Contemplation of Becoming Stricter

For years we have been very open to allowing guests to leave their luggage here. Sometimes they come in early from out of town by plane, train or bus and want a place to leave their bag. And sometimes they are leaving late and want to spend time in the city and we let them leave it and pick it up later.
Well lately they seem to be pushing the boundaries and are expecting that I have a public bathroom. I don't. They think that they have a right to use a bathroom, upstairs, that is unattached (and shared). But just because it's shared doesn't make it public. It's semi-private to those who use it, not the public.
So now it has me considering how nice I'm being about allowing them to keep their luggage here. I'm trying to be nice, but if they use the bathroom, I have to rescrub it, even if it's just to use the toilet and sink, because it's PRIVATE to those rooms.
Do I have to get mean or put up a sign or what?

I started letting people use my very small, very cramped, very dark, personal powder room. And I don't care that it is dark and cramped.
I say, "I don't have a public bathroom, I can let you use one in my home."
I don't like it, but I also know what it feels like when you have to go and there is no place to go.
Another idea, is to simply say so. "I'd be happy to hold your luggage. Please understand, we don't have a public bathroom, or water available, so please take that into consideration."

TheBeachHouse said:

I started letting people use my very small, very cramped, very dark, personal powder room. And I don't care that it is dark and cramped.
I say, "I don't have a public bathroom, I can let you use one in my home."
I don't like it, but I also know what it feels like when you have to go and there is no place to go.
Another idea, is to simply say so. "I'd be happy to hold your luggage. Please understand, we don't have a public bathroom, or water available, so please take that into consideration.".

Click to expand...

I've been saying that, but sometimes I forget... and sometimes THEY forget.

You can get a five gallon pail, put a toilet seat attached and a pitcher and bowl with water and stick it in the room with their luggage. Just joking.

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation.

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.

Click to expand...

Give the bathroom a name or number and everyone can think its another room. Why should the rest of the guests know its a bathroom? If it has a digital lock, make sure the code cancels that morning or they will just go upstairs and use it without you knowing. Not so nice for those checking in later.

Lee2014 said:

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.

Click to expand...

Give the bathroom a name or number and everyone can think its another room. Why should the rest of the guests know its a bathroom? If it has a digital lock, make sure the code cancels that morning or they will just go upstairs and use it without you knowing. Not so nice for those checking in later.
.

Click to expand...

I've so loved leaving the door open to give the hallway light. I hate that I have to do these things because some people can't understand boundaries.

Generic said:

Lee2014 said:

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.

Click to expand...

Give the bathroom a name or number and everyone can think its another room. Why should the rest of the guests know its a bathroom? If it has a digital lock, make sure the code cancels that morning or they will just go upstairs and use it without you knowing. Not so nice for those checking in later.
.

Click to expand...

I've so loved leaving the door open to give the hallway light. I hate that I have to do these things because some people can't understand boundaries.
.

Click to expand...

Install a light in the hallway, even if its a battery one. Make life easier FOR YOU.

Lee2014 said:

Generic said:

Lee2014 said:

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.

Click to expand...

Give the bathroom a name or number and everyone can think its another room. Why should the rest of the guests know its a bathroom? If it has a digital lock, make sure the code cancels that morning or they will just go upstairs and use it without you knowing. Not so nice for those checking in later.
.

Click to expand...

I've so loved leaving the door open to give the hallway light. I hate that I have to do these things because some people can't understand boundaries.
.

Click to expand...

Install a light in the hallway, even if its a battery one. Make life easier FOR YOU.
.

Click to expand...

Natural light is nicer than a lightbulb.

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

I've found the path of least resistance works best. Put on the lock, it removes having to explain in multiple languages. And, it removes the ability to use the bathroom unless you've been given the code.

Generic said:

Lee2014 said:

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.

Click to expand...

