linens

[Colleen349]

I just had a guest complain, in writing, about the fact that I use colored sheets and towels instead of white, which she described as the "standard in hospitality" because it gives confidence that all is clean. I'm not sharing a hotel, I'm sharing a home so I really felt irritated by the comment, especially since I had 5 stars in that area until then. All my linens are matched to the color of the rooms because it's aesthetically pleasing and makes it easy to grab the correct sheets for each bed. Beds are full, queen, and twin. How do you feel about this? We're not talking about black sheets or towels, but light blue, light grey, and cream colored and they are always fresh. Guests usually comment on how attractive the home is and that is partly because of the colors of the rooms and bedding. Your thoughts? 

[Sharon1014]

@Colleen349  Your home, your choice.  Can't please everyone all the time, always going to be one or two who complain about something regardless.  We have deep teal coloured sheets and white/grey marbled quilt covers because it suits and matches our beach location.  They look very stylish, clean and modern.  An Airbnb isn't "standard" hospitality.  It's your home.  Most guests appreciate those little differences - more like a home away from home and less like a hotel.  Ignore the comment from the guest.

[Lisa723]

@Colleen349 I'm generally not a fan of the phrase "better suited to a hotel" for guests but in this case it is spot on. What a pill. A couple of your photos do appear to show white sheets, though-- you could replace those to avoid another guest like this one.

[Sarah977]

@Colleen349  I've always used colored sheets and never had a guest complain. In fact, some have commented on how much they liked them.

There will always be some fusspot guests who have silly or ridiculous suggestions or complaints and think that everyone shares their preferences, as if it's some kind of universal law. Hosts have had guests suggest they put in an additional bathroom (oh yes, I'll just spend ten thousand dollars on that, comin' right up) or replace a plastic garbage can with a stainless steel one. As others have said, ignore them.

[Juan63]

It's not a ridiculous suggestion if most hotels use white sheets, there is a reason why. White sheets don't cost more than colored ones and absolutely look cleaner. If I saw colored sheets I wouldn't complain either but I wouldn't like it. It definitely makes me wonder if the sheets are clean. As a host, white sheets also don't fade, easier to maintain than colored sheets.

[Kath9]

@Colleen349, I think this person needs to get a life. How ridiculous. Perhaps you should spell it out on your listing: WARNING! THIS HOME USES COLOURED SHEETS AND TOWELS. I only use coloured sheets and towels because a) I think it looks nicer and b) I don't have to use bleach to remove every tiny mark. No one has ever complained. As @Lisa723 commented, this guest is definitely better suited to a hotel!

[Zacharias0]

They need to get a life and worry about bigger issues. If Im saving a huge amount I dont mind the color of the sheets or towels. Its a day or a few and I move on with life. With that being said my mom brought up this topic when we all stayed in a airbnb together. The linens were all colored and felt cheap to the touch. The mattresses were uncomfortable to top it all off. None of us got a good nights sleep. This was a ABNB rental by a company with many other rentals. We were happy to have it so close to where we needed it but it was lacking. Yours is hopefully a lot better. I would switch to white linens if the issue pop ups again and mark the tags in a permanent marker like hotels do.

White linens show there age quickly which is a good and bag thing. Colored linens tend to pill.

[Sarah977]

@Zacharias0  Colored linens don't pill if they are 100% cotton. It''s polyester in the mix that makes fabrics pill.

[Lawrene0]

I've got plaid! I know! Gah! But it's camping. They don't pill (100% cotton), and no one has complained. And they better not either. Who gets sheets when they are camping? 🙂

Don't take those comments to heart, @Colleen349 . The standard in hospitality indeed. She certainly isn't the standard in being a gracious guest!

[Sarah977]

@Lawrene0  I loved going camping when I lived in B.C., but only camping in places I could drive to. A 5 minute walk from the car to the camping site was okay, it just couldn't be so far that I couldn't transport my 2" foamie, my sheets, pillows and down comforter. None of that thermarest, sleeping bag stuff for me. 

[Kath9]

@Zacharias0, @Sarah977 is right - it's nothing to do with colour and everything to do with quality. I buy 100% cotton or bamboo sheets that are beautiful colours (teals, greys, etc.) and they are most certainly not cheap to the touch, nor do they pill. I disagree about switching to white if the issue pops up again. It probably won't anyway because (hopefully) most people have better things to think about than the colour of their sheets.

[Helen350]

@Colleen349 I'm outraged! "Live like a local!" - so the saying went, in Airbnb land

[Kath9]

Hahahaha @Helen350, love it!

[Sarah977]

" Gives confidence that all is clean". Anyone who thinks you can't tell if sheets are clean just because they aren't white is an idjit. Clean sheets look, feel and smell clean, no matter what color they are. 

[Linda108]

While I have chosen white sheets and towels, which is my personal asthetic, obviously the hotel style does not resonate with everyone in their personal living space.  I love to experience the host's aesthetic because I do buy into the live like a local.  @Colleen349  unfortunately, the Air BNB brand is not truly supporting that idea as the unexperienced guest only has the hotel experience to compare.  Be gentle with this perspective and do not get defensive.  Your reviews are glowing!