Being asked to strip beds in holiday cottage

[librarian55]

We have just returned from a long weekend in the Lake District which was organised by my DD. We stayed in a very nice cottage. The day before we left, the letting agent texted my DD asking us to leave the place clean and tidy (fair enough, we would do that anyway) but they also asked us to strip the beds. AIBU in thinking this was very cheeky? The cost of cleaning would be included in the rental price and since we were expected to vacate by 10am, we didn't have that much time in the morning. I know it doesn't take much time, but I go on holiday to get away from such chores.

I'd always strip the bed anyway, along with making sure the toilets are clean and everywhere is generally tidy and hoovered through

We've always done it
DH has always insisted, possibly as his parents used to run hol cottages etc

I strip beds no matter what place I stay in. I don't care about a cleaning fee etc, if it makes the cleaners day abit more easier then it's worth one minute of my time.

I've been a cleaner in a holiday destination and it's exhausting. One untidy let can put you back and absolutely does ruin your full day because you only get a time limit per let. One family leaving a mess in a let still needs cleaned to a high standard in the same amount of time a tidy one does.

Stripping the beds your family have slept in isn't a big deal for you at the end of your break (although it obviously is for you...) but those beds for a cleaner could be the eighth/ninth/tenth beds they have to do, on basically minimum wage. I absolutely loved the guys who'd strip beds for me, when you're knackered and your whole body is hurting from speed cleaning, it's a big deal for a cleaner to have that job already done.

To those who strip the beds before they leave: I'm sure every cleaner appreciates it 🤗 thank you on their behalf!

I didn't even know that tipping a cleaner in a self catering let was a thing.

As I said previously we hadn't self catered for a while until last year. We found the check in and out times confusing both times we went away. First cottage - all the correspondence from the agency said "by 10.00am". Info in the cottage said 9.

Second one, again we were told 10 in the correspondence. We were aiming for 9.30/9.45 when the cleaners knocked the door at 9! They were very nice when I explained we had been told 10 - and I showed then the email. We did manage to be out by 9.30 but felt bad that we had potentially messed their schedule up. I did feed back to the agency but had no response.

It wouldn’t occur to me not to strip the beds as well as put out rubbish and make sure the bathroom was presentable. It’s common courtesy.

I strip every bed even in 5 star hotels as I want to make sure we have not left something in the bedding!

What nonsense. There are no enhanced protocols, just an excuse for tight arse owners who don’t want to pay cleaners properly. This is 2023 you know not 2020.

So how much do you think we should be paying the cleaners then? I pay mine £25 an hour. Do you consider that enough?

I hate this and think its a bloody liberty. A cleaning charge is included and whether it takes 3 mins or 30 seconds is not the point, I am PAYING for a cleaning charge and dont want to do a chore that is not my chore to do. Its a holiday and it shouldnt be expected

Everything has hit the fan since covid, a complete copout and constant excuse to rip off consumers and provide poor service everywhere for everything.

Absolutely fair points.

People think about the property owners and think they are raking it in. Prices for holiday lets are expensive and that’s why people are increasingly not willing to do anything.

I agree that it’s worth thinking about the poorly paid cleaner who has to clean large numbers of properties very quickly. Stripping beds will make their lives easier. A family of 4 stripping the 3 beds they’ve slept in, might take 2 mins, and save the cleaner 6 minutes of their very tight schedule.

Some people seem to think they can leave a holiday let as they would for a weekly cleaner who comes in at home. It’s not the same. Your cleaner at home might have 3 hours and will expect to do some things every other week rather than every week, along with some weekly things. Your toilets might be left dirty, your kitchen floors muddy and filthy….and they will get on and do it.

In a holiday cottage, the cleaners have enough time to change beds and do a pretty quick clean round. They will hoover and mop floors and wipe down. But if dirt that has been left is more substantial…..or 30 mins of washing up is needed, or there is real filth that requires more time…it’s gone beyond what could be expected. But unfortunately, some people think they’ve paid their fee, so they can party and leave a shocking mess and that’s okay.

Often there is a real mis-match between what holiday makers think is acceptable in terms of mess and work left behind and what’s viable to address during a changeover. The detailed lists which sometimes get people’s backs up, are to ensure people understand what’s expected. Because it’s not obvious to some people, perhaps who haven’t used holiday lets much in the past.

Rarely will someone be charged extra because they haven’t stripped the beds or hoovered. But they might be charged if they have caused damage or left the place thick with sand, or the grill pan in the oven full of fat and a half eaten breakfast on the table. The request are about minimising the amount if work that needs doing to a reasonable amount, not removing it altogether.

I always strip the beds because it's something my parents used to do when we went on holiday as kids...I wouldn't see it as something 'new'.

