AIBU to ask the cleaners not to open the curtains?

ScotsBaby2 · 2021-04-27T17:22:43+00:00

We are staying in a hotel just now and when the cleaners come in they open the curtains in both bedrooms. I have a one year old and I get him to sleep in my bed then move him into his cot in his room. The curtains are floor to ceiling and they leave a strip of light down the side. I've been climbing into a chair to position them as best I can to reduce the light then then the cleaners comes and opens them when we aren't here. AIBU to leave a note to ask that the curtains stay shut so I don't need to faff about with them at bedtime?

Dipi79 · 27/04/2021 18:26

YABU and ridiculous.

StrawBeretMoose · 27/04/2021 18:30

It seems the most logical thing to do, why wouldn't you?

Batteriisincluded · 27/04/2021 18:32

If you don't want them to open the curtains then maybe ask that they don't clean. I think you really want them to be able to see what they are doing properly.

MrsSprogett · 27/04/2021 18:33

I'd just ask them to close them once they'd finished
Not unreasonable at all

Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:33

@Batteriisincluded

If you don't want them to open the curtains then maybe ask that they don't clean. I think you really want them to be able to see what they are doing properly.

They can put the lights on. In fact I came back today with every single light left on and the curtains open.

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Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:34

@Dipi79

YABU and ridiculous.

Why ridiculous?

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Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 27/04/2021 18:35

I think I'd focus more on your son getting used to sleeping in a room with a slither of light shining through a gap in the curtains or just closing the curtains at bedtime like a normal person.

Laggartha · 27/04/2021 18:38

They will need to open the curtains to clean. Even if they can remember that the curtains in room 547 need closing, they won’t do it to your requirements.

Why don’t you tell them no housekeeping?

Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:39

@Beseigedbykillersquirrels

I think I'd focus more on your son getting used to sleeping in a room with a slither of light shining through a gap in the curtains or just closing the curtains at bedtime like a normal person.

With the sun shining straight onto that window it illuminates the whole room. At home we have blinds and curtains so the room is dark. He is not used to light at bedtime and thinks it's awake time. I'm not going to start messing about getting him to sleep with light when it's a temporary measure.

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Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:40

Sorry I should clarify, they don't actually clean the bedrooms. They just change the sheets.

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Icequeen01 · 27/04/2021 18:41

May be they need to open the curtains so they can open windows due to Covid. This was the case when I stayed in a hotel last September and when we arrived in the room all the windows were still open and it was freezing!

Sparklingbrook · 27/04/2021 18:41

It can't take that long to get the curtains right?

I would also be working on getting the one year old to sleep when it's not complete darkness just to make your life easier going forward.

Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:41

@Icequeen01

May be they need to open the curtains so they can open windows due to Covid. This was the case when I stayed in a hotel last September and when we arrived in the room all the windows were still open and it was freezing!

The windows don't open.

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Sparklingbrook · 27/04/2021 18:43

With the sun shining straight onto that window it illuminates the whole room. At home we have blinds and curtains so the room is dark. He is not used to light at bedtime and thinks it's awake time. I'm not going to start messing about getting him to sleep with light when it's a temporary measure

I am confused when you say 'bedtime' is this an afternoon nap?

Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:44

@Sparklingbrook

With the sun shining straight onto that window it illuminates the whole room. At home we have blinds and curtains so the room is dark. He is not used to light at bedtime and thinks it's awake time. I'm not going to start messing about getting him to sleep with light when it's a temporary measure

I am confused when you say 'bedtime' is this an afternoon nap?

No. It's 7pm. We are on the 6th floor. The sun is still out and bright.

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Sparklingbrook · 27/04/2021 18:47

I wouldn't want to stay in a hotel that had windows that don't open. What's that all about? How do you get fresh air and ventilation into the room? That's not healthy at all.

Original poster

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:49

@Sparklingbrook

I wouldn't want to stay in a hotel that had windows that don't open. What's that all about? How do you get fresh air and ventilation into the room? That's not healthy at all.

It has air conditioning.

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Dancingsmile · 27/04/2021 18:50

The dark is a signal to the brain to produce the hormone melatonin which enables us to sleep.
Sunlight has the opposite effect as it tells the brain to stop producing melatonin which helps us wake up.
This is one reason why parents may pull up the hood of a pram to help napping in the day time.
Some people are more sensitive to light reacting to just a bit of light so you are not being unreasonable.

I'd leave the cleaning staff a polite note requesting this. Perhaps add your reason to it .

UCOinanOCG · 27/04/2021 18:51

You don't need your sheets changed every day so if that's all they are doing you could put the do not disturb on the door so they don't come in every day?

C152 · 27/04/2021 18:53

If I were the hotel I would think YABU but, as long as you asked politely, I would still accomodate your request.

Batteriisincluded · 27/04/2021 18:53

@ScotsBaby2

Sorry I should clarify, they don't actually clean the bedrooms. They just change the sheets.

Well, I've cleaned hotel rooms and we would always pull the curtains back because part of what we are doing is keeping an eye open for damage. It was never part of the routine to switch all the lights on, but I'll take your word for it that they did. I'm also surprised that they are just changing the sheets. Daily sheet changing generally only happens in pretty up market hotels. But of course in those hotels they would also clean every day as well. Normally sheets are changed every 2/3 days for longer stays. I've had a few hotel stays during Covid due to work and they all had notices saying they were changing beds less frequently atm (the period varied in different hotels). So you have cleaners who aren't going in to clean, but to do daily sheet changing. How unusual.

Darkstar4855 · 27/04/2021 18:54

You don’t need your sheets changed every day, it’s really bad for the environment! Just put a do not disturb sign up and problem solved.

Clymene · 27/04/2021 18:55

Trust me, if they are changing the beds, they're cleaning the room. If you don't want them to do it, tell housekeeping. But please don't make it more difficult for women working on minimum wage to do their jobs.

HerMammy · 27/04/2021 18:56

Just shut the curtains each day, standing on a chair so hardly a hardship 🙄

Sparklingbrook · 27/04/2021 18:57

It has air conditioning

Not a replacement for opening a window IMO.

None opening windows aside I would tell them i didn't need the sheets changing daily and ask them not to come at all especially if they aren't cleaning and it's only temporary. Then arrange the curtains as you wish.