How many towels should I provide for a one week stay?

[Julie143]

3 people for 7 nights.

One towel per person per day= 21 towels, which seems a bit excessive. On the other hand, the weather is going to be very hot and humid during their stay.

What is the requirement according to Airbnb and what do other hosts actually do?

[Sarah977]

@Julie143  I was looking after a neighbor's rental for a month. 2 guys managed to go through 17 bath towels in a week. I was astounded. My neighbor had told me where the clean towels were kept to put out for the next guests- the shelves were empty. I had to rush around trying to get enough washed and dried for the guests who were due to check in 2 hours later.

Just make sure to state on your listing how many towels per guest they will be provided for what length of time. Then post it again in the house manual and maybe a little sign in the bathrooms. 

[Sarah977]

@Julie143  A clean towel every day? No way. I provide 2 bath towels (because women with long hair often wrap one around their hair and one for their body, I know I do) a hand towel and a washcloth per week. If someone is staying for 10 days, I'll change out halfway through, day 5. 

I find that at least half the guests only end up using one of the bath towels for a 4-5 day stay, the other is still folded up untouched on the shelf.

I'm really not into catering to wasteful people who throw their wet towels, used once, on the floor, expecting a clean one to be provided daily or even every 3 days. When you dry off after a shower, you're clean, therefore the towel is still clean, all they have to do is hang it up to dry. If they leave it wadded up somewhere, that's their problem.

[Clara116]

@Sarah977  I am with you 100% --- like WHO needs clean towels every day. I once had some millenillals and the first night (of a week long stay) they 3 peeps had used ALL the towels. When they messaged me that night for more towels I almost fell over - and immediately wrote I am NOT A HOTEL...no hot towels. So they went out and bought extra towels since they were hanging with friends at the beach every day and washed those at the friends home. Worked out perfectly. NO WAY was I gonna spend the week washing towels every day for entitled young folks. She actually said she uses 3 days every day....the 2 guys just one. I thought how nasty can a person think they are after bathing??? We are in Fl. its so hot, outside towels dry really quickly. Go figure?? Huh?

[Sarah977]

@Clara116  My guests have a balcony right outside their room and I find they tend to hang their wet towel over the railing to dry (takes maybe half an hour in the hot sun). I've been lucky not to get any of those entitled-type guests who think they should use a towel once and throw it on the floor 🙂 

[Sarah977]

[Maryann41]

My guest, arrived last night, asked if he should put the hand towel in the wash.  Usually I would give a clean towel after 3 days.  He said that where he stayed before, he was given clean towels every day!  What!!! I charge £30mper night.  I don’t even use a clean hand towel every day.

[Bronwyn100]

I'm fascinated at the number of hosts who enter guests private space. I provide a washing machine and dryer but my guests usually hang their towels outside on the drying rack. They get one set upon arrival together with a beach towel. I wouldn't dream of going in while they are there. They would consider that snooping. What if they alleged something of theirs went missing?