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? 

[Laura2484]

How have you responded to this complaint @Colleen349 ? if this were a public review it certainly would be an eye rolling moment.

[Randolph1]

I switch to gun metal  grey towels and have never looked back.  I have not switched the sheets yet I got a ton on sale and working my way thru them.  As everyone else has said.. there are a ton more things to worry about.. 

[Batma0]

Coloured sheets gives colourful life.  There are some peoples curious in the world like this!

[Julie660]

I have various colors, but I also offer white ones in the linen cabinet, it's their choice what they use.  I try to find the middle ground.  This isn't the first thread I have read on this topic, and that's not the only guest with that preference or thought process.  If buying a few white towels will get be a better review, then it's worth the few dollars spent on white towels.  Not the biggest deal to me.

[Kenneth12]

Such a complaint would certainly change my numeric review of the guest.

[Juan63]

White is the way to go. As a guest I know the sheets are clean if they are white. In my opinion I really think this should be a standard right off the bat. I've stayed in many Airbnb's and I avoid places with patterned or colored sheets.

[Erik252]

I use white sheets and towels.   I do feel they seem cleaner, and I feel it gives the room a more professional feel.  That doesn't have to be what everyone does, though.  One thing that makes Airbnb awesome is that everyone can design their spaces how they like; be creative. 

[Rowena29]

@Colleen349 

in my listing I do use white sheets and white  marcella coverlets for most of my beds. Not because I felt I should or it was right, -  I just wanted to - it suited the style and location of my listing. It suited me. There are benefits to white in that it's easy to bleach if there's  stain.  There are real benefits to coloured and patterned too - things might not stand out so much. It's really up to you and your personal preference.  I have very high quality portugese cotton linens which I use for some guests and for others I use cheaper cotton sheets  - still good sheets, just not luxurious.. I use white towels for some guests, black for others - I've got pretty good at knowing who will appreciate the  quality linens and treat them well, and who wouldn't.know the difference between bargain basement and high end luxury. Or care.

There are some guests who are frustrated travel writers. They seem to get a kick out of dispensing their superior knowledge and experience on the pleb they are "employing"  - (that's probably their mindset.)  it makes them feel superior, knowledgeable and important.  say thank you for your feedback - ignore and move on.

Try not to take the lower stars to heart.  People do all sorts of stupid things.  I got marked down to 3 stars on cleanliness because some of the laminate in my aged kitchen has faded ( this is noted in the listing). when I pointed out this was  not dirt and that it wasn't actually unclean, the guest said , No, but it doesn't look pretty. It's a lost cause. everytime I see my 4.8 rating for cleanliness I have to fight down my irritation, even though it occurred over  year ago..

I began airbnb life as a guest. I would spend a great deal of time finding the right location, the right number of beds, the necessary amenities, to suit my family. I would then read the reviews carefully. They were the most critical elements which influenced me. (If a coffee machine was mentioned I was ecstatic.)  It never crossed my mind to enquire about the colour of the sheets and if in pictures there were coloured covers I don't think I would have even registered this.

I personally think that people who will only stay in listings with white sheets either have too much time on their hands, or have expectations that don't necessarily fit with the home hosting ideal.  and probably I wouldn't really want either lot in my home, they sound opinionated and entitled. IMO there is a lot more in life ( and in a listing) to focus your attention on.

Obviously this is just MY opinion - but that's all it will be from anyone - an opinion. The only real rules that I think are non negotiables are, the place  ( including furnishings and linens) needs to be clean, the toilets and bathrooms need to be really clean, the host should be generous, gracious, kind but remain the one in charge.  

Just my thoughts.  Good luck!

[Suzanne302]

@Colleen349 Oh my. An Airbnb is not Burger King. You cannot "have it your way." (an old reference to a Burger King slogan in case anyone is confused!)

A guest that is so concerned with the color of the sheets, is not a guest I want in my home. You get what you get. I do my best to make my space comfy and cozy and based on my reviews it is exactly that.

A host should provide a clean, comfortable space for guests. That doesn't mean a guest gets to dictate what color I paint my walls, what kind of shampoo I provide, how I decorate the walls, etc.

As a guest, that's what I love about Airbnb. Every place is unique. If I wanted a characterless and cookie cutter experience, I'd stay in a hotel.

[Robin4]

@Colleen349 

Colleen, up until a month a go, I was a bit like you...."how dare you complain about what I supply"! But sooner or later you get that reality check....there will be that one person who will come out of left field and criticize whatever you might do. I had one, he criticized the bed, the dog, the garden, the supplied food, the wildlife, the insects.....he left me with nowhere to hide! Maybe that is not quite true, he said we were great people....but his review caned us. 

Colleen, it hasn't stopped my bookings, in the past 3 weeks I have had 6...and considering this Covid-19 thing that is better than I expected, I seriously expected a lot of cancellations, but to this point, mercifully, there have been none. 

Colleen, do you you really need to get your knickers in a knot over one paranoid woman? You have the runs on the board, she doesn't!

I deliberately use coloured linens. This is a photo from my listing description, I make a feature of it........

 Every guest (except one) tells me how great they are and how much more welcoming they are after the hotel fare they have put up with all their traveling lives!

Colleen, ignore this woman and move on, do what you feel comfortable doing and just keep on being that great Airbnb host that you are! Turkeys are for thanksgiving dinners, not the CC forum!

Cheers......Rob

[Dolores-and-Courtney0]

Really??? I also used a color coded system with all my linen.  Each room is a different color and the sheets always are always coordinated with the bath towels.  This system allows me to “quickly and accurately” determine if ANY towels or other linen is MISSING at checkout.  I opened last December (2018) and purchased $1000 worth if designer name brand linen.  Most of it was stolen in the first few months when I was more focused on providing amazing hospitality and wasn't checking my inventory each day or week.  Well, lesson learned well and now at checkout most guests will “pull up” the bed and place all the linen on the floor??? Strange to me but it happens all the time. Someone managed to steal a $300 Serta mattress topper as I waved goodbye and wished them well.  I now know what was in the large black bag they exited with!!

So I say, keep your color linen and be diligent in checking a room after checkout.  Mosts guests steal the white towels from Hilton, Comfort Inn and high end hotels...  a respectful guest would prefer and appreciate  clean fresh sheets and towels no matter what color!  Theft is hard to prove when multiple guests are present in the home and my color coded system lets me know if UNIT A or B or C is missing anything.  I like hosting but this is an area of the business that affects your bottom line.

[Laura2592]

Oh wow. I have had equally interesting comments with guests wanting our place customized to their tastes. I would respond to this person and say "Thanks for your comment and interesting to think about. A home-sharing situation, its a little different than a hotel as more personality is infused into the space. I appreciate the feedback." 

[Cari3]

OMG.... yes definitely ‘better suited to a hotel’.

[Sarah977]

Here's how detrimental my colored sheets are to my listing- an excerpt from my latest review: "Absolutely stellar. A luxury space for one—a beautifully decorated, tastefully designed, inviting little room. The bed is divine."