How do you ask your guests to keep utensils/dishes clean?

[Nandini11]

Hi everyone,

 

I’m wondering how to handle utensils and dishes after guests has check-out!!

I’d love to hear your experiences on this.

Do you:

• Charge a cleaning fee that covers it?

• Mention it clearly in your additional house rules?

• Keep a board or small note in the kitchen reminding guests that they are responsible for cleaning up after themselves?

• Or have you found some other idea that works better?

I’d really appreciate suggestions on what has worked for you without making guests feel uncomfortable.

Thanks in advance!

[Quincy]

Great topic @Nandini11! What I did was just asking guests put the dirty dishes and such in the dishwasher. The average guest stay for me was 2 days, with the occasional 1 week/month stay. Since I'm in the property as well, I'd turn the dishwasher on once full. It's quite similar to what @Frances6094 mentioned, actually! 

How do you deal with this @Nandini11? 😊

[John5097]

@Nandini11 

I don't think you can trust guest to properly clean dishes, cookware and utensils for the next guest. 

Of course it helps when the guest are clean and respectful but if only guest are cleaning the cookware and dishes the listing's ratings will likely have lower reviews. For some host this is fine as it's their personal standards.  

For mine, I have over 480 reviews with all 5 stars in each category. This isn't luck. There is just no way to avoid the extra work if the host wants to maintain the highest possible reviews and cleaning is by far the most important. 

My most recent guest left dirty used dishes all over the living room, trash left on the floors. I was shocked when I walked in. By far the messiest guest I've had. Not surprising as this guest was on my radar as they has asked to check out fiver hours late. Nope. I think it's a mental disorder. And this guest and a few others is what made me decide this would be my last year hosting. In the US it's unreal the garbage they eat. Even good guest have bags and bags of trash and eat the worst food available. 

There is just no getting around it. The more cooking options they have the more cleaning it will take. 

If guest don't prewash dishes and utensils the food then gets backed on in the dishwasher which is even harder to clean. So I mention to just put used dishes in the dishwasher but not to start it in the check out instructions. Most guest don't read any of the listing though. I used to not have any check out instructions but a lot would then message me asking me if there were any. 

[Sharon1192]

@Nandini11 I have a message on their check in welcome at the end for check out, Please wash all dishes used. Im a tiny house so we dont have much but some places say "Please load and start dishwasher before you leave" or something like that. Most guests do it, every now and then I have a one off, but its usually not very much to clean. I also recommend checking dishes between guests as some just do a rinse off and dont clean well, so you might find silverware with something stuck on it or a not totally clean plate or coffee mug. 

[Bhumika]

@Sharon1192 , I like the tip of checking the kitchenware just in case there are any residues. Do you often double check yourselves or does the cleaning team take care of it? 

Regards,

[Sharon1192]

@Bhumika  Im the cleaning team these days, but when Im gone now and then I have a girl who fills in to clean but I have my spouse do a walk thru to check more details, Some places have inspectors who do walk throughs before check in to make sure all the small details are okay, I just glance in the silverware drawer as I im cleaning the counter. 

[Bhumika]

This arrangement makes sense @Sharon1192 !

Is there a specific reason you prefer cleaning yourself? I've read many hosts in the community prefer cleaning themselves to maintain the cleaning standards as compared to cleaning services. However, I was wondering if there are any other reasons or experiences at play in your specific instance 👀 

[Sharon1192]

Its very hard to find good cleaners in my area for one, and my place is small and can be done in just under an hour, so the cost isnt worth paying someone most of the time as I do a lot of one nite stays and can do more bookings myself then waiting to try and arrange cleaners (have had 3 flake)

[Sharon1192]

Forgot to add, my rental sits on my property beside my home, so I am right here.

[Bhumika]

I see~  @Sharon1192 , living nearby the listing is definitely a bonus and makes things easy to manage💯 

How do you manage balancing cleaning duties with other hosting responsibilities though, especially during busy periods and back to back bookings? I assume it must be tiring, no! 🙈 

[Sharon1192]

I have a 1 room tiny house, so its a fast cleanup. Hard floors, simple design, 1 bed and a kitchenette. Most of my guests are tourists and mostly come to just sleep and take a shower. Some of my one niters get in after 10 or midnight, and then are out in the am off to their next adventure. So cleanup isnt super hard. I do all my own laundry, and have 5 sets of towels, sheets, etc. It just works for my type of rental design and my type of guests. 

[Bhumika]

@Sharon1192 it sounds like you’ve really streamlined your hosting process 👏 

I was having a quick look at the pictures of your listing, and it's so cozy 😍 I love how you name it tiny homes, so cute!

I noticed this picture in one of the rooms, are forest fires common in the surroundings? 

[Sharon1192]

Its a historic poster, Smokey the Bear is common in the US culture icon and statues and signs all over National Park areas here in Utah. Im near Zion and Bryce and North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Yes the North Rim of the Grand Canyon just had a terrible fire if you google it.

[Bhumika]

@Sharon1192 , I’m sorry to hear about the recent fire at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Wildfires can be devastating for both the environment and local communities. I just read that they are re-opening the North Rim after containing the fire. 

Have you noticed any campaigns, or fire prevention efforts around your area since the recent fire?

[DeBron1]

To respond to this matter,l do have it in my houses rules. I also have a cleaning fee. 

    I also use plastic utensils. Also I have a maid that I pay to clean cleaning the kitchen.

[Bhumika]

Thanks for sharing these tips @DeBron1 ! One of the questions that most hosts ask in the community is finding reliable cleaners. How did you find one? Did someone recommend the cleaner or did you find them through online platforms? 

Your insights could really help other hosts reading this thread!

Regards,