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...

Who needs a clean towel every day?

I just stayed in a hotel for two weeks. She cleaned once a week. (And was on call to do more if I requested). Once was enough She had provided two big towels. I used one for three days and the other for four days. Who needs a towel every day?

That is very well written urban life

The guests must be MNers. There's been threads on here where posters have said they wash towels every time it touches an inch of skin. like Pinkyy

I wash my bath towels, hair towels etc once a week. They dry quickly because I buy good quality. It is bonkers to wash every time and I can't get my head round why.

OP I'd do it this once and then quickly change what you say about washing. Twice a week is totally adequate. It's a good job I don't run rentals, I'd just ignore their message

I’m a bit confused by all this, but if I’ve ever booked a holiday cottage, I’ve never even had towels provided. I’ve always brought my own.

A B&B or a hotel, yes you get towels provided - but a self catering holiday cottage with towels provided? Eh?

Maybe some people are OCD

Or spoiled

I regularly stay in holiday cottages both U.K. and France. I’ve never been anywhere that has changed towels more than once a week and usually there is one bath towel and hand towel per person plus a hand towel by any hand basins. Most places ask you to bring your own pool/hot tub towels. Changing towels daily is an appalling waste of water and energy and very bad for the environment.

Are people actually being serious about not using fresh towels every day?

Very serious. We’re killing the planet - wasn’t so long ago people would only have one bath a week and laundry once a week. Now we’re all completely insane about what we ‘deserve’ - a fresh towel every day is an absolute luxury that even hotels discourage.

I wouldn't have towels hung around the room. Looks scruffy. Hardly spoiled but quite possibly OCD.

Definitely there is a need for hand towels and I would consider citing the environmental considerations somewhere because no one needs to wash their towel everyday.

Maybe consider introducing a nominal charge for laundry.

Hand towels - yes, they should come as standard.
Facecloths - no
Daily bathtowel washing - hahahahaha. no
But you have set yourself up for it, rather, with your kind offer.

I'd say, sorry we don't offer hotel service, but as per our terms please feel free to launder your towels daily using the washing machine as specified.

Pinkyy do you use a diffent towel every day?

@Bandara yes, more than one. I'll put one down on the floor for when I step out of the shower, and another to dry myself. When I'm done, both go in the wash. I had no idea people used them for days or even a week.

We stay in a holiday cottage that provides ample towels (no face flannels though, which I'm ok with), however what we did find awkward was trying to dry towels when the weather isnt too good.

We shower probably twice a day if were out and about or in the pool and not being able to get the towels dry was a pain.

Given you have offered to do washing it is BU to then be annoyed if someone asks.

Maybe don’t offer next time?

Could you put a basic washing machine in the cottage, with the instructions? If most of your guests only stay one or two nights they shouldn't expect anyone to do their washing for them.
And don't be quite so helpful! State what is provided and leave it at that.

@Pinkyyy that is outrageously wasteful and in terms of hygiene completely unnecessary

Get a BATHMAT. Wash it weekly

Yes Pinky we are being very serious. Towels get used on clean people, and happily dry out between uses.

I wouldn't expect fresh towels everyday at a holiday rental, after all if you want a hotel experience then stay in a hotel.

That said, I also think some rental hosts are ridiculously stingy with the towel supply. I once stayed at an airbnb in France to attend a friend's wedding, my DH and I booked it for 5 days and were given precisely one bath towel each to last us five days. I had to reuse the same towel for my daily shower, to dry my hair, wash my face and dry my hands for 5 straight days. My DH fared better with his one towel but he doesn't have long hair to wash and dry either!

Currently in a hotel and it says the towels and face cloths will be changed on the third night of our stay.

I'm perfectly happy with this, it's more often than I'd change them at home

However they appear to have changed the face cloths already, presumably because it appeared filthy. (It wasn't, it was mine from home and it's just makeup that's stained it grrr)

Realised how slovenly I am, towels get slung on radiator. Washed when I remember . In my defence, we have a bathroom each (3 of us) (Stealth boast!!!!

Unfortunately I think you’ll have to suck it up this time.

Unfortunately, in this instance, you’ve set yourself up for this by offering. I understand why you did and what you meant but I didn’t dont think they’re unreasonable unreasonable for asking the towels (rather than clothes) be washed.

Leaving aside the Great MN Towel Useage Debate it’s not exactly hard graft bunging towels into a washing machine & pegging them on the line, it’s not like you have to watch the movie drying.‍🤷🏻‍♀️

In general in SC I’d hope for 2 bathsheets & a smaller towel pp and a few bathroom/ kitchen handtowels and a stack of tea towels.

But ‘d what was there & expect it was intended to last the week. I suppose I might hope for a mid week towel change (at most) if the owners were next door. If it were me I’d provide flannels, but ASC a guest I’d never use them.

IT all comes down to what’s on the listing.

If I were you I’d get a WM put in the rental accommodation or stop advertising one, but I guess if it’s not normally an issue it’s might not be necessary to change anything.

I wouldn't have towels hung around the room. Looks scruffy

They're not hung around the room. they're hung on towel rails and hooks that are designed specifically for that purpose.

They're being cheeky about the washing. Repeat politely that, as pointed out, there are laundry facilities for them to use. And I wouldn't expect face cloths in a rental. But of course you should supply hand towels. Really bizarre not to include them.