Laundry etiquette?

I have a rental cottage next door to my house. I let it to holidaymakers, usually by the week. Many of my friends do something similar and we have been discussing how to present the bedrooms. Opinion is divided. SO I tought I would ask your opinions in a poll. If you rent a holiday cottage, when you arrive (often late at night) do you prefer to have the beds all made up and ready to use, or would you expect to find the bedlinen folded up and have to make them yourself?

I always make the beds up and have the rooms as pretty as possible, with a coverlet and embroidered cushions all arranged, and the towels folded in a fan on the bottom of each bed. My friend puts the sheets and towels in a plastic bag on each bed, so that the visitors can see everything is cleaned and ironed. Also, it is less work for her. I can see the point of both approaches but as a potential visitor, which would you like?

I wouldn't like making a bed late at night. By that time I usually have a bad backache and that's pretty low on the list of activities I want to do before bed.

I have a suggestion, though. Why not keep a spare set of sheets wrapped up in the room? That way if someone doesn't think the sheets are fresh enough and has the energy to change them they have a spare set.

I voted for the bed to be already made up.

The first thing i do though no matter how good the hotel is, is to pull back the bedding to make sure it's clean

Find the beds made up but perhaps fold the duvet/top layer right down so that you can see the sheet is clean and fresh? x

If I was paying money to stay somewhere on holiday, and the first thing I had to do was make my bed, id be pretty annoyed.

When I walk into a room I expect it to be clean and made up. Jenny, I would stay at your cottage over your friends any time.

Originally Posted by sarahp

If I was paying money to stay somewhere on holiday, and the first thing I had to do was make my bed, id be pretty annoyed.

When I walk into a room I expect it to be clean and made up. Jenny, I would stay at your cottage over your friends any time.

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I know what you mean! But it is very common for a holiday rental or 'gite' here to come with very basic facilities, and some owners do not even provide bed linen, expecting people to bring their own. Or it can be an optional extra. My cottage has all amenities including dishwasher and washing machine, coffee maker etc, and I provide linen in the overall price. There is an airing rack in the bathroom with loads of spare sheets and towels, and I always tell people they can use them if necessary - sometimes kids are sick or whatever. I do protect the mattresses with impermeable fitted sheets under hte ordinary ones. But I have had families who used every towel in the place and I had difficulty finding enough for the incoming guests!

Interesting point (to let the guest know you have clean sheets) but I agree with the poster that said "would not want to make them up if arriving late at night".

A made-up bed is so much more welcoming, especially after a long day of traveling. It would be apparent to me that the sheets were clean and recently put on the bed when I pull them back.

Find the beds already made up, for sure.

I agree with the others that the bed shoud be made up before guests above. I would assume that the linens and towels are freshly clean.

I would want the bed already made. The last thing I want to have to do after traveling is to have to make the bed.

When I go away on a holiday, the last thing I want to do is "house work" such as making up a bed. So I'd want the bedding already on the bed.

If you are worried that people will be unsure if the sheets are clean or not, simply create something on the computer and print it out. It could say something like:

The linens are fresh and clean and the room has been cleaned. Please enjoy your stay.

And then just leave it on the bed.

All my sheets and towels are ironed and folded before being put on the bed, so it is pretty obvious they are clean. Some owners say they have had people complain that they don't know they are clean if they are on the bed, but it has never happened to me.

I make my bed 7 days a week because I hate an unmade bed. On a vacation I certainly don't want to have to make the bed, having the bed all made up already is part of my vacation. Your place sounds very nice.

Hee hee, Its me that doesnt make up the beds

This comes from someone saying if the beds were made up then they cant be clean, so better safe than sorry. I also charge for my linen as many of my guests prefer to bring thier own, I think it may be a europen thing as my guests from Holland, Belgum and France always bring thier own, people from England hire the linen and of course anyone that has to fly cant bring thier bedding with them.

In the original idea of gites people even took with them some of thier own furniture cant imagine that now thats for sure.

I must say that Jennie really does look after her guests, she even bakes them a cake

If the bed wasn't made up I'd probably ask for housekeeping to come and make up the bed. That would be you, right? lol

We rent a condo every year when we go to the beach but we have to supply our own sheets. But the beds always appear made with the coverlet. But we know this going there its in the contract.
But if the sheets were provided I would definitely want the beds made!

I want to come stay in your cottage! Fine with me if the bed is made already!

I would want the beds made up. You can tell that a room or the sheets are clean just by the smell of the room. I love going into a hotel room with everything ready for me.

Made or unmade it doesn't bother me. I'm an expert at quick middle of the night full bedding changed (potty training franklin lol) I can make a full bed together in about 5 minutes as long as bf doesn't help. If he helps its more like 15 or 20 trying to get him out of my way lol.