Hotel housekeepers swear these common guest habits make their job harder, so stop doing them before you check out.
Stripping beds
Hotel guests will often take the sheets off the bed and ball them up together, thinking that they’re making the housekeeper’s job easier.
Housekeepers actually use the bed sheets as an indicator for things left behind in the pillows, like cell phones, jewelry, or AirPods.
If the linens are all bunched together, they have to then roll all of the linens back up to ensure nothing is inside.
Hiding trash
Some guests will attempt to hide garbage under beds, in drawers, or in small corners just to make the room look cleaner upon checkout. Cleaning staff then have to play an unnecessary game of hide-and-seek with garbage to confirm the room is spotless for the next guest.
To help, just leave all of your garbage in the designated bins. If the bins are full, leave the excess trash on top of the desk or floor in one visible pile.
Wet towels
Wet towels left on carpeting can stain, and if left on wood surfaces long enough, can cause mold or warp the wood. To help keep rooms sanitary and easy to clean, housekeepers recommend tossing all used towels into the bathtub or on the tile floor of your bathroom, all in one neat pile.
Re-making beds
It may seem polite to remake the bed after using it, but it also tricks housekeepers into thinking nobody stayed in the bed. Many supervisors check rooms after their staff leaves to ensure everything was cleaned properly and may not notice if the bed sheets aren’t changed.
If guests leave the bed as-is when exiting the room, housekeeping will know exactly which linens to replace.
Leaving food
Open containers of food or half-drunk soda cans can easily attract bugs. If you decide to eat in your room, ensure all food is sealed or tied inside a bag before throwing it away.
If there is room service present, never leave the trays in the room when you check out. Place them by the door or in the hallway so they can quickly be taken to the dining staff.
Moving furniture
If you moved a chair to see the TV better or pushed the nightstands around, please move them back to their original spots.
Hotel housekeepers are often directed to arrange furniture a certain way. Moving heavy objects back into place can cause back strain and take more time.
Sorting recycling
If you stay at a hotel that doesn’t offer recycling bins, don’t try to be helpful and bag up all your plastic bottles separately.
They probably have to throw that in the trash anyway since it isn’t in the correct bin. When in doubt, check with the hotel front desk where you can find recycling bins.
Piling pillows
Taking all the fluffy extra pillows from the closet and throwing the unused ones on the floor is a common occurrence. Guests often assume all the pillows always get cleaned, but the unused, packaged ones in the closet often don’t.
The floor is the dirtiest area, so workers may have to clean all the pillows if they touch the ground. It’s best to leave extra pillows in the packaging if you don’t use them.
Do Not Disturb
You might be in a rush to leave your hotel room and not think about taking the “Do Not Disturb” sign off your door.
But if housekeeping sees that sign still hanging, they may sit outside your room and wait until you come out. Taking it off before you walk out the door will help them start cleaning right away.
Leaving gifts
As a gesture of goodwill, some people leave mini bottles of shampoo or snacks for housekeepers. But did you know most hotels forbid employees from taking anything from a guest room?
That means your thank-you gift for the housekeeper may actually get thrown away. If you want them to accept it, leave a note that says, “This is for you.”
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
Why former hotel staff say you should always turn off the lights before entering a room
Former hotel staff recommend entering rooms with lights off to better detect security and cleanliness issues.
Why former hotel staff say you should always turn off the lights before entering a room
