. Let them do their job and leave them a tip at the end of your stay to say thank you.

Thank you I actually feel much better now the logical part of my brain says what you guys have but the overriding anxious part doesn’t want to appear even slightly disrespectful. Last time we visited this country I gave the housekeeper a big tray of pastries and she showered us in hugs (and a funny hat) and I felt hugely relieved that she didn’t appear to secretly hate me 😂

Dont worry about it.

But when you check out i can give you one tip as former housekeeping: throw all towels into the shower to mark which ones have been used and DO NOT MAKE THE BED to make it look tidy: this is a PITA as its then more effort to strip

You shouldn't try to meet hotel cleaning standards; they all seem to have particular ways of making beds, folding things etc, and I presume train staff accordingly. You'll just make more work as they'll have to undo what you've done.

Leave a tip if you feel guilty. Well, leave a tip anyway.

Just leave it to them!

I used to do cleaning, although not in a hotel. I would have thought having done cleaning you know some of the grim situations cleaners encounter - used sanitary towels left on the floor being a highlight. So personally I know that if I leave the room reasonably tidy, and put rubbish in the bin, then I am leaving the room in a reasonable state.

Sorry, but you're being ridiculous. However, if you really don't want them to clean you could always leave the 'Do not Disturb' sign on the door.

Yeah yeah...

Can't say I sit there and tidy, but if I'm only there for a couple of nights I just put the do not disturb sign up

Partly it's because I've done hotel cleaning (but now in a job where I stay in hotels) and partly because I like my privacy

I pick DD's stuff up off the floor and strip the bedclothes back because the beds need airing. Unaired beds are grim, especially hotel ones because so many different people sleep in them.

If you really want to be helpful, one the last day strip the bed and put the towels in the shower. Everything in the bin and a tip on the side for the cleaners. You can also opt out of housing keeping if you want

I fold the quilt back to air the bed, open the curtains, put used towels on the floor or in the bath/shower and put my rubbish in the bin. Tv remotes/menus etc are returned to where we found them. If possible, I'll open the window too before we leave to air the room.

All stuff I do at home anyway.

I do leave the stupid bed runner they insist on using, off the bed though.

I know what you mean. I was brought up to be clean and tidy, make my bed etc. It’s very odd going out and leaving your bed unmade. Think of it as a rare treat, plenty of time to clean & tidy when you’re back at home - enjoy the break!

Could you just put the do not disturb sign on the door instead.

Don’t do more than tidy but when you leave put some cash in an envelope marked “housekeeping” and write a short note saying “thanks for taking care of us during our stay”.

Trust me, the housekeeping people will like that more than you cleaning the sink for them.

I don't clean up but I do tip well.

I personally thanked the lovely woman who cleaned our room last holiday (and bunged her cash). She was great.

How many men clean hotel rooms and strip beds for housekeeping?