Give the bathroom a name or number and everyone can think its another room. Why should the rest of the guests know its a bathroom? If it has a digital lock, make sure the code cancels that morning or they will just go upstairs and use it without you knowing. Not so nice for those checking in later.
.

Click to expand...

I've so loved leaving the door open to give the hallway light. I hate that I have to do these things because some people can't understand boundaries.
.

Click to expand...

Generic said:

I've so loved leaving the door open to give the hallway light. I hate that I have to do these things because some people can't understand boundaries.

Click to expand...

My problem for years - lack of natural light in the hall unless the bathroom door was open. Too annoyed by having to clean the bathroom multiple times. We now leave the light on if we need light.

I quite often get asked by people if they can use the bathroom, the answer is always no.
We have our bathroom in the hall, I'm not letting people use that, we have a small loo at the other end of the house, I'm not having people traipsing through my kitchen to use that either.
There's a public loo down the road, I send them there.
I once heard a noise in the hallway went out to find two Spanish ladies (not guests) about to go into our bathroom, I said "can I help you?".... "Do you have a room available?".......... "No, we're full"......"Can we use the bathroom?"......"This is my home and that's my private bathroom, no you can't".

Generic said:

Morticia said:

Put a lock on the detached bathroom door. Give key to guests, tell them to lock doors.
Sorry I originally misunderstood the situation..

Click to expand...

Maybe that is what I'm going to have to do. Put in a digital lock and only allow those guests to use it. This way they may really understand that it's private to those two rooms. Or maybe it's just time to put up a sign that says "Private to guests of room X and Y" and see if that gets the point across. I don't want to have to become unfriendly because some mule thinks that they have a right to use the house after they are checked out.
.

Click to expand...

Im sorry but its a lock - we used to have 2 single rooms with private bathrooms - locked with a security key (you know the round ones?) guests no matter how many times I told them to lock their bathroom doors didn't - people were always in them despite the fact with do have a PUBLIC LOO! people would walk past the public loo to use on of the private bathroom ones! must be a yale so they pull it behind them and it locks - will not be 100% successful but a vast improvement.

Highlands John said:

I quite often get asked by people if they can use the bathroom, the answer is always no.
We have our bathroom in the hall, I'm not letting people use that, we have a small loo at the other end of the house, I'm not having people traipsing through my kitchen to use that either.
There's a public loo down the road, I send them there.
I once heard a noise in the hallway went out to find two Spanish ladies (not guests) about to go into our bathroom, I said "can I help you?".... "Do you have a room available?".......... "No, we're full"......"Can we use the bathroom?"......"This is my home and that's my private bathroom, no you can't"..

Click to expand...

You've been here. Is it right for me to let them use the bathroom one floor up?

This is difficult.
The older I get, the older family members get, the more little ones arrive, the more I understand the immediate urgent need for a restroom following a car trip. I am much more sympathetic than I used to be.
I would offer a restroom - sparse as it may be. Even if it doubles as a laundry room. Even if it's my personal restroom (and yes, personals get LOCKED up)
I like the idea of a room number or room name on a bathroom that is not within a guest room to prevent people from going in there and using it like it's a public bathroom. I also like the use of the coded lock for the guest whose bathroom it is. When they check in, let them set the code.
As for people who come in off the street, non guests, that's a whole other issue.
As for light in the hallway, I installed several of these and they are great! I 'installed' them myself, ha ha. https://youtu.be/5uCL79X24kA
I have also seen light strips mounted along baseboards if you've got a particularly dim area.

Generic said:

Highlands John said:

I quite often get asked by people if they can use the bathroom, the answer is always no.
We have our bathroom in the hall, I'm not letting people use that, we have a small loo at the other end of the house, I'm not having people traipsing through my kitchen to use that either.
There's a public loo down the road, I send them there.
I once heard a noise in the hallway went out to find two Spanish ladies (not guests) about to go into our bathroom, I said "can I help you?".... "Do you have a room available?".......... "No, we're full"......"Can we use the bathroom?"......"This is my home and that's my private bathroom, no you can't"..

