I want to take back my 5 star positive review of my guests because...

Lilia22
Level 6
Bluffton, SC

I want to take back my 5 star positive review of my guests because...

... upon finishing washing the brand new bath towels, I noticed that they were bleached!!!!!  WTF!?!?!

 

A little background... I went to the villa, cleaned it for the new guests coming today; nothing seemed "bad", besides some spacks of black stuff (?), the size of a pin head, on the bathroom counter, walls and mirror, which were really hard to clean.  Packed up all the linens/bathtowels, covers, etc. and came home.

Saw that Airbnb sent me the email to review my guests and did so, by given them five starts because nothing was damaged or broken, etc.... UNTIL, I finished drying the bath towels, about to fold them and VOILA!!!!!!  The darn towels were bleached!  Brand new towels!!!!!  Clean towels that I personally wash at home and ALL detergent... And no!!  I did not accidently bleach them because they are dark towels... there's no clorox going close to them!  These are very good towels, 100% cottom, made in Turkey/India.  They are good size, they are perfect!

 

I started this adventure with white towels which were hard to keep clean because people are just dirty... and I don't have at home an industrial washer... I have a regular, every day washer at home.  So decided to go with dark, and so far so good, until today!

 

To say that I am mad and frustrated is an understatement!!!!

 

I would love to show the pictures to you, but have no idea how to insert them here.

25 Replies 25

That's exacty what I thought, that the guests would think I was blaming them for something that "they didn't do it"! 

So this time, I decided to just roll with the punches and didn't ask for any money.

Marilyn29
Level 2
Frankston, Australia

I have the same bad experience before, since then I don't inculded the bath towels, ask them to bring their own or you can stock some if they want to buy from you. be honestly, I won't use someone's bath towel even washed, unless is in the 5 stars hotel. 

I cannot imagine having to bring my own bath towels to a place!  So, I would/will not do that to my guests.

As to only using bath towels, any towels, at a 5 star hotel, you should see/read what goes on at the some of the 5 star hotels in New York City... YIKES!!!!

 

Kat17
Level 10
Boston, MA

@Lilia22 Lots of good responses here about skin care product that can bleach out towels. I want to add that I often use OxI clean in my wash, And discovered that it too can bleach out towels if it Doesn’t get evenly soaked. My best advice to you is to head to your nearest Costco or Sam’s Club. You can pick up some really nice, soft, large bath towels for about $8 each (I found some for $5 at Costco). Factor the price of towels and any extras you provide (I stock a mini-fridge with waters, fruit and yogurt) into your cleaning fee. Then chalk it up to the cost of doing business. 

Oomesh-Kumarsingh0
Level 10
Pamplemousses, Mauritius

@Lilia22 Never rush to leave your guest a review always do it after checking everything on your property. Remember Airbnb always you to comment during 14 days after the guest has checkout so take your time and i would also advice you to wait until Airbnb has sent you a message telling you that your guest has already wrote his/her review. Good luck!!!

Allison116
Level 10
Walnut Creek, CA

Don't take back your 5 star review, just take pictures and submit for reimbursement from you security deposit.  You did not notice the damage at first, so maybe your guests did not either.  I know white towels can be difficult to keep clean, but that is all I use now and will tell you why.  I have found out that many face products contain chemicals that will bleach towels.  Like Rentin-A and other brightening moisturizers will leave bleach marks.  Also, whitening toothpastes also can leave bleach marks.  And it is really hard to get every bit of those creams off your skin before you wipe your face/body.  So even at home, I will use colored towels in my bathroom because I don't use any of those types of products, but in my adult daughter's bathroom I have to use white because she uses products for her acne that will bleach towels.

Gerry-And-Rashid0
Level 10
London, United Kingdom

@Lilia22

 

While annoying - its just a cost of doing business. We put a small amount aside from every booking to cover things like this. 

 

For example a guest  recently left a hot cup on a poliished table and staiined it - was it  worth givinig him a bad review - not in my opinion. A specialist stain removed and hey presto - like new.

 

Don't sweat the small stuff.....makes life easier and find an online store that does quality towels at a discount and buy a bulk supply. It saves money over the long term.

Naomi8
Level 2
Queensland, Australia

I had guests force open the linen closet and use every towel, bathmat and washer. They then washed them with bleach and ruined every single one. The worst thing was that they folded them so the stains were hidden and I blamed the guests after them who were furious!

Oh my... so SORRY about that!  That's for sure SUCKS!

 

I had a family that left me a note about a nose bleed; they stated they tried to get it as best as possible, which I appreciated it very much.  It saved me a ton of time on the cleaning; and I washed everything twice....

 

Another guest, broke a glass... the question was where????  I was never told of the "accident".  Since the villa is a little over 600 sq. feet, I got on my knees looking to find the remainder of the glass... AND I DID!  Privately, I did say to them that accidents do happen; it would have been nice to spare me the "hunting time"!

 

I had a "nasty" woman leave me a pair of her underwear under my kitchen sink in the bucket I store there and 13 cents on the table!  I still don't know the meaning of the 13 cents... besides the fact that I never received her review!

 

I had someone (still don't know who...) leave the souvenier magnet inside the coffee filters!!!!  

 

So, before any cleaning takes place, I go over every single drawer, underneath any furniture, etc., hunting for the unknown!

 

PS: The two guests that I did go out of my way to make it for a super nice stay left me the poorest review(s)... go figure that out!  

Edwin57
Level 10
New York, United States

The point here you gave them a five star so is your word against there's, that's the first thing Airbnb will look for the review, now  that's why my Dad does the walk through to make sure every thing is correct befor the cleaning company goes in he cheacks everything ,like towers,beds,sheets,and so on and so on you know what I mean,now my Dad and I talk befor we give a review 

@Albert  Believe me, lesson was learned!  Pretty much I wait until I get back home (from the villa) to do the laundry and only than I leave a complete review.  I am a newbie but learning fast!