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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To do this in a hotel?

138 replies

Somuchchocolatesolittletime · 03/05/2019 13:15

I stayed at a hotel last night for a birthday weekend away for a friend, there were 14 of us in total. At breakfast after checking out, my DH mentioned to the group that I had tidied the room before leaving (put used towels in the bath, tidied the toiletries on the side and threw all rubbish away and tied up the bag) then stripped the bed. 12 out of the 14 friends think this is crazy and that it's the maids job. I understand where they're coming from but I had ten minutes spare so thought I'd make their job a little easier. They still think I'm barmy.

Who is BU here? I'm getting quite a lot of stick for something I didn't think was that much of a big deal!

OP posts:
happymummy12345 · 03/05/2019 15:17

I always do that. I think it's nice to help out.

thecatsthecats · 03/05/2019 15:18

This thread has made me realise that the reason I am annoyed with my husband's pernicketty standards when leaving hotel rooms is that they're actually more fastidious than his standards in our own home. Humph.

amusedbush · 03/05/2019 15:19

I always tidy up and put all rubbish into bags, tie it up and leave it by the bin. Towels in the bath, give the sink a slosh with warm water and make sure the toilet bowl isn't dirty. I don't strip the bed but I think it's just polite not to leave a shithole when you check out.

DitheringBlidiot · 03/05/2019 15:21

I don’t strip the bed but all towels in the bath, rubbish in bins or in a bag tied up next to the bin. It take seconds, I don’t like the “that’s their job” brigade. What a terrible attitude to have

TeenTimesTwo · 03/05/2019 15:30

I do think there is a difference between 'that's their job' and 'this is what I am paying for' though.

I consider that when I am in a hotel part of what I am paying for is to not have to do housework.

A bit like the way that in McD you clear your own stuff v at a posh restaurant someone comes and clears plates for you.

Lozz22 · 03/05/2019 15:35

@Strawberrypancakes I caravan cleaned years ago with someone who did that!! Only she would take the clean bedding out the packing and stand on it and scrumple it up to make it look like that was the old one. Couldn't work out why when we were cleaning the same amount of caravans she would be finished way before me. Then I caught her!! Cheeky bitch also stole £50 off me and then wanted £80 petrol money so she could go pick the money up cos she reckoned she'd picked my wages up and took them away with her and forgot to bring them home. Told her to piss off and reported her to the Police

JustGettingStarted · 03/05/2019 15:41

I strip the bed - maids don't have to sort out the various pieces - it's all chucked into the same bag or cart. I gather all rubbish together and heap all the towels and linens together on the floor.

It does save them time - some hotels decree that they should be able to clean a room in X minutes, and they're paid by the room. They frequently earn less than the hourly wage.

regmover · 03/05/2019 15:47

I'm amazed that some people leave the bed made - why do that? It's going to be stripped. Ditto tidying toiletries. Hopefully the cleaning staff will need to move them.. to clean...

ShartGoblin · 03/05/2019 15:52

The least helpful thing on checkout day was when guests made the beds and tucked everything in really tightly.

URGH YES! I used to be a housekeeper and this is the worst. People think they're being helpful but it makes it take so much longer to untuck everything.

PuppyMonkey · 03/05/2019 15:57

I wouldn't leave the room in a complete state but its a no to stripping beds from me. If I had ten minutes spare before I left, I'd have another cup of tea.

ALongHardWinter · 03/05/2019 15:58

I always put used towels in the bath,and bag up any rubbish. But I wouldn't go as far as stripping the bed!

nauseous5000 · 03/05/2019 16:09

I wouldn't strip bed but everything else of course. Its like people who don't tidy away their tray somewhere like McDonald's cos it's not their job. Too special

Namaste6 · 03/05/2019 17:35

I always do everything you have done OP - without fail - with the exception of stripping the bed. And for the same reasons you do. I used to travel frequently for work. One hotel that I stayed at a lot put fresh flowers in my room (from housekeeping) to 'thank me for making their load a little easier'. I'm sure your hotel staff were very appreciative of your effort and thought, and you made their day that bit easier too. Why not.

Namaste6 · 03/05/2019 17:37

Oh and I always left a tip for housekeeping too. It's bloody hard work and on very tight schedules.

ControversialFerret · 03/05/2019 17:44

I don't strip the bed - I make it very roughly and put back any cushions, counterpanes and what not, so that housekeeping can see it's all there. Rubbish in the bins and any used glasses and mugs go back on the tray so that they are all together. Used towels get left bundled on the side of the bath.

I used to work as a cleaner. I preferred stripping the beds myself because it was easier for me to count linens and check for tears and damage. But anything that people can do to make it quicker to clean the room - not leaving rubbish everywhere for example - was always gratefully appreciated!

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 03/05/2019 18:11

In a hotel I put towels in the bath, tidy up etc but don’t strip the bed. In self catering accommodation I do strip the beds, put the rubbish out, sweep/hoover the floors and leave things as clean as possible.

GabsAlot · 03/05/2019 18:41

only time i stripped the bed was when i had a nosebleed in it

yes it was that not a period i doubt the maids believed me but i left a note anyway and said sorry for the mess

Tink1990 · 03/05/2019 20:05

I also leave the room tidy, towels in the bath etc. Wouldnt strip the bed though but I do make it Confused not sure why now tbh, just habit I guess!

theemmadilemma · 03/05/2019 20:07

I do everything but strip the bed, I pull it back to air and open a window if possible.

Aragog · 03/05/2019 20:10

I always put towels in the bath tub and put any rubbish in the bed.
I will throw the duvet back over the bed and straighten it but would never dream of stripping the covers!

Drogosnextwife · 03/05/2019 20:11

I always do the same although I don't strip the bed. I remember someone on MN saying they were or had been a maid and they didn't like it when people stripped the beds, I think because they can't check for damage or stains.

Drogosnextwife · 03/05/2019 20:13

Aragog

I don't think the maids will appreciate rubbish thrown in the bed and the covers chocked back over it 😂

Drogosnextwife · 03/05/2019 20:14

Chucked 😂

TellerTuesday4EVA · 03/05/2019 20:16

Holiday cottage owner (but also the cleaner) here!

I do a happy dance every time I turn up & someone stripped the beds!

Keep doing what you're doing OP

greenelephantscarf · 03/05/2019 20:18

tidying up - yes (how else do you check if something rolled under the bed?)
towels in bathroom - yes
stripping beds - hell no