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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

More are my guests being unreasonable?

334 replies

stayathomegardener · 13/07/2019 09:30

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...

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 13/07/2019 09:57

Can you put a washing machine in the rental accommodation? I have never stayed anywhere that offered to do our washing. Laundry service in hotels maybe but it’s unusual in self catering.

GhettoFabulous · 13/07/2019 09:57

Out of curiosity, why can't people dry their hands on the bath towels?

RainOrSun · 13/07/2019 09:58

I think hand towels should be available, so adding those to the standard ket is probably sensible.
Might also be worth adding a line to the rental agreement that sheets & towels will be replaced after X days if required.
I'd also be tempted to line dry (not wash) and return the towels for this let......

PizzaTaste · 13/07/2019 09:58

YANBU but what can you do really? Suck it up and provide them for a good review

BlueSkiesLies · 13/07/2019 09:59

They are U about needing a fresh towel every day, but I’ve seen enough batshit threads on MN to joke that a lot of women are fucking weird about single use towels.

However you do offer to do washing in the listing, so you can’t really say they are U for asking for washing to be done.

You could just Chuck the towels through a 20 min quick wash for them.

Sockworkshop · 13/07/2019 10:00

Just tumble dry the towels and give them back Wink

OneStepSideways · 13/07/2019 10:02

I'd expect a good supply of bath sheets, bath towels and hand towels in a holiday rental. If no washing machine in the flat maybe they feel awkward coming into your home to use yours?

Most guests would be happy to use the same bath towel (one each) for a few days but not hand towels, I think you need to provide at least one clean hand towel per day. All Air B&Bs we've stayed in have supplied a big stack of fresh towels.

jollygoose · 13/07/2019 10:02

we just had a long stay - 3 weeks in a lovely cottage in Yorkshire the downside was it had no washing machine and there did not appear to be a launderette within 20 miles. I felt the owner who lived next door could have offered to put a wash on for us it was really difficult having to wash smalls by hand with no spin dryer. I think your guests are taking the p... we were happy to have towels and sheets changed once.

Zaphodsotherhead · 13/07/2019 10:04

Bloody hell, I've just looked at my (much used) bath towel that I use to dry my hands on and realised I have no standards at all...

WorraLiberty · 13/07/2019 10:05

Why is washing machine coming up as a clicky link to MNetters favourite washing machines? Confused

Isatis · 13/07/2019 10:08

If there is no laundry facility within the property then you need to provide fresh towels daily.

Of course OP doesn't. I've never stayed in rented accommodation that offered this, and wouldn't expect it.

OP, I'm afraid you may have opened yourself to this by the offer of laundry facilities. You could say that that it is only for reasonable use, and four clean towels every day isn't reasonable.

Or, you could just dry the towels they leave out for you and give them back neatly folded. Grin

Whereismyfigleaf · 13/07/2019 10:09

I don't think fresh towels every day is reasonable. They are in a cottage, not a hotel. In future write somewhere that this is not provided for. Lots of mainstream hotels do this and state it is for environmental reasons, on a note in the bathroom.

You can say this to them now, referring to environment.

Furthermore i would rethink the offer to wash.

NataliaOsipova · 13/07/2019 10:09

They need to stay in a hotel next time!

If you’ve offered access to a washing machine, then offer them the use of it to wash their towels.....

Original poster
stayathomegardener · 13/07/2019 10:09

Ok so listing states there are "washing and drying facilities in a separate building shared with owner"
When they arrived I realised they are moving around the UK for 6 weeks so said if you have any washing I'll pop it on for you and leave it outside your door in a basket, there's a clothes horse in that cupboard.

I'm tempted to provide them with copious hand towels, flannels and a key Smile be fascinating to see how much daily towel washing they do.

Almost worth tidying up for.

Accept I'm unreasonable not to have more towels initially; will rectify.

OP posts:
HappyNOTdriving · 13/07/2019 10:09

What warmsausage said.

I wouldn't expect a facecloth.

Would expect a bath towel (but would much prefer a bath sheet) and a hand towel and a one of those smaller ones to put on the floor.

I would expect that these are mine for the duration and the owners wouldn't be near enough for me to see them in more than a wave in the morning way never mind be around washing my towels!

NataliaOsipova · 13/07/2019 10:10

How weird - my reference to machines for washing above has come up as a clicky link too. bizarre....

S1naidSucks · 13/07/2019 10:10

I can nearly guarantee if they had to wash their own towels and hang them out, they wouldn’t be changing them every day, OP. I do think you need to put a washing machine in the accommodation or at least in a well built shed/outhouse.

Brefugee · 13/07/2019 10:10

for future just have a big sign saying you won't provide clean towels every day because of the environmental impact, unless they pay extra.

Isatis · 13/07/2019 10:11

And, for future purposes, make it clear that you only supply sheets and towels on a weekly basis and will not be changing them more frequently other than for emergencies.

lightningstrikes · 13/07/2019 10:11

I also run a similar cottage, I get this. I think the assumption that you having nothing to do but wash their towels is irritating. I think you can say that you don't offer a laundry service, but as stated in the listing, they are welcome to use the machine in the main house and give them a set of times that work for you. They may decide that rather than sitting around waiting for their towels to wash and dry they would rather be out enjoying their holiday. I think it is a bit cheeky to assume that you are going to do the washing. You do need to give hand towels though.

that25cUKHeatwaveof2019 · 13/07/2019 10:12

Depends how long they are staying. Now that you have offered, you are kind of stuck.

For future booking, I would specify that - for longer bookings - clean towels are provided twice weekly, clean bedding weekly.

Supply enough hand towels to be changed every day, couple of bath mats, and a 2 -3 towels per person (face, hair, body) would be my estimate.

Isatis · 13/07/2019 10:13

Ok so listing states there are "washing and drying facilities in a separate building shared with owner"
When they arrived I realised they are moving around the UK for 6 weeks so said if you have any washing I'll pop it on for you and leave it outside your door in a basket, there's a clothes horse in that cupboard.

In that case, say that your offer didn't extend to washing every day, and if they want that they will have to use the shared washing facilities themselves.

Isatis · 13/07/2019 10:13

For future booking, I would specify that - for longer bookings - clean towels are provided twice weekly

Why? Once a week is ample.

Chewbecca · 13/07/2019 10:15

Definitely change the wording on the future bookings to be clear how many towels are provided and how often they will be changed.
I'd like one bath sheet and one hand towel pp, changed once during the week. (Well, more would be nice but this is the minimum I'd expect).

I use the hand towel for wrapping my hair after a shower.

Vulpine · 13/07/2019 10:15

I like a big towel and a smaller towel for hair but for fecks sake why can't they just hang em up to dry and use them again?

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