Guests doing excessive laundry

[Jill1148]

I had a guest stay 2 nights and did 8 loads of laundry.  We limit the Tide Pods we put out so they must have brought their own.  It just seems like a super excessive amount of laundry for 2 nights.  I'm not a laundromat.  And these guests came from 3 1/2 hours away from the house.  It's not like they were doing some huge long trip and this was the final stop.  Do people put rules around this to prevent this from happening?

[Shelley159]

I agree that it's unusual and excessive for two nights @Jill1148, which could mean it's unlikely to happen often. Was this the first time someone did so much laundry? If so, I'd be hesitant to make a rule about it that every (innocent) guest can see. It's probably best to pick your battles, and this one may not be a recurring problem.

[Frances3408]

@Jill1148 . Was this only 2 people staying? I assume they didnt try and wash the sheets or towels provided? I've had interstate relations stay 2 nights and every morning wash the towels in the machine after use. Apparently they do this at home too. 

Perhaps your guests washing machine had broken down just beforehand so they saved it up to do while at your place? I agree with @Shelley159 its an outlier so I wouldnt bother with too many more rules. More guests are eco aware these days but I admit I seem to do the washing more than my neighbours 🙂 

[Jill1148]

thanks Frances and Shelley.  It was 8 guests but they were all local-ish.  I guess I'll just monitor and see if I get other guests who do that.  It just seems so strange to me as that is not something I would ever do.  I show up with clean clothes and if I did laundry it would be a light and dark load.  I don't even do that much laundry at home so it's just surprising to me.  

[Marie8425]

@Jill1148 

I don't have a rule per say.  I do quantify detergent is supplied for average use.  Laundry is available for average use.

[Jill1148]

Hi Marie

yes we have zero issues with average use.  After staying 1 night that is not normal.

Jill

[Frances3408]

@Jill1148 . Ah if 8 adult guests 8 loads makes more sense if they are clean freaks like me. My machine is very water wise and I drum clean it regularly. Interesting you knew it was 8 loads.

Unless you saw strangers coming in with extra bags they probably just wanted to have everything nice and clean before returning home and couldnt tell what was already clean 😉

[Jill1148]

Hi Francis.  My washing machine tells me how many loads are done.  And we wash all bedding and towels before they arrive, including duvet covers.  They showed up with their own laundry detergent as we limit the amount of Tide Pods we put out to prevent people treating our home like a laundromat and they didn't even use those.  We have no problem with people doing laundry.....but 8 loads for a 2 night stay and they came from a local location?  They also did most of it the 2nd day.  We don't even have that many loads when we do all the bedding, towels, and beach towels on top of it.   They literally had to bring all their laundry with them.  We just don't treat other people's homes like that unless we were staying for the week and then I could completely undersrtand, but after you already stayed one night?   washing machine report

[JJ--Judith0]

Agreed, that is odd, indeed excessive for a 2 nite stay, even any it all of my 1 month or more guests have not ever done so much (14 yrs hosting, super too😘)  Perhaps they had an issue with thier own options? Our water her is expensive too, how were they in other ways.. reasonable? You might (now) suggest any laundry needs over 2 loads be compensated...for added water usage/needs?

[Jill1148]

Thank you JJ for that feedback.  I posted something on Reddit and OMG!  People were saying I'm creepy that I can see that.  I can't help that it's wireless and notifies me.  And who backs a truck up with all their family and friends laundry?  I feel like people don't understand that even though we Airbnb our vacation home it's still our home.  Someone said some people don't trust the sheets are clean (which they are and all the bedding is white so you can see if it's clean yourself).  Then bring your own sheets...we don't need all our bedding and towels re-laundered.  And even doing all the laundry it's not 8 loads.  It's just something I would never dream of doing in someone else's home....We'll see if they leave a review.  This group for sure I would never host again.

[Frances3408]

@Jill1148 . Maybe use Host CIrcle if asking just hosts as I understand these are not made public.

[Lorna170]

@Jill1148  Do you know what activities your guests were doing while renting your property?  You had 8 guests -- perhaps they were day hiking, going to the beach or participating in a sporting event that resulted in all 8 guests having soiled clothing.  Assuming 8 separate guests or 4 couples, a load of laundry per guest is not unexpected.  Adult guests who share an accommodation do not necessarily share laundry loads -- I am certainly not going to do my laundry with that of another person unless that person is my spouse or my child.  

I am sorry that you felt that your guests misused your laundry, but when we offer access to a washer and dryer, we have to expect the guest who does a lot of wash, even those who are staying for a short period of time.  By the way, I had a house guest (my niece) who washed JUST ONE towel every morning after her shower.  She really did not understand normal laundry usage.

[Jill1148]

Hi @Lorna170 

They didn't really leave the house much and it's snow season so nothing that you would get sweaty.  What's even stranger is that they clearly intended on using our house as a laundromat because they brought their own laundry detergent with them.  Check in on Friday at 4pm...2 loads, Saturday after staying the night..5 loads, check out Sunday at 10am and another load.  I'm just saying it's a lot.  We don't even do that much laundry for a single day or even a week.  

It's not that we mind people doing laundry but 8 loads in such a short period is excessive.  And yes, we do offer laundry but we're not a laundromat either.  We don't rent during Burning Man because people want to show up and wash all their muddy shoes,

And then when we got to the house it was a mess.   We don't ask people to clean and nor should they when they pay for cleaning, but come on....I just wouldn't do that even if I was in an Airbnb, hotel or going to someone elses house.  I guess it's just how I was raised and that you clean up after yourself.  

Anyway,, we just keep a list of who and who we wouldn't rent to again...and this is a no for us. 

[Bhumika]

Hi @Jill1148 , I noted that hosts have shared some insights into this whole situation. Are you planning to add any house rules regarding laundry usage for guests based on this incident? 

Do keep us updated!

Regards,

[Jill1148]

Hi Bhumika

I'm not sure yet.  I would if it continues to happen.  I would also install a smart plug that I could just shut off the outlet via my phone to stop them from using it.

Jill