More are my guests being unreasonable?

[stayathomegardener]

I run a holiday cottage in the UK, sleeps 4 and is next to our house.

Currently have two guests staying so provided the usual 4 bath sheets when they arrived yesterday.
I received this message this morning:

Hi T*,do you have some hand towels and face cloths that you could leave for us. We will leave bath towels outside for you after use for washing and return if that's ok as we use clean towels each night,thanks."

The hand towels and face cloths are not an issue I can give them some of ours and perhaps should consider providing them anyway but daily washing/drying two bath sheets is that reasonable?

For full disclosure the listing states that there is use of a washing machine next door (in our house) and I always say to guests just let me know if you would like me to put any washing on for you.
Tempted to say help yourself to it but really don't want to have to let them in here (tidy up!)
I have yet to respond...

I run a Cottage OP on IOW. I'm not understanding why hand towels aren't just included ....one per guest in addition to the bath towels. Shower mats should also be included but not face cloths.....people ought to bring those themselves, they're not standard provision in a hotel.
As for the washing here lies the confusion and I always say to guests just let me know if you would like me to put any washing on for you
So, to resolve this, in your position, I'd provide the towels etc that they want and I'd wash their stuff ONCE, return it nicely dried and folded as a gesture of goodwill with a politely written note on top just clarifying that they need to do it next time and use the facilities provided.

I'm really confused, you said to the. Let me know if you'd like me to put any washing on for you? They let you know they'd like their towels washed? Don't really see what the problem is.

I think there has been crossed wires here and you should be clearer of what you actually mean in the future. I thi k just clarify with them what you actually meant. They will probably be okay about it

maybe add info that as you are an eco run farm. then excessive laundry and drying is not really appropriate.

WTF is a bath sheet??

A large towel.

Would expect hand towel my personal bugbear in self catering is only tea towels for kitchen not hand towel too think it is horrible to dry hands on tea towels. Going forward max two towels a week per person is generous one is fine.

Re the OCD reference from the clean towels daily poster, speed up that CBT referral for all our sakes. I’m all for a bit of vive la difference but you honestly could get to a point where the idea is less disgusting.

We stay several times a year in SC apartments/houses in the UK, in fact we are staying in one at the moment, and I would expect a large towel and a hand towel per person for a week. I have never stayed anywhere that has changed the sheets/towels midweek, though everywhere we stay has washing facilities.
I would also expect a couple of tea towels and a hand towel for any separate toilets (the downstairs loo here hasn’t got a towel and it is really annoying).

Towels changed every day ?

Sheesh

I need two bath towels bc I have thick, medium length hair. I need one for my hair and one for the rest of me. If I don't have a seperate towel, to put my hair in a turbin to sop up the water, it will never dry.

Everyone needs hand towels also.

I do reuse my towels as does dh, but we would def need a new set before week's end.

Sorry, op.

catsinthecupboard when my hair was longer I used to do this, then I bought myself a microfibres hair turban, worked like a dream, wicks water out of your hair and even better it doesn't fall off when you move your head! Dries quicker than a towel as well. My hair is shorter now but I still use the turban. Try TKMAxx, they usually have them.

Hand towels should be standard IMO but face cloths?

I suppose it depends on how you advertise your property? If it's 4/5 stars then you should be providing:

2 x bath sheets
2 x small towels
2 x hand towels

And that's irrespective of whether you are washing for them.

I probably wash my bath towel about once every 6 weeks or so as I use it to dry my clean body after a shower and then it gets hung up to dry.
I can’t imagine using a clean towel every day.
Same as bed sheets. Probably change them once every 2-3 weeks.

I don’t think you need to provide towels in a holiday cottage just put on the booking info

If you say you provide towels and laundry then sadly you will need to pander to those who want fresh towels daily. I make the towels last the week and would probably be too shy to ask for laundry.

Mycatisblack

6 weeks?!!!!!!!!! Ugh

To be honest if I rented a holiday cottage I would be amazed if it did not have a washing machine? I have done lots of changeovers for holiday cottages and they never don't have a washing machine! However I also wouldn't expect fresh towels everyday as it is not a hotel.

@mycatisblack Are you serious? You use the same towel to dry yourself for six weeks before washing it?

I would expect a bath towel or sheet and a hand towel per person plus an extra hand towel per stand alone toilet but I would not expect washing unless staying over a week.

Fresh towels should be provided for every day or you should state in the booking form that this is not provided.

Well they have asked you to wash the bath towels, so they have done exactly what you asked?

Wait! This is a genuine question, do people not wash their towels after every use? Like After a shower or a bath do you hang up your towel to dry and use it again? Like at home not on holiday Is this a thing?

@babyblues052

I change my hair towel after each use but other towels just get put back on the towel rail for a few days.

I only put washing on 3 times a week.

After a shower or a bath do you hang up your towel to dry and use it again?

Yes. Because it's still clean.

Do you have at least 2 hooks for hanging towels on to dry, or a bathroom radiator/airer in your rental property so that towels can dry properly after use? If not, maybe that’s why your guests are seeking a daily change? I would type a sign, like in a hotel, stating to guests that you like to take care of the environment and to please use towels more than once. We have a holiday rental and in our T&Cs guests understand fresh towels are given every 7 days but they have ready access to a washing machine in the meantime. And you really need to provide hand towels - why wouldn’t you? And a hand towel for all if there is a washroom with just a loo and washbasin. You want to make things comfortable and easy for guests especially for repeat business.