Do you iron sheets?

[Angie601]

Hi everyone

I'm new to hosting with my little cottage being listed for the past 3 months.

I want my guests to enjoy a 5 star stay so I take particular care with my bedding and I iron my linens.

My friends tell me I'm crazy and some that are also hosts tell me just to iron the top of the sheets that guests see.

I'm interested to know what others do.

Thank you for your feedback. 

Angie

[Sandra126 · Accepted solution]

I'm all for ironing, all top quality cotton. But this discussion has been had in great depth before, there are several long threads on it.  Many hosts will think it's insane to iron but you do you. Guests will adore it. 

[Mark116]

Similar to this

https://www.macys.com/shop/product/farberware-stainless-steel-2.3-qt.-whistling-tea-kettle?ID=125383...

[Sarah977]

@Mark116  Ah. I guess it's some sort of heat-proof plastic. But still seems silly to use plastic on something one heats up on the stovetop.

[Mark116]

@Sarah977  Ha.  But they make wooden candle holders too.  Yes, we put out our old back up kettle into the Airbnb which is all metal except the handle.   I guess they put the plastic on the handle so it stays cooler.  No idea why so many kettle designs have the spout also as plastic...the one we use ourselves is the same, stainless, plastic handle and the spout is also plastic.  But, yes I agree it's not the best idea, but presumably, 99.9% of users don't find away to melt the plastic or they wouldn't do it.

[Mark116]

Answer: sometimes.  We have a mix of 100% cotton sheets, blends and light weight synthetic.  We ultimately found that using all cotton all the time was just too labor intensive.

Sometimes I iron the pillow cases and the top of the top sheet when using the cotton sheets, but people don't seem to notice or care.  The last time I ironed the beautiful white cotton sheets the guest had some kind of cut or nose bleed and left blood stains on the pillow, the decorate pillow sham!!! and the sheets.  She's also the same dozen 5 star reviews guest who melted the tea kettle spout.

[Sarah977]

@Mark116  Okay, I'm really curious- how does one melt a tea kettle spout?

[Mark116]

@Sarah977 Right?  They said they had no idea, 'but we used the stove and oven so if it was on the stove maybe that's what happened'?????????  Surely they must have smelled the melting plastic.  But, I really can't work out the logistics, if the handle were melted then I could assume it was knocked over and the gas flame burned it, but the spout is in the middle of the kettle so it would have to be a really awkward 'whatever' to burn only the spout and not the handle.  I responded to her that yes, indeed, the kettle was sitting on the stovetop where it had been stationed undamaged for at least 3 years.

Of course they didn't offer to pay, and this was one of those guests who on paper seemed like she would be great...older midwestern woman meeting her college age children, lots of great reviews.  They weren't quite a nightmare, but the son checked himself in an hour early without even asking or showing any gratitude.  They took about a day to respond to anything unless they wanted something.  They also ruined a towel and during 'whatever' they did with the stove also managed to drip grease between the double paned oven door, which I guess we will have to drill it out to be cleaned.

[Sarah977]

@Mark116  Sorry, but I still don't get it. Why is there plastic on the tea kettle spout ? Every tea kettle I've ever seen is all metal. Do you mean a tea pot? If so, those plastic spout sleeves they come with are meant to be removed- they are only there to keep the spout from getting chipped in transit.

[Mark116]

@Sarah977  No, it's a stove top tea kettle.  Most of the ones at least sold in the US have a plastic covering on the handle and the spout is often plastic.  This was a kitchenaid brand so not cheap.  It was enamel over stainless with a plastic top on the spout which is what melted.  I'll see if I can find a photo.

[Sarah977]

@Mark116  Strange. I can't imagine why they would use plastic on something you would put on a stove burner with a fire under it. Seems rather silly, like wooden candle holders, a seriously dangerous idea.

[Huma0]

@Angie601 

I used to iron everything in the beginning, which was very time consuming. Now I iron the pillowcases before making the bed and then iron the sheet/duvet cover on the bed. I doubt that guests have noticed the difference. I don't think most guests notice that the linens have been ironed, but I do believe it does make a difference to their first impression (even if they only register it subconsciously). An inviting looking and comfortable bed is probably the most important element of the bedroom.

With the pillowcases, I usually iron them when they come out of the washing machine and then line dry them. It's quicker and easier to remove the creases and cuts down on the drying time.

[Emilia42]

Yes, I make my mother iron the sheets and pillowcases. It’s her only contribution to the Airbnb business and considering she keeps all the money, I feel it necessary. 

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Angie601 We have a laundry service that does iron the sheets, duvet and pillow cases. I personally worry that without ironing, a guest might think the sheets haven't been laundered.

[Elaine701]

We have everything professionally cleaned (and ironed). It's not cheap, but without the equipment to wash and iron large items and large loads, it saves an enormous amount of work. And (most) guests know the difference.

[Gordon0]

>>Do you iron sheets?<<
Thankfully, no, but my cleaner does (even more thankfully). 

[Sarah977]

@Angie601  No, I don't iron sheets. Like others, I'll do a touch up on the top of the top sheet that folds down, and any extreme wrinkles, but I do that on the bed, which is much easier than on an ironing board.

Not only has no guest ever complained, I get reviews that mention how great the bed was. One guest called  it "divine".

And when I jokingly mentioned to a guest that I hoped she didn't expect ironed sheets, because I don't do that, she looked at me like I was nuts and said she'd never ironed a sheet in her life (she was a 44 year old homeowner, not some 18 year old) and couldn't imagine why anyone would. 🙂

[Colleen253]

No I don't iron (generally, duvet cover and fitted sheets only). My guests don't seem to care.

Ps, I read a great tip from (if memory serves)  @Robin4. He lays the flat sheet on the bed and irons it there. 

[Angie601]

I also touch up when I put the sheet on the bed but I find you can't do the sides of the fitted sheet successfully when they are on the mattress

[Colleen253 · Accepted solution]

@Angie601 "I also touch up when I put the sheet on the bed"

As you're a new host, I will check in with you about a year from now, to see if you are still ironing the sheets. 😉

[Sandra126]

@Colleen253 I ironed sheets for 14 years for accommodation. I see it as part of the job. It's quite pleasant. Also I am extremely efficient at it by now. 

[Colleen253]

@Sandra126 Well, I might consider it if I needed to improve the guest experience, but I seem to be doing ok in that department so for now I’ll save myself the hassle. I do clean and tend my own Airbnb and linens are my biggest headache.

Interesting to learn about what others do, and different perspectives. 

@Angie601 @Huma0 @Sarah977 @Emilia42 @Mike-And-Jane0