Would you want to be told?

[Madeleine]

Well I am not in the same predicament as many of you...I only have to clean two suites and a cottage. But that is more than enough for me to manage. When DH strips a room for a turnover, I have to go over it again because he always misses those washcloths on the shower rod or even the ones balled up in the shower cubby corner. He will often forget to take the shower curtain down, and he never looks under the beds. That is why I do the cleaning.
Like you all, I can be obsessed with the details...especially when it comes to cleaning. Would I want some one to tell me we missed a wash cloth? Not really. I know it is not a regular occurrence because I clean each bathroom personally. And as difficult as it has been to do, I have learned to forgive myself for the occasional oversight. Panites left in a drawer by the previous guest? Yes, I want to know because I need to be reminded to check those drawers every time I flip a room.
Deep cleaning here happens in the spring and also in spurts if a room happens to be open for a day or two during the season. Otherwise, I do the best I can and leave it at that. If someone freaks over a cobweb, I can only apologize and try to explain that we live in the country where there are spiders and bugs. Short of vacuuming every day (which we do), and spraying poison all over the place (which we will not do) , there is not much else we can do about cobwebs. Windows are continually sprayed with salt from the sea and there are not enough hours in the day to keep them clean. We spray them with fresh water after a big nor'easter storm and give them a good scrubbing once a year. Period.

I've been really embarrassed by guests telling me what's been missed. Mostly it is items in the dresser drawers. However, I have found items under the bed that were there for weeks (pay stub with guest's name and her fuzzy slippers).
Guests have handed me clothing found in the room. I have no idea how long it's been in there. One guest thought it was MY clothing that I was storing in a guest room!
Another guest found an empty condom wrapper.
I found a bunch of unopened condom packs (in the same room but not in the same place).
Yes, I want to know these things. It hurts. And it's really important to let the guest know that we are very sorry those items were overlooked.
I was following around our housekeeper, checking her work and she was standing in the room with me. I asked, 'Does this all look right to you?' Yes, it did. I asked, 'Even that wadded up facecloth in the shower?' So, of course I figured she had not even bothered to clean the shower. You could not have cleaned around it and not seen it.
I am amazed when I walk into a room I just finished and realize the shades are every which way and the pillow shams are tossed on a chair. Or the guest book is on the floor. Where was my brain???
As the owner/housekeeper I do want to know. I want to be able to fix it.

 

[gillumhouse]

It happens.
Not sure how tall you are, I am thinking not very. When I ask my daughter to help she does not see anything hanging such as that, and I find them, every time. She is 4'10". I am tall.
It is in her invisible field of view, or as you put it in driving "her blind spot" plus she wears glasses. So my incessant nagging about the enemy being "hair! hair! hair!" seems to take precedence over LOOK UP and find face cloths over shower rods.
I wouldn't want to be told. Stuff happens. If it happened here, and someone told me, it would just make me feel sick, like I am feeling right now thinking about it, and how i need to get on my hands and knee and fine tooth every aspect of this business. Which is humanly impossible, what with me expected to then be there to haul luggage up the stairs for every guest check in. (yes that was sarcasm doing its thang right there)
I think I am better off closing my doors than trying to have everything perfect for every person. Sorry, that is how I feel about it today. Last night I had nightmares about going away and the ACRE of wood outside in our parking area, closer to the other businesses. I know, let's cut the giant 150+ year old tree down right before we leave for 2 weeks.
"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!.

"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!

How did this tall/not tall housekeeper CLEAN the shower? Obviously NOT by moving the shower curtain either to open it or close it. Just a quick swipe at the drain and the handle?
Sure, we all miss stuff. But if no one ever mentions anything we go under the assumption that everyone is doing their job and it's all hunky dory.
Tearing the wallpaper down last week I pulled HUGE spider webs down out of one corner. I was mortified. But, how many guests saw that? 10? 20? Right now I am appalled by the dust on the woodwork that I am trying to paint.
And telling myself I HAVE to do better. Cut something else out of the day in order to really clean the rooms.
.

"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!

How did this tall/not tall housekeeper CLEAN the shower? Obviously NOT by moving the shower curtain either to open it or close it. Just a quick swipe at the drain and the handle?
Sure, we all miss stuff. But if no one ever mentions anything we go under the assumption that everyone is doing their job and it's all hunky dory.
Tearing the wallpaper down last week I pulled HUGE spider webs down out of one corner. I was mortified. But, how many guests saw that? 10? 20? Right now I am appalled by the dust on the woodwork that I am trying to paint.
And telling myself I HAