Laundry

[John6287]

Is it common to ask guests to do the laundry before they check out?

[Kate867]

@John6287   I think it is generally accepted that hosts and/or their cleaning teams do the laundry.  Some hosts may ask their guests to strip the beds (we don’t) and some may even ask them to start the wash if there are facilities on site.  By asking guests to strip beds and start laundry you are not going to be aware if there are any stains that need pre wash treatment 

[Anne11830]

Definitely not with the COVID19 rules. I would not stay at a place where the guests supposedly handled my bath towels and sheets.

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@John6287 Certainly not. To have a cleaning fee of, I am guessing $150 and then to expect guests to launder the bedding themselves is not normal. Also it is daft as some stains need pre-treating and many stains will never come out once the linen has been in a hot wash. We don't even ask our guests to strip the beds as it is easier for us to see any stains when the sheets are still on the bed.

[Anonymous]

@John6287   NO!!! This is a terrible idea, please do not do this. Either the host or their hired cleaner needs to check the laundry before it's washed for all the reasons mentioned by @Kate867 and @Mike-And-Jane0  . Also, if I know that the previous guests were left in charge of the laundry, I'm going to bet that it hasn't been washed at all. Yuck!

On top of this, don't forget, the morning of checkout is the freshest thing on guests' minds when they write their review. If you want to earn good ratings, it's crucial that your guests remember having a smooth and easy experience at departure, rather than the stress of doing your changeover chores for you.

[Lorna170]

@John6287  I do not ask guests to do the laundry.  I do not even ask them to strip the beds.  I do ask them to leave the used towels in the shower so they are not in a wet heap on the floor.   Laundry is done by me or my housekeeper, we pretreat for stains and look for damage and replace items from our backup stock.  

To have a cleaning fee and then ask the guest to even start a load of laundry is not fair.  They are on vacation and they have paid us to clean.

[Huma0]

I've never asked guests to do laundry on check out, not even strip the beds. There are many good reasons as mentioned by other hosts above. Still, some guests will strip the beds anyway as maybe they've been asked to do this at previous airbnbs they've stayed in.

I do not charge a cleaning fee, but expect guests to be reasonably clean and tidy whilst here. I would never expect short term guests to do laundry on check out though.

As I now only host long term guests, they are given extra sets of bedlinen. They have the option of either changing and washing the linens and towels themselves, or I will do it for them for a small fee. Still, this is not a job I expect of them when they are leaving, only during their stay. I am still the one to wash the last set of used linens and towels when they check out.

[Debra300]

@John6287,

Not only do I not recommend letting guests do the laundry, I also ask them not to run the dishwasher on their checkout day, because we/the cleaner are going to make that all dishes are cleaned during the turnover.