A delicate question

Pat271
Level 10
Greenville, SC

A delicate question

 

Hello fellow hosts, question for you:

 

Do you have clean plungers and toilet brushes behind the toilet in your bathrooms?

 

I’ve always had these where I’ve lived, and they come in handy in ways I know I don’t need to describe to you. 🙂 

 

However, I had 1 guest who relocated these under the sink, and another who actually put them outside on the lanai. Neither one mentioned any discomfort with them, and I got 5-star reviews from both.

 

Still, I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable, so maybe I should lock them in the owner’s closet, in which case they will be SOL if they find they need to use either one at any point.

 

What is your preference, and/or the custom where you live?

23 Replies 23
Inna22
Level 10
Chicago, IL

@Pat271 Great subject! I will have my cleaners inspect all brushes today – thank you for the reminder! I think both a brush and a plunger an absolute must in every single bathroom. In case something happens, you want those items immediately accessible to guests. Both I guests and I have use those more than once. Brushes are 50 cents at IKEA. I really replace them but I should

Sarah977
Level 10
Sayulita, Mexico

@Pat271  I've always thought it weird when hosts don't leave normal cleaning implements somewhere available to guests. For as many guests who wouldn't think twice about leaving skid marks in the bowl, I can imagine there are just as many who would be embarrassed for anyone else to see that- either other guests in their group, or the host.

 

I once made curtains and did a bunch of other upholstery work for a client who owned several units in a resort complex here. I had arranged for someone to come put up proper curtain rods (what was already there was ugly and funky), so when he was finished, there was concrete dust on the floor from drilling for the rod supports. 

 

As the place had already been cleaned, with guests scheduled to check in the next day, I searched high and low for a broom, and couldn't find one anywhere. 

 

When I told the property manager that the job was finished, apologizing for the pile of dust, saying I couldn't find a broom, he said all that stuff is locked in a closet out in the building's communal hallway. I told him I thought not having a broom available to guests was weird- what would happen if a guest broke a glass late or during the night- are they just supposed to walk around on broken glass until they can call the property manager in the morning to get it cleaned up? He just shrugged.

@Sarah977  Skid marks…lol! Indeed, the only person’s eyes upon which I want to bestow that gift are mine!

Beth80
Level 10
State of Roraima, Brazil

@Pat271  I also keep a brush and cleaner available tucked behind the toilet.  More often than not it is not being used by the guest when it should have. 🤢  Years ago I read on here a host from Las Vegas saying if the seat is down flush before lifting. Better safe than sorry. Sadly,  I have found this to be too true. 

Keep the brush and plunger handy. Let guests be weird about it if they need to.

Mary4384
Level 2
Lincoln, NE

I leave the toilet brush beside the toilet, as some guests want to spruce it up during their stay. None have voiced they’d rather it be out-of-sight. I have notes posted re the location of the toilet plunger, if needed. It is stored in a side-room, just inside the door, unrelated to the rented space, should an emergency arise. One guest did have to use it, and I’m sure was beyond grateful for its availability. I do not store it in the guest bath, as that would scream the message to “Be ready for an embarrassing toilet disaster!” 🙂

@Mary4384  To me, seeing a toilet plunger beside and to the back of a toilet is the most normal thing in the world. Probably stems from how common it was when I was growing up. Maybe there were more backup issues in those days.

@Pat271 @Mary4384 

 

You guys ever seen this? So hilarious. It was apparently a Home Depot ad deemed too outré to air on television.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IGVN6PRhReU

@Sarah977  OMG - hilarious! No more dates with this guy for her…

Ryan2352
Level 10
Thousand Oaks, CA

We do not have them out, but they are available.