When it comes to checking out of a hotel, many people have the habit of tidying up the bed before leaving. They consider it a kind gesture that might save housekeeping some work.
In reality, this is unnecessary. According to a former housekeeper with experience in luxury resorts in Australia, guests making their beds can actually cause more work for the staff and even create confusion.
When a guest checks out, housekeeping staff will change the used sheets and pillowcases with fresh, clean ones for the next guest. If you’ve neatly straightened the sheets, smoothed the bedspread, and stacked the pillows, they’ll have to take the time to undo your handiwork before replacing them.
By leaving the bed neatly made and the bedspread and pillows stacked, you’re actually creating more work for the housekeeping staff. Illustration
In rooms with more than one bed, your overly neat arrangement might lead staff to believe that a particular bed hasn’t been used and doesn’t need fresh linens. In this case, your good intentions could inadvertently harm the next guest, who would then have to use dirty sheets and pillowcases.
A similar situation arises with towels. Housekeeping staff would greatly appreciate it if you left used towels in one corner of the bathroom or in the bathtub, as this makes collection and cleaning much easier. If you fold them neatly, it becomes difficult to distinguish between used and clean towels, leading to unnecessary waste as all towels are washed.
What Should You Do Before Checking Out?
As a considerate guest who wants to leave a good impression and help both the housekeeping staff and the next occupant, you should follow these six basic guidelines before checking out:
– Turn off the TV, air conditioning, and other electronics: Leaving these on not only wastes electricity but also creates uncertainty for the housekeeping staff, who may need to call the front desk to confirm whether the room has been vacated or not.
– Maintain cleanliness:
While cleaning is included in the fees you pay, and there are no specific rules about it, it’s a matter of courtesy and civility to tidy up after yourself before checking out. Dispose of your trash, at the very least by bagging it up. If you leave a mess, the housekeeping staff will have to spend extra time cleaning it up. Maintaining cleanliness makes the staff’s job easier and leaves a good impression of you.
– Return items to their original places: 
If you tend to scatter your belongings around the room, take the time to put things back where you found them. This helps staff quickly check that all items are accounted for and avoids potential problems if something goes missing. For example, they might not immediately find the TV remote and assume it’s lost, when it’s actually wedged between the bed and the nightstand.
– Take care of in-room amenities: When using items provided by the hotel, such as the TV, kettle, towels, or bedding, be careful not to damage them. Otherwise, you may incur compensation fees, and the hotel will have to spend time replacing them.
– Check out on time: Most hotels have clear check-in and check-out times, usually 2 p.m. and 12 noon, respectively. It’s best to check out before the designated time or, at the very least, 30 minutes earlier. This gives the staff sufficient time to prepare the room for the next guest.
– Open the windows: This simple act, which takes just a few minutes, helps ventilate the room and prevent bacteria and your scent from lingering. The housekeeping staff will appreciate this gesture, and hotels often recommend it to their departing guests.
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