Click to expand...

You've been here. Is it right for me to let them use the bathroom one floor up?
.

Click to expand...

our public loo is on the first floor - people are always asking me if that is the toilet for their room - yup all 11 rooms of you - DUH - does no one read? ie all ensuite? I do put it everywhere!
I am surprised at John's not having a public loo as was purpose built as a B&B! would be something I would be designing in! - in answer to your question - if they need to go they won't care where it is!

Generic said:

Highlands John said:

I quite often get asked by people if they can use the bathroom, the answer is always no.
We have our bathroom in the hall, I'm not letting people use that, we have a small loo at the other end of the house, I'm not having people traipsing through my kitchen to use that either.
There's a public loo down the road, I send them there.
I once heard a noise in the hallway went out to find two Spanish ladies (not guests) about to go into our bathroom, I said "can I help you?".... "Do you have a room available?".......... "No, we're full"......"Can we use the bathroom?"......"This is my home and that's my private bathroom, no you can't"..

Click to expand...

You've been here. Is it right for me to let them use the bathroom one floor up?
.

Click to expand...

I guess one problem is that many who've stayed with you know you have a shared bathroom on the 1st floor so it seems a bit mean to not let them use it, but if it's been cleaned ready for the next set of guests then it means at least checking it over again, maybe more cleaning.

Jcam said:

Generic said:

Highlands John said:

I quite often get asked by people if they can use the bathroom, the answer is always no.
We have our bathroom in the hall, I'm not letting people use that, we have a small loo at the other end of the house, I'm not having people traipsing through my kitchen to use that either.
There's a public loo down the road, I send them there.
I once heard a noise in the hallway went out to find two Spanish ladies (not guests) about to go into our bathroom, I said "can I help you?".... "Do you have a room available?".......... "No, we're full"......"Can we use the bathroom?"......"This is my home and that's my private bathroom, no you can't"..

Click to expand...

You've been here. Is it right for me to let them use the bathroom one floor up?
.

Click to expand...

our public loo is on the first floor - people are always asking me if that is the toilet for their room - yup all 11 rooms of you - DUH - does no one read? ie all ensuite? I do put it everywhere!
I am surprised at John's not having a public loo as was purpose built as a B&B! would be something I would be designing in! - in answer to your question - if they need to go they won't care where it is!
.

Click to expand...

I don't see why you'd want a public loo in a B&B, everyone who's staying has an en-suite and anyone who's not staying.... tough. A B&B is someones home, why would you expect a public loo there.

Highlands John said:

Jcam said:

Generic said:

Highlands John said:

I quite often get asked by people if they can use the bathroom, the answer is always no.
We have our bathroom in the hall, I'm not letting people use that, we have a small loo at the other end of the house, I'm not having people traipsing through my kitchen to use that either.
There's a public loo down the road, I send them there.
I once heard a noise in the hallway went out to find two Spanish ladies (not guests) about to go into our bathroom, I said "can I help you?".... "Do you have a room available?".......... "No, we're full"......"Can we use the bathroom?"......"This is my home and that's my private bathroom, no you can't"..

Click to expand...

You've been here. Is it right for me to let them use the bathroom one floor up?
.

Click to expand...

our public loo is on the first floor - people are always asking me if that is the toilet for their room - yup all 11 rooms of you - DUH - does no one read? ie all ensuite? I do put it everywhere!
I am surprised at John's not having a public loo as was purpose built as a B&B! would be something I would be designing in! - in answer to your question - if they need to go they won't care where it is!
.

Click to expand...

I don't see why you'd want a public loo in a B&B, everyone who's staying has an en-suite and anyone who's not staying.... tough. A B&B is someones home, why would you expect a public loo there.
.

Click to expand...

IF I had my druthers, I would have toilet & sink near the entrance. WHY? Because at breakfast, chatting, just out of the car (my family knew, GOD help anyone who gets between me and the bsthroom)