They never use my guest towels!

[MargeretIntheWood]

I have various guests popping in and visiting my home, often unannounced. For this purpose I purchased a collection of "guest towels" from M&S.

I keep a clean towel hanging on a dedicated hook next to the bathroom sink so it's ready when visitors just pop in.

BUT... no-one ever uses it! I discover my guests have used my personal towels to dry their hands (which they have to walk across the room to do); my bath mat, my flannel or they come back into the room wiping their hands on their clothing.

How do I get people to use my guest towels? I was considering purchasing a paper towel holder like they have in public loos but that seems excessive.

Agree with a pp that we need a photo showing placement.

We have a hand towel (a small towel next to the sink) and then bath towels (large towels) hanging up a bit further away. I agree I'd find it really odd if people chose the bath towel, although I wouldn't be hugely bothered...I'm not sure I would notice.

It's funny this came up today as I was at a friend's last night and when I went to dry my hands there were two bath towels and nothing else (although she lives alone) and I remember thinking briefly 'what do I do?'!

BUT... no-one ever uses it! I discover my guests have used my personal towels to dry their hands (which they have to walk across the room to do); my bath mat, my flannel or they come back into the room wiping their hands on their clothing.

Who on earth is drying their hands on the bath mat??

I wouldn't say they're too nice, although they look nicer than my own towels, probably because they are new. They are just plain colours.

Yes I mean day visitors, thank you for clarifying!

They are new in the sense that no one seems to use them, although they have been washed a few times now.

It is a bit cluttered in that area and I have a few cleaning products on the shelf underneath, so perhaps they are confused. Thanks.

Yes they are very small, one size up from facecloths.

Family members have their own towels (hand and other) hanging on a large rack near the shower, so yes we know to get our hand towels down first if we are using the sink.

I actually had one friend ask me which one she was supposed to use. She then confessed she had on previous occasions used the bath mat.

I don't think so! I have even tried rolling them and leaving on a tray right beside the hand basin…still untouched.

I just have a hand towel in each bathroom, on a ring next to the sink, like every other house I visit. How are other people making it so complicated? (Immunocompromised people aside)

Mine get changed once a week. Guests and residents use them alike - I might put a fresh set out if I am expecting visitors, but probably not.

Given your last two posts, @MargeretIntheWood, maybe you need to explain to your visitors. I don't think I've ever been to a house where these small "guest towels" are used instead of hand towels.

One of the venues I visit has a basket of them, but there are prompts telling you what they are for and where the used ones go.

So each family member has a towel, and a hand towel, there's a bath mat, some flannels and then some individually rolled towels for guests?
I can totally see where the confusion comes in. Aside it looking like dunelm, surely just 1 hand towel by the sink for everyone is fine? Wash it daily if you must, or swap when guests arrive, as I do. No need for all family members to have a hand towel too.