Hi @Gary753
I think you will find a lot of differing opinions re this. There is not right or wrong answer - it's a matter of listening to other hosts ideas and opinons and taking on board what works for you best.
Personally I am a big fan of white sheets. They suit my style of listing. I find it pretty easy - mostly - to get stains out of white sheets. I had suntan lotion stains myself just a few days ago. I sprayed with stain remover soaked in a bucket for a while, then washed per normal - no trace of the stain. ( i find Sard in a bottle amazing, but I also use Exit in a bottle, and I use Sard or Napisan powder to soak - I'll attach pics)
What I do highly recommend, whatever sheets you end up going for, is to have multiple sets. I try to have at LEAST 3 per bed. One in the wash - one to go on the bed, and a spare - you know - you're making the bed, the guest is due - you notice a stain that you didn't see when you folded, or the iron spurts dirty water just as ironing the foldback....
A lot of hosts feel very strongly that patterned sheets are the way to go as they help to camouflage.
I find really good quality sheets in TK Maxx - I think they have a store in Auckland now.
For the record I have white towels and black towels towels.I vary according to the guest. At the moment I have a party of 3 senior type guests. They get the really good bedsheets and the white Sheridan towels. Teh group before just wanted to live at the beach. They get the black bath towels and the basic bed linen.
I rarely provide face washers . They were either not used or COVERED in make up and the amount of effort to get the stains out was not worth it. A lot of US hosts use black face washers - I have never seen any for sale at a reasonable price, so I provide facial wipes. And finally black tea towels have been my saviour. I think nearly every guest I have ever hosted has had a penchant for curry - tumeric stains are IMPOSSIBLE.
Hope this helps.
No idea why the pics ended up in the middle of the text, but anyway I think you can still read.
Cheers