We’ve all done it. You check out and leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. You use all six towels for a one-night stay. Or you leave a small pile of wrappers on the nightstand. It all seems harmless, right? But for hotel housekeepers, these small habits make an already brutal job even harder. This is because they have a very small window of time to “flip” dozens of rooms. Let’s make their lives just a little bit easier by avoiding the things housekeepers despise.
1. Leaving the “Do Not Disturb” Sign On (Until Check-Out)
You think you’re being helpful. “They don’t have to clean my room!” However, this is a nightmare for their workflow. Housekeepers have a set list of rooms to clean. When your sign is on, they have to skip you and come back later, which throws off their entire rhythm. Then, when you finally leave at the 11 AM check-out time, they are forced to sprint to clean your room, putting them behind for the rest of the day.
2. “Hiding” Your Trash
You finish a snack and shove the wrapper into the nightstand drawer. Perhaps you hide your empty drink bottles in the closet. This is infuriating. Housekeepers are timed. Consequently, they don’t have time to go on a scavenger hunt for your garbage. While they are trying to quickly strip the room, now they have to open every drawer and cupboard. Just put all your trash in the trash can or group it together in a plastic bag on the floor.
3. Using Every Single Towel and Linen
You’re staying for one night. Perhaps you use one towel for your hair, one for your body, one as a bathmat, and toss the hand towels on the floor. You might also sleep in one bed and mess up the other “just because.” This creates a mountain of unnecessary laundry. Ultimately, it’s wasteful and time-consuming. A simple fix: If you’re staying multiple nights, hang up the towels you plan to reuse. And just use one bed.
4. Leaving a “Tornado” of Clutter
Housekeepers are not there to pick up your personal items. When your clothes, shoes, toiletries, and papers are exploded across every surface, they can’t clean. For instance, they can’t dust the desk. They also can’t wipe the counters. Instead, they have to carefully move all your stuff, clean, and then move it all back. This adds precious minutes to their cleaning time. Therefore, keep your personal items contained in one area, like on your luggage or in the closet.
5. Trying to “Help” by Piling Everything in One Spot
You think you’re being smart. Maybe you strip the bed and pile the dirty sheets, wet towels, and the trash can all together in one giant “helpful” heap. But this is the opposite of helpful. Now, the housekeeper has to sort through your wet, messy pile to separate linens from garbage. Frankly, it’s gross. The best way to help? Put all wet towels in one spot (the tub is great). Leave the sheets on the bed. And keep the trash separate.
6. Using the In-Room Glasses and Mugs
This is a small one, but it adds up. Many hotels are phasing out glass. However, if you have them, washing them properly takes time. Housekeepers often have to wash these by hand in the small sink. In short, it’s an extra, fussy step. This is especially true of the coffee pot, which is a pain to clean. If you can, stick to disposable cups or bring your own travel mug.
7. Forgetting to Tip (Or Tipping Badly)
This is the most critical one. Housekeeping is one of the most physically demanding, lowest-paid jobs in the hotel. These women (and they are mostly women) are often invisible. In reality, the tip is not “extra.” It’s a critical part of their income. Therefore, tip daily, not just at the end of your stay. The person who cleaned your room on Monday might not be there on Friday. Leave a few dollars on the pillow or desk with a “thank you” note every day.
A Little Empathy Goes a Long Way
Nobody is asking you to scrub the room. After all, you’re on vacation. But housekeeping is a tough, relentless, and often thankless job. Thankfully, a few small changes—grouping your trash, containing your clutter, and leaving a tip—can make a huge difference in their day. These are the things housekeepers despise, and they are incredibly easy to fix. Be a kind and thoughtful traveler. It costs you nothing.
Are you guilty of any of these? Or are you a housekeeper with more to add? Let us know in the comments.
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The post 7 “Harmless” Things You Do in a Hotel That Housekeepers Absolutely Despise appeared first on Budget and the Bees.