I've never really thought about it in any great detail. Actually it's odd because I'd also make sure the bathroom is presentable, dishwasher loaded and bins emptied. But I wouldn't ever hoover or do any proper cleaning as I'd expect a cleaner to do that. I'm not really sure why I see some things as necessary and some not.

What next, being told to clean the toilets and skirting boards 😂 “here’s 1000 pounds and I’ll make sure I strip the beds, scrub the toilets, take out the trash, and clean the windows, sincerely, mug.”

I think presentable is what owners are looking for at the end.

What you do sounds normal and leave it presentable and ready to be cleaned.

Those things don’t take long at all…it’s leaving it in a respectable state.

Over-flowing bins in each room (sometimes containing nappies that have been there for days) and toiletries split across bathrooms, skid marks in the loo, washing up and crumbs all over the work surfaces in kitchen, furniture in different rooms to where it started……someone having literally packed their bag and walked away without looking back….no!

We own several air bnb's. Have never asked people to strip beds and do not charge additional cleaning fee. I want them to have the best break possible. We even offer a concierge service with preordering their food delivery and restaurant reservations at no extra charge.

This thread shows the mis-match between thinking.

People think it’s a hotel and they should be able to walk away leaving everything behind like they would in the hotel dining room - the washing up etc.

People forget that it’s not just cleaning a hotel bedroom that is needed, but a whole house needs attention.

If everyone left the properties without emptying bins, or wiping down their kitchen surfaces and leaving the bathrooms decent, far more hours of cleaning would have to be provided and people would have to pay even more.

I do wonder how long a history many people have of staying in self-catering accommodation. Many know the drill and aren’t surprised to strip the beds, or wipe the surfaces or make sure the loo isn’t disgusting before going. They do it automatically because they know those are the norms from staying in many places. But perhaps some people are new to it. They don’t realise it’s not a hotel and a basic tidy round to minimise the heavy lifting cleaning work that’s to be done on changeover is quite simply necessary.

I have always stripped the beds, it takes nano seconds and i don’t see what your issue is

I would be highly offended to sleep on someone else's dirty sheets. Isn't that one of the basics for a rental?

We pay £60 but we do the dishes and laundry ourselves.
We also deep clean if the property is empty for a day.

If left in a real state dh and I help with cleaning too to get it done in time.

Regular holiday let customers know it’s fairly standard to be asked to strip the beds or empty the bins before leaving.

It doesn’t bother them. They don’t see it as an insult. They just do it and expect to look at the property at the end and think ‘does it look presentable’ - it needs to be ready for the cleaner to come in with hoover and mop and to wipe round. After just a week, most properties shouldn’t need loads more than this. However, leaving stuff like a load of washing up from the night before, or significant dirt will require much more work.

Some people seem to think holiday cottages and houses are hotels with a daily maid - someone who will do the washing up and throughly clear up after you leave a big mess. That really isn’t the deal.

And those people seem to think stripping a bed is an insult or beneath them? Why? Suggests to me a lack of experience of this kind of holiday and the unfortunate expectations of those new to something, who somehow have no consideration for the minions who are doing the cleaning etc….because they have paid.

Often the places left in the worst state by guests aren’t the high end £3k or £4k a week places. Often those guests have stripped the beds without being asked to. The place will need cleaning, but washing up doesn’t remain or bins overflowing. They just know to do it. Actually, it’s often the bottom end places where the guests have a sense that there are servants to clear up whatever they feel like leaving behind.

In the past I have done it if asked, but thinking about it now it's a bit much really - you wouldn't dream of doing it in a hotel would you?

We've selfcatered for many years, always stripped the beds, left everything clean and tidy, and given stuff a wipe round. From the feedback from owners after I can see it's not the norm but they are always really grateful. Feels respectful for the property and owners.

Ive been self catering for 30 years, in the UK and abroad.

I leave a property as I find it, cleaned and tidied.

The beds are made when I arrive, as I would expect, therefore they are made when I leave. The request for stripping beds has been seen more in recent years.

The check out times have got worse, now expecting people to leave around 9 and check ins I have now seen as late as 5!! Terrible service

Never stripped beds but totally different to the topic but I find when you are going in shops you're expected to pack your own bags now.

Vintage shops, clothes shops. Everywhere.

I have no problem stripping the bed if asked to, of not I leave it. It literally takes 2 minutes so don't see any issue....YABU

Always strip the beds in a holiday let.We don't leave a tip for cleaners but I think they work hard for very little.It takes no time to do it.And when they have several properties to turn around like to think it makes a job I wouldn't want to do a little easier.

I'm from the Lakes, and can attest that they are pretty batshit paranoid in the area. My mum's neighbours has binoculars and everything.