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AIBU?

AIBU to ask the cleaners not to open the curtains?

86 replies

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 18:22

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?

OP posts:

Report

Laggartha · 27/04/2021 19:00

They I’ll be hoovering, cleaning the en suite, emptying the bin etc.

It’s very unlikely that they change the sheets every day.

Just tell them they don’t need to do the baby’s room.

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 19:00

Sorry again. They are changing the sheets twice a week.
They are definitely not cleaning the room. We've been here 3 weeks and there is clear dust on the bedside tables. I wasn't expecting them to come in today so there was an empty sweet wrapper on the bedside table and they never cleaned it up.
They clean the bathrooms, replenish the toilet roll etc, wipe down the kitchen work top and kitchen table, leave clean towels and change the sheets. We have to clean the bedrooms and sweep/mop the floors.
It's a chain serviced apartment which has the same set up as a hotel but it's apartments instead of rooms.

OP posts:

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 19:02

@Clymene

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.

They aren't cleaning the bedroom.
It was a male cleaner today.
I don't know their wage rate but I'm impressed you do.
How is keeping the curtains shut making it more difficult for them?

OP posts:

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 19:04

@Sparklingbrook

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.

Well the room has been booked through the NHS to house patients undergoing cancer treatment so the NHS clearly feel it is suitable or they wouldn't be housing over 10 families in these apartments.

OP posts:

SunnyLovesCassie · 27/04/2021 19:06

Drip feed much! Just leave a note.

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 19:08

@SunnyLovesCassie

Drip feed much! Just leave a note.

Didn't expect so many comments relating to the ins and out. I was expecting more a yay or nae response.

OP posts:

Icecreamsoda99 · 27/04/2021 19:11

I'd leave a polite friendly note and for you OP for the most recent update.

SaturdayRocks · 27/04/2021 19:13

And if people had said ‘no’ would you not do it?

If it’s annoying you, just leave a note. No big deal, surely? Not really sure why it has to be a committee decision.

However, what’s bound to happen is - they will open the curtains to clean, and then pull them closed again, but not to your satisfaction, so you’ll still be fixing them.

ScotsBaby2 · 27/04/2021 19:16

@SaturdayRocks

And if people had said ‘no’ would you not do it?

If it’s annoying you, just leave a note. No big deal, surely? Not really sure why it has to be a committee decision.

However, what’s bound to happen is - they will open the curtains to clean, and then pull them closed again, but not to your satisfaction, so you’ll still be fixing them.

No. I would grin and bear it. I was hoping some people who work in hospitality would offer their opinion on how they would feel getting that kind of note. If its likely to be because the cleaner prefers doing that or if it's just part of their tick list of stuff to do when they are in the room. I don't want to annoy anyone. They are changing my sheets and cleaning the bathrooms etc. I don't get to see them every time they do to thank them. It would just make my life a bit easier.

OP posts:

funnylittlefloozie · 27/04/2021 19:17

Sorry for what must be a fairly horrible time for you, OP.

TBH, I would go and buy a packet of clothes pegs in poundland, and clothes-peg the curtains together to block out the light.

GlassBoxSpectacular · 27/04/2021 19:18

They are changing the sheets twice a week.

Is it really ‘a faff’ to adjust the curtains twice a week?

SaturdayRocks · 27/04/2021 19:21

@GlassBoxSpectacular

They are changing the sheets twice a week.

Is it really ‘a faff’ to adjust the curtains twice a week?

I think the OP means they come in every day, but only change the sheets twice a week.

RampantIvy · 27/04/2021 19:23

@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.

Most big chain hotels with many floors don't have windows that open.

toocold54 · 27/04/2021 19:33

It's a chain serviced apartment which has the same set up as a hotel but it's apartments instead of rooms.

I assume it’s different cleaners each time so telling one won’t make much of a difference. Sounds like it’s easier for you to just close the curtains after they’ve opened them.

LazyYogi · 27/04/2021 19:35

I have a DS who is super sensitive to light. Mainly because he is on the go all the time so a chink of light makes him think "what's through there!?"

Sleeping in an unfamiliar place would make this even worse and at the 1 year mark my son had a serious sleep regression so I completely think yanbu!

It's a simple request, you're asking them to refrain from doing something not adding to their duties!

Clymene · 27/04/2021 19:38

I know @ScotsBaby2 because I've been a hotel cleaner. Next time you see your cleaner, check if they have good English - I'm imagining not. It's a hard job and a really thankless task. You have to clean a huge number of rooms in a limited period of time and some people are absolutely filthy.

When people are living in the place like you are, some of them get really arsey about stuff being moved or thrown away so you're told to just do the bathrooms and change the beds. If you want your room cleaned properly, put your things away, leave surfaces clear and ask housekeeping to do it.

As for your curtains, you're asking for a special thing just for your room which is hard when your job is literally to deliver the same service for every room. That said, again I'm sure if you ask housekeeping to leave the curtains shut, they will put a note against your room number.

And I'm sorry for the circumstances you find yourself in and wish your family well.

1Morewineplease · 27/04/2021 19:39

I'm sorry, but why can't you close the curtains?
I'm really not understanding the problem here.
Or just ask them to not open the curtains.

MrsFLongbottom · 27/04/2021 19:40

Yanbu at all, it’s your hotel room and it’s fine to have things how you want them- I can’t imagine they’d mind especially if you explain

Can you have a word with reception rather than a note?

heartcake · 27/04/2021 19:41

@Sparklingbrook

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.

You've obviously never visited or lived in a hot country. Windows being open let in the burning fires of hell from outside. Air conditioning is dreamy.

HavelockVetinari · 27/04/2021 19:42

I know how bloody awful it is when you have a baby who doesn't sleep well - honestly, I wrote to to factory near us to ask if they could re-route their trucks pre-6am as it woke DS

The desire for sleep is all-consuming, there's a good reason that sleep-deprivation is torture.

That said - YABU. Sorry! I understand though.

Sparklingbrook · 27/04/2021 19:44

Quite the contrary @heartcake, but had a balcony, patio doors etc.

Air con was great at night if not too noisy.

DogsSausages · 27/04/2021 19:47

Just ask reception to tell housekeeping not to open the curtains, put some pegs on the curtains with a note saying please leave closed. It will keep the room cooler anyway

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Sparklingbrook · 27/04/2021 19:49

Going back to the OP, pinning a note to the closed curtains could work, save requesting it verbally and communication not being good at the hotel.

Laggartha · 27/04/2021 19:52

I have worked as a chambermaid. Ensuring curtains were open in the correct manner was part of the job.
(On an evening, when the guests were at dinner, a member of staff would do the turn-down which involved closing the curtains, turning a couple of little lights on, turning down the bedspread, chocolate on the pillow and a tiny jug of fresh milk on the tea tray).

DogsSausages · 27/04/2021 19:52

You could always ask if you can just change your own sheets, do you really need housekeeping, could they not just leave you some sheets and you ask for fresh towels when you are there. We stayed in an aparthotel and did our own cleaning.

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