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AIBU?

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Original poster

To minimise stress when checking out of holiday cottage

46 replies

Dishwasherdebacle · 03/04/2026 09:49

On holiday next week, self catering in UK.

Normally find last morning very stressful and get up really early to get everything sorted. Check out is 10.

Is it unreasonable to not strip beds and to leave dishwasher running? Would still leave tidy, or course.

Thanks.

OP posts:
ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/04/2026 09:50

Depends if the place asks you to strip the beds or not? Can’t see why turning the dishwasher on adds stress though

Buttercup1976 · 03/04/2026 09:55

I run an Airbnb and I don’t expect guests to strip the beds, although it’s always a bonus if they do! But no, it’s not needed. There isn’t a dishwasher at mine but I wouldn’t leave dirty dishes myself. In 15 years I’ve only had maybe 3/4 lots of people leave washed dishes in the drainer. This doesn’t bother me. I’d say leave the beds but load and put on the dishwasher.

PawMaw · 03/04/2026 09:55

Pack on the last night and leave out what you are wearing to go home, all you need to pack is your pyjamas and toiletries in the morning.

Most places I've stayed it's been a requirement to strip beds and put the dishwasher on, dishwasher would be stacked before bed and breakfast stuff added in the morning. It takes less than 2 minutes to strip a bed and leave the dirty bedding in a pile. I would do this whether self catering, hotel or staying with family. But then I worked as a housekeeper in the past and appreciated the difference it would make having a bed stripped/bins emptied for me.

Original poster
Dishwasherdebacle · 03/04/2026 10:10

Yes that's what I'm asking, if it's ok to run the dishwasher rather than having to hand wash all the breakfast/evening in the morning. No rules in advance, obvs if they ask for x thing then I will do it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dishwasherdebacle · 03/04/2026 10:11

PawMaw · 03/04/2026 09:55

Pack on the last night and leave out what you are wearing to go home, all you need to pack is your pyjamas and toiletries in the morning.

Most places I've stayed it's been a requirement to strip beds and put the dishwasher on, dishwasher would be stacked before bed and breakfast stuff added in the morning. It takes less than 2 minutes to strip a bed and leave the dirty bedding in a pile. I would do this whether self catering, hotel or staying with family. But then I worked as a housekeeper in the past and appreciated the difference it would make having a bed stripped/bins emptied for me.

I've stripped every bed too, tbh it's the washing up that's the biggest issue. I have bad skin and washing up even in gloves can make it flare up, we don't hand wash anything at home

OP posts:
Dontknowmuchtrigonometry · 03/04/2026 10:13

We always book self-catering accommodation, and I agree that the last morning is a pain, but I’ve never considered not stripping the beds or having all the pots washed, dried and put away. I also hoover (we have dogs) and make sure all the rubbish & recycling has been taken out. That’s the downside of self-catering, but also why it’s usually cheaper. If you’d prefer to have someone else do these things for you, you should probably book a hotel instead.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 03/04/2026 10:13

Why would they care that you used the dishwasher? Is it about putting the pots away after? I think it’s pretty standard to leave clean stuff in the dishwasher

Spareahorse · 03/04/2026 10:16

Leave the dishwasher running.
Strip the beds if they ask you to. If they don't then leave them alone. In my experience cleaning holiday lets some prefer the bedding on the bed. It's easier to spot stains that might need extra treatment before washing. If you leave the linen in a pile a good cleaner will open it out and check for stains anyway.
Some people put a lot of effort into cleaning the place. There really isn't any need to do this, because if it's a decent place there should be cleaners coming in and doing a full clean anyway. So for example if the bath looks clean they should clean it anyway (although I'm sure some wouldn't). I just vac up any obvious mess and clean crumbs off worktops. Leaving sinks etc needing a bit of a clean will ensure that it actually gets done.

lanthanum · 03/04/2026 10:16

I can't see a problem with leaving the dishwasher running. The chances are that it will be done by the time anyone arrives to do the changeover clean, and frankly I wouldn't be in the least bothered if I arrived to stay and some things were clean but still in the dishwasher.

Isobel201 · 03/04/2026 10:18

Dishwasherdebacle · 03/04/2026 10:11

I've stripped every bed too, tbh it's the washing up that's the biggest issue. I have bad skin and washing up even in gloves can make it flare up, we don't hand wash anything at home

Show quote history

they usually ask you to load the dishwasher and leave it running.

Coconutter24 · 03/04/2026 10:19

Dishwasherdebacle · 03/04/2026 10:11

I've stripped every bed too, tbh it's the washing up that's the biggest issue. I have bad skin and washing up even in gloves can make it flare up, we don't hand wash anything at home

Show quote history

We’ve stayed at places and they ask that the dishwasher is unloaded and put away before leaving. You’ll just have to see if there are any instructions when you arrive

yeesh · 03/04/2026 10:20

I have never stripped a bed in a holiday place. We leave things tidy and with the dishes in the dishwasher if we have any (but we usually get breakfast on the way home).

AxolotlEars · 03/04/2026 10:27

If there's no specific instructions, then you get to choose

Thecatandme · 03/04/2026 10:30

Guy next door to me went out and left the dishwasher running

Fortunately (the dog was in the house) he forgot something and had to come back. Dishwasher was on fire - needed a whole new kitchen

Fire brigade told him that their advice was never to leave a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer running if no-one was in the house

PottingBench · 03/04/2026 10:36

I always strip the bed, fill the dishwasher and leave it running.

Much more than that seems a bit of an ask to me with a 10am check out time.

Also have to admit that I'm less careful about leaving things tidy if the place wasn't spotless when I arrived.

Another thing I do is look for 11am check out times. Makes life much more relaxing.

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 03/04/2026 10:37

We always check out without having breakfast and go for breakfast/brunch at a cafe as this means you can pack everything the night before if needed. Reduces the stress of people dawdling over a bowl of cereal!! Admit we are way past the stage of small children who get up with the lark and teens were tempted out of bed by the promise of a fry up!
We always strip beds and I have left dishwasher running occasionally.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 03/04/2026 10:40

YourJoyousDenimExpert · 03/04/2026 10:37

We always check out without having breakfast and go for breakfast/brunch at a cafe as this means you can pack everything the night before if needed. Reduces the stress of people dawdling over a bowl of cereal!! Admit we are way past the stage of small children who get up with the lark and teens were tempted out of bed by the promise of a fry up!
We always strip beds and I have left dishwasher running occasionally.

This - or we take a packed breakfast for a cut price version 😀 Especially useful if the journey home is long.

Plankton89 · 03/04/2026 10:42

I don’t strip beds. I put all the used towels in the bath and leave the beds turned down and tidy and obviously I don’t leave any dirty dishes in the sink… But that’s it.

TheChosenTwo · 03/04/2026 10:45

We will go out for dinner the night before so there’s no washing up, pack before we go for dinner so no mad rushing later or in the morning and then usually aim to be out and on the road home super early (6-7am to beat the traffic) and dh cooks a big brunch when we get home.
We do strip beds and leave towels in the bath.

KimberleyClark · 03/04/2026 10:50

We use holiday cottages a lot but never strip the beds unless it’s specifically asked for. Suitcases are packed the night before apart from wash bags and clean clothes.

GlasgowGal2014 · 03/04/2026 10:52

I'm interested to hear how many people say that it is normal to load the dishwasher and leave it running. I've been using holiday cottages a couple of times a year for decades and always work on the basis that the dishwasher should be unloaded before you leave. If you leave it running and there's a quick turnaround then the dishwasher could still be mid-cycle by the time the cleaners are ready to move on to the next property so they won't be able to put the clean dishes away. Unless there's specific instructions that it's ok to leave it running that would be a big no from me. On the other hand, I never strip beds unless I've been specifically asked to.

Deadleaves77 · 03/04/2026 10:52

I think you can leave a dishwasher running. If they don't ask you to strip the beds then don't

But tbh I don't don't see how doing breakfast washing up, and stripping some beds is a major stress. Can no one se wash up?

We leave dishwasher running, vacuum and strip beds but it doesn't take very long between 2 adults. Bags mostly packed the night before

JLou08 · 03/04/2026 10:53

I always leave the dishwashers running. I don't strip beds either unless instructed to. I do most of the packing the evening before.

LlynTegid · 03/04/2026 10:55

You are helping to deny someone a year-round home by booking a cottage, they and many others have the stress of renting and/or saving for a deposit greater than should be necessary.

The least you can do is strip beds and run the dishwasher, and the point about not leaving the dishwasher unattended is well made.

If it is that difficult for you, consider camping or staying in a hotel in future.

Original poster
Dishwasherdebacle · 03/04/2026 10:57

LlynTegid · 03/04/2026 10:55

You are helping to deny someone a year-round home by booking a cottage, they and many others have the stress of renting and/or saving for a deposit greater than should be necessary.

The least you can do is strip beds and run the dishwasher, and the point about not leaving the dishwasher unattended is well made.

If it is that difficult for you, consider camping or staying in a hotel in future.

Oh be serious 😂

It's not a second home, it's a converted barn at their farm.

OP posts:
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