A FORMER hotel housekeeper has explained why guests should not be making their beds when they check out – even if they think they are helping.
A perfectly made bed not only takes longer for staff to re-make but it could also cause confusion for cleaning staff.
Alamy
The former housekeeper, who worked at a resort in Australia, told Business Insider: “If we think you haven’t used the bed at all, we may not change the sheet.
“So it’s better if it looks slept in.”
So to be helpful for hardworking staff, it’s actually better if you leave the bed unmade.
Guests who do want to help can ball up their used towels and sheets so it’s easy for staff to remove.
GOBBING OFF The disgusting reason why you NEVER want to annoy hotel staff – and what might happen if you do
People on Reddit discussed the bed etiquette when staying in a hotel.
One person said: “Anytime I stay at a hotel, I always strip the beds and pile the sheets and dirty towels together in the bathroom.”
Some explained how they had been taught to do this by their parents: “Every time we stayed at a hotel room growing up (which was a lot) my dad would bunch up all of the bedding and add it to the dirty linen pile.
“I never understood why until I was a house cleaner.”
Previous cleaning staff also replied: “Housekeeping loves it when you do that, it saves a lot of backbreaking effort.
“Try and leave it on a waist-high spot too, as they often try and grab it all at once to speed things up and it’s less dangerous for their back if it’s not on the floor.”
Another previous housekeeper explained that leaving the TV on can also cause problems for cleaning staff.
If they can hear the TV playing, it means they “can’t tell if you’re in the room or not” and so have to call down to the front desk.
This can mean it takes longer for them to clean a room – especially if there is a Do Not Disturb sign on the door.
Making sure everything is switched off and the sign is not on the door when leaving is the best way to help out staff.
It has also been revealed that guests should be tipping housekeeping £7.50 per person per day.
However, some guests claimed it was too much money, especially if rooms aren’t being cleaned daily.
Disney will, for example, give you free gift cards if you clean your own room rather than use the housekeeping service.
