Asking guests to strip their linen

[Sarah2310]

I have been asking my post-covid guests to strip their beds when they leave and put the linen in a plastic bag I have provided for them. Nobody has refused, until yesterday, when the guest refused because she might get covid from the mattress or pillows. I was flabbergasted. Why would you feel safe sleeping in a bed that had only a sheet of cotton between you and a potential source of covid. I am certainly assuming my mattresses and pillows are free of covid. 

I air my rooms, very fully and the duvets and the pillow covers for at least 24 hours before putting on clean covers. What is everyone else doing?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Kate2246 perhaps wear gloves? Why worry if it is only a 2 minute task? Our guests either work locally or are on holiday - They are guests - They are not expected to strip beds when they leave.

[Kate2246]

Yes, I can appreciate the fact that we are hosting guests.  That's why I like the house to be top-notch clean for each renter and stripping linens and placing in a basket is one small task that saves a few minutes Do you ask your guests to bag garbage and put it in a bin?  Wouldn't that be similar? 

And yes, gloves are used.

Thanks for the feedback though. 

[Huma0]

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@Kate2246 wrote:

Do you ask your guests to bag garbage and put it in a bin?  Wouldn't that be similar? 

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Nope, don't do that either. I understand why remote hosts in certain climates/conditions might, and I've been more than happy to do that as a guest. But, asking guests to do stuff because it makes your job quicker and easier is another thing.

By the way, do you charge your guests a cleaning fee?

[Huma0]

@Kate2246 

Just checked and, yes, you do charge a cleaning fee. Nothing wrong with that. It's very common.

However, I am not convinced about the theory that guests should be asked to do cleaning tasks because it saves you time, especially when you are charging them for it. 

Perhaps your nightly rate reflects that. I don't know. But arguing that a guest should do something because it only takes two minutes (would surely then take you two minutes too) because it's 'icky' when it is something as basic as stripping beds, seems weird to me.

I honesty think you are in the wrong business if you are not prepared to touch bedlinen, even with gloves and a mask on. It sounds to me that it has nothing to do with hygiene and more to do with getting the guests to do stuff you don't like doing.

Sorry, maybe being a bit judgemental here, but I've been a contributor on this forum for a while and have never heard of a host who won't strip beds because it's gross. It's just part of the job.

[Kate2246]

I think your response is overreaching as to the topic and yes, it does come across as judgemental. I ADORE hosting, and pride myself on my property. I am prepared to, and do, lots of  'icky' jobs and have no expectation that they will ' do stuff I don't like doing".  If stripping the beds ( which is all this thread was about) isn't done, it is no big deal and I get it done. 

I charge a cleaning fee because I spend on average 3.5 hours cleaning between rentals 🙂

Sending all the best to you in London 🙂

[Lorna170]

@Kate2246   We examine the towels and linens for potential stain treatment prior to washing, so we do not ask our guests to strip the beds and to please leave to the towels in the bathroom.  If you do not want to touch people's dirty, used linens, wear gloves and a mask as well as an apron to protect your clothes.  Are you using an off-site laundry service whose employees will touch the filth?  This is the hospitality business, and someone is going to have to roll up their sleeves and clean stuff.  

[Huma0]

@Kate2246 

Perhaps hosting is not for you then. Just put on some gloves or pay someone else to do it. It's not your guests' responsibility.

Isn't it worse to touch a toilet that someone else has used? Are you going to ask the guests to clean the toilet now too? After all, it only takes a few minutes...

[Angela3008]

There were no 'hours' spent cleaning this establishment for one thing... and I get no one wants to touch dirty laundry, lots of things in my job I don't want to do.. but it's my job and I get paid to do it. If it's only a 2 minute task, then it should not be a bother for the host to do it, cleaning fee already applied... right. I've a healing broken collarbone, it's a big deal for me to strip a bed.  As I said, I usually do it as my gift... just not when I'm ordered to do so.

[Helen744]

@Angela3008 . I ask guests NOT to strip the beds because of the cleaning methods , I prefer the linen not to be dragged around the house or put on the floor or shaken out . I think it is cleaner and easier for me to do it in a bunch on the bed into the basket and out the door. Linen these days goes out with the garbage in one fell swoop .H

[Angela3008]

I get that Helen.. everyone has a different way of working and I'm happy to comply. Mostly people are just trying to be helpful. 

[Helen744]

@Angela3008 such jobs are par for the course . The one I hate most is sorting the garbage .When a guest turns up they are greeted with a lovely clean bin even if there are three different groups of guests that week and of course only one garbage pickup per week. Its not magic and has to be done for recycling and hopefully to catch the garbage man at least once a week and the glass drop off . Lots of rubbish is hauled away and sorted somewhere else before it gets picked up or dropped off. at your own home i dont imagine that you have to wash and dry nine different sets of linen per week but many hosts do . we all appreciate if the rubbish gets to the bins and the dishes are done , but we also vacum , mop , clean tiolets and showers not when we feel like it but after every guest . everytime we do a full house clean . It takes a long time and one only house hosts generally do it themselves. Funny but it is the tidiest guests who dont get it H

[Angela3008]

Dealing with rubbish is horrible at the best of times. I treat every place like I do my own home and I usually check with the host what the protocol for rubbish is; everyone has their own way of doing things. Then I abide by what they tell me. I wash all recyclables etc. I try in all ways to leave my footprint light.