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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to expect dishwasher tablets?

235 replies

foxychox · 31/08/2021 11:26

We had a week in an AirBNB last week. It was a seaside chalet, but very well equipped and included a dishwasher. When the keys were handed over I was advised on how to use the washer and dryer if I needed them so my expectation was that all appliances were for use. Over the first couple of days we used dishes and stacked the dishwasher, when it was full I hunted around but no dishwasher tablets to be found. Salt and rinse aid, yes but not tablets. Washing up liquid, washing liquid and fabric conditioner all evident. From then on we washed dishes as we used them (even though there was a only a very well used scourer available) but left the dishwasher as was - all items had been rinsed prior to putting in so no smell etc.
When we left I messaged the owner to say we had a great stay and had stacked the DW but as there were no tablets had not put it on. Her response was that she expected that we should wash all the dishes by hand prior to leaving.
AIBU in that if there is a dishwasher we should be able to use it? And that the property should include detergent for this? I have another AirBNB stay coming up in a couple of months so need to be prepared to take my own if this is not the norm (it has been for the other 2 that we have done)....

OP posts:
swashbucklecheer · 31/08/2021 11:28

I always take a few tablets for the dishwasher and a few pods for the washing machine just in case. If there is stuff there - happy days, if not - I'm prepared anyway.

Blossomtoes · 31/08/2021 11:31

@swashbucklecheer

I always take a few tablets for the dishwasher and a few pods for the washing machine just in case. If there is stuff there - happy days, if not - I'm prepared anyway.
We do too. If the stuff is there it’s a bonus. I’m team Airbnb owner, by the way. You leave the property how you found it and that means all dishes clean.
Anoisagusaris · 31/08/2021 11:33

Bonus if there are some left for you, not standard though to provide dishwasher tablets, washing powder, kitchen roll, washing up liquid etc in self catering accommodation,

Anoisagusaris · 31/08/2021 11:33

And yes you should have left the dishes clean.

YellowMeeple · 31/08/2021 11:34

I think you need to be prepared to take some/buy some yourself. I would never expect any dishwashing kit to be supplied (either for hand washing or the dishwasher) Maybe one tablet for the first day. Surely the other stuff there was just things previous visitors have left behind rather than stuff with the property. I would have bought tablets (and a new washing up sponge) while I was away rather than hand washed all week using someone else’s old sponge!

purplesequins · 31/08/2021 11:34

@swashbucklecheer

I always take a few tablets for the dishwasher and a few pods for the washing machine just in case. If there is stuff there - happy days, if not - I'm prepared anyway.
this and yabu

unless it's described as provided in the blurb I always expect to provide my own.

lanthanum · 31/08/2021 11:35

We usually holiday in the UK in self-catering cottages, and we very soon learned that dishwasher tablets and washing powder needed to be in the packing list (along with actually-sharp knives). Sometimes they're provided, but safest to assume not. Chalk it up to experience.

blametheparents · 31/08/2021 11:36

I always take a few dishwasher tablets when I go to a self catering place.
Maybe you could've bought a packet and taken the rest home? I would've done that rather than stack a dishwasher and then leave it dirty.

lyntheyresexpeople · 31/08/2021 11:36

You left all the dishes dirty?? If there's no tablets, you hand wash them. It's incredibly grubby of you to leave a pile of dirty dishes Envy - not envy!

Tataru · 31/08/2021 11:36

I think I'd just have bought some instead of leaving dirty dishes in the dishwasher for days!

RampantIvy · 31/08/2021 11:36

@swashbucklecheer

I always take a few tablets for the dishwasher and a few pods for the washing machine just in case. If there is stuff there - happy days, if not - I'm prepared anyway.
Same here.

Why didn't you buy some dishwasher tablets while you were there?

poshme · 31/08/2021 11:38

Why didn't you just run the dishwasher without the tablets?
I can't believe you left it full of dirty stuff!

Palavah · 31/08/2021 11:38

Agree it's not abnormal for a host to leave 1 or 2 or even a plentiful supply of tablets but it's not to be expected.

YABU to wait until the end of your stay to message - given so many other products were provided I'd have messaged as soon as I couldn't find the tablets to ask if there were any in the property (but prepared to buy my own if not).

hotasharibo · 31/08/2021 11:39

Was there a reason you couldn't buy dw tablets???

I generally take a few. Or buy when there. If they are provided great but I would not expect them to be. Often when you find dw tabs or washing liquid it's left from a previous guest.

Super rude to leave the dw dirty though

Elkey · 31/08/2021 11:40

I would expect tablets. I certainly wouldn't bring any cleaning products.

BUT yabu for leaving dirty dishes. That's worse than the host not leaving tablets. You should have had a grumble and washed them anyway.

Iwanttobeapaperbackwriter · 31/08/2021 11:40

Where does it stop, they have an oven so should provide food, a washing machine so should provide clothes?

They left you means to wash up, a dishwasher is a luxury you should have brought your own tablets.

thelastgoldeneagle · 31/08/2021 11:41

Yanbu. I always take some dishwasher tablets with me when I go SC. Tiny and easy to pack.

tiredanddangerous · 31/08/2021 11:43

I've stayed in many self catering places over the years but I've never had dishwasher tablets provided.

Mrsjayy · 31/08/2021 11:43

They left washing up liquid you should have washed your dishes yabu so now the host has to sort out your dishes Hmm

slashlover · 31/08/2021 11:43

You just left the dirty dishes in the dishwasher? For how long? You say the "first couple of days" and then "from then on", were they in there a week? boaks Shock

PercyPiginaWig · 31/08/2021 11:44

I usually bring some dishwasher tablets and laundry detergent and some antibacterial spray, a kitchen roll and a few extra loo rolls.
In most UK Airbnbs I've found there is a bottle with a piddly amount of washing up liquid provided.
Self catering in France and Spain I've usually received a little pack with two dishwasher tablets, two washing machine tablets, a cloth and other bits and bobs.

YABU to leave the dishwasher full of dirty dishes. You also could have messaged the owner sooner to ask where the dishwasher tablets were kept so they had an opportunity to drop a few off or tell you to buy your own.

I wouldn't use a manky old sponge of unknown history! You don't know what the previous occupants cleaned with that.

karmakameleon · 31/08/2021 11:44

This annoys me so much about holiday homes in the UK. Owners want you to leave everything clean (reasonable) but often don’t leave adequate cleaning supplies (unreasonable). I’ll ensure I clean as well as I can with the equipment provided but I’m not going to go out and buy cleaning supplies. I do always take my own dishwasher tablets though, as often not provided and I’m not hand washing dishes on holiday.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 31/08/2021 11:44

I would have expected tablets there but, upon discovering that there weren’t any, I’d have bought some or just washed up properly. Leaving a full dishwasher of dirty dishes is not ok.

Mrsjayy · 31/08/2021 11:44

Maybe the dishwasher wasn't to be used if it was they would have said !

Miniroofbox · 31/08/2021 11:45

How skanky of you. You should’ve washed the dishes. And got a small packet of dishwasher tabs if you didn’t want to wash by hand.

You usually have to bring scourer, washing up liquid and cloth, washing powder and dishwasher tabs with you.