Choosing to stay in an Airbnb over a hotel can be a great way to save money while traveling, but the price difference often comes at a cost. Many Airbnb owners require guests to do excessive chores before departure, whereas at hotels, daily housekeeping is factored into the price. For many travelers, the convenience is worth it, though that doesn’t mean we can’t take a few minutes to tidy up and make things easier for hotel staff. Read on to learn more about what you should clean and what’s fine to leave.
Bathrooms
Before you check out, do a quick scan of the bathroom to make sure you’ve packed all of your personal toiletries and disposed of any trash. It’s fine to leave the big stuff, like wiping down surfaces and cleaning the shower, for housekeeping, but there’s no reason they should need to clean up your dirty tissues. Additionally, make sure all towels are either hanging or in a pile on the bathroom floor, as wet towels can damage wooden furniture.
Beds
Bedsheets are always changed between guests, so there’s no point in taking the time to make the bed yourself. However, it’s a good idea to shake out the sheets to make sure you haven’t left any personal items, and if you’ve used additional blankets or pillows, return them to their original places.
Other Clutter
Once you’ve packed your belongings and thrown away all trash, give the room a final sweep to put any remaining miscellaneous items in their appropriate places. For example, if your room includes a kitchenette, put used dishes in the sink or dishwasher. Leave room service trays on an elevated surface so no one trips over them.
