Sometimes, doing things “thoughtfully” can actually cause hotel staff to spend more time and effort, or cause inconvenience to the next guests.

Why shouldn’t you fold the bedding before leaving the hotel?

When previous guests check out, hotel staff need to replace the used sheets and bedding with fresh, clean sets for the next guests.
If you neatly straighten the sheets and fold the blankets perfectly, staff will have to spend extra effort shaking and pulling them apart to replace them.

Also, in rooms with more than one bed, folding everything neatly might make the staff think that bed hasn’t been used and doesn’t need new sheets. This good intention of yours might unintentionally harm the next guests, who will have to use dirty bedding.

Similarly, for towels, hotel staff appreciate it when you leave used towels in a corner of the bathroom or bathtub because it makes collection easier. If you fold the towels neatly, it becomes difficult to distinguish used towels from clean ones, causing unnecessary waste as they have to wash all towels.

So now you know why you shouldn’t fold the bedding before leaving a hotel! If you want to help the housekeeping staff, you can:

• Throw trash in the designated bins

• Turn off all unnecessary devices

• Pull apart sheets, pillowcases, and blankets, and leave them with the used towels in one corner

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What should you do before checking out?

Housekeeping staff will really appreciate it if you do these things before leaving, as it saves them a lot of time and effort.

• Turn off the TV, air conditioner, and all electronic devices
  Not turning them off wastes electricity and makes staff unsure whether you’ve really checked out, causing them to call reception for confirmation.

• Put items back in their place
  If you return TV remotes, air conditioner remotes, kettles, cups, etc., to their proper spots, staff will save a few minutes.

• Don’t neatly fold the bedding
  If you tidy the sheets perfectly, staff will need to spend time shaking and pulling them apart to replace them.

• Collect trash
  Put all trash into the bin. This helps lighten the housekeeping workload significantly. If you have a lot of trash, put it in a plastic bag or gather it in a corner.

A room that isn’t messy also helps staff and makes it easier for you to spot forgotten items.

• Separate used items from unused
  Don’t mix clean towels with used ones. If you don’t use all the towels, don’t unfold them. For used towels, don’t fold them neatly as if they’re clean.

• Don’t strip all the beds unless necessary
  For example, if there are three beds but only two guests, you can leave one or two beds untouched. This helps reduce staff workload and also lessens environmental impact by saving water, detergent, and energy for washing and drying.

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If you follow these tips, you’ll help hotel staff work more efficiently and improve the experience for everyone!