Gransnet forums

House and home

Visitor etiquette

(30 Posts)
Gogogran Wed 28-Oct-15 10:54:11

I've just had my brother, his wife, my nephew and his wife stay with us for a week. We had a lovely time but my house does feel very spacious now they've left! I have a ton of bedding and towels to wash today though and am a little peeved that they didn't offer to even strip the beds! Isn't that what all house guests offer to do when they leave? We always do.

ninathenana Wed 28-Oct-15 11:00:18

I certainly do. Very thoughtless in my opinion.

Ana Wed 28-Oct-15 11:07:46

Not everyone does, especially these days - I suppose it depends on how you were brought up. It probably never crossed their minds to do it, or offer...

Nonnie Wed 28-Oct-15 11:18:48

We have loads of people come to stay and they never strip the beds. I think I might be offended if they did as it is a small enough job and I might feel they thought I wasn't up to it.

I do them one at a time when convenient and preferable when the weather is good enough to dry outside. I don't feel I have to do it as soon as they are gone. I then make them up ready for the next lot and close the doors until just before they arrive.

ninathenana Wed 28-Oct-15 11:37:01

I striped the bed when we left our rented cottage last year. I thought I was being polite and helpful. I always ask my friend if she would like me 'to strip' grin when we stay at hers and I've always done it at DD's and made it up with the clean linen.

hildajenniJ Wed 28-Oct-15 11:40:46

I always strip the bed if I am away visiting even at my DD's house. I do it in hotels and guest houses or B&B's too, and leave them folded in the bathroom with the towels.

rosesarered Wed 28-Oct-15 11:45:53

I never do this, when I am a guest ( you are exactly that, a guest) and I would prefer my visitors not to tear off the bedding, but leave me to do it at my own pace.I think the best thing to do if unsure is ask your host if they would prefer one thing or another.

felice Wed 28-Oct-15 11:49:34

The last time I stayed at my cousins she asked me not to strip the bed as she wasn't doing the washing for a few days and didn't want the dirty laundry lying around.

annsixty Wed 28-Oct-15 12:01:28

I hadn't ever thought this through and I have never stripped the beds when visiting or expected visitors to do it. I wouldn't do it in a hotel.What I do like is for visitors to leave soon after breakfast on the day of departure so that by the time they have collected everything together they don't really have the time. As others have said I prefer to do it in my own time and not have the pressure of doing the washing or linen hanging about.

Tegan Wed 28-Oct-15 12:10:40

I would do so if staying at a holiday rental because it means that when the cleaners come in they know which beds have been used but would never strip the bed if I was staying with a friend.

Riverwalk Wed 28-Oct-15 12:17:51

Would never do it in a hotel or B&B!

If a guest in a friend's house I say 'I'll just pop up and strip the beds' and most accept the offer.

Sometimes though people are busy packing and organising children, etc., so they may forget.

Maranta Wed 28-Oct-15 12:28:05

I prefer to strip the guest bed when I am ready to wash the sheets, that way the room remains tidy.

I certainly don't do it in a B & B or hotel, I just leave the top turned down so its obvious which beds have been slept in.

Daisyanswerdo Wed 28-Oct-15 12:41:00

I just ask what would be most help - to strip my bed or not.

Anya Wed 28-Oct-15 12:41:45

I've had visitors ask if they should strip the beds and I always say no. If I'm the guest I just ask, and so far no one has said yes.

Maggiemaybe Wed 28-Oct-15 12:58:46

I've never considered doing this. Probably because I'm a bit slack set up and wouldn't usually do the washing straightaway. My DD1 stayed over a fortnight ago, and I haven't stripped the bed yet. thlblush

absentgrandma Wed 28-Oct-15 13:23:49

Big 'thank-yous' to the last 4 posters (and others). I feel so much better now. I've just chucked DD and DGS's duvet covers, sheets and p. cases in the washing machine. They stayed in August !
We stayed with friends for 2 nights in the New Year , and whilst having coffee before we left on the Sunday morning I noticed our bed linen was out on the line.hmm Felt a bit as if our hosts couldn't wait to get rid of us ....maybe they couldn't smilesmile

rubysong Wed 28-Oct-15 13:24:38

If staying with friends I ask if they would like me to strip the bed, I'd never do it in a b&b or hotel.

chelseababy Wed 28-Oct-15 15:40:21

We usually take our own towels and ask if host would like us to bring our own bedding. Most say no but thanks for the offer!

stillhere Wed 28-Oct-15 15:59:05

I only want the sofabed in the sitting room stripped, I can deal with the other rooms but I do like to get my sitting-room back asap! I was a bit bemused when one couple wanted to keep it down all day and lounge on it in front of our tv.

I always ask, one grandmother said 'Never strip your bed, it implies that your hosts don't have any servants'. grin The other one just looked at me when I told her that, and said 'Get on with it!'.

I can understand now why they never got on!

LullyDully Wed 28-Oct-15 16:09:08

It is polite to ask.

kittylester Wed 28-Oct-15 16:13:55

I'd ask and my DDs always ask. I don't strip the bed when it's been one of ours staying just in case they are the next ones back! Though that system has it's flaws because I can never remember how long the sheets have been on. I would always change them before someone different came.

petra Thu 29-Oct-15 11:03:59

Obviously non of you has ever been a chamber maid. You don't know the joy when you open a door and the bed has been stripped.

Antjexix Thu 29-Oct-15 11:12:36

I would never strip the bed and do not expect my guests to do it. They are after all guests.

Antjexix Thu 29-Oct-15 11:14:59

I have been a chambermaid for years and although it is lovely to see that hotel guests have stripped the bed,I would never ask my guests at home to do this.

rosequartz Thu 29-Oct-15 11:25:43

I usually strip the beds if we stay at DD's house, but I wouldn't do it in a hotel, just pull the bedding back to air the bed. If I stayed at anyone else's house I would ask if they want me to strip the bed before we leave. I was very surprised when we stayed at a rather expensive apartment to find a 'polite notice' asking us to strip the bed before we left!

Some visitors to our house have been known to make the bed nicely before they leave - as if I am going to leave used sheets on for someone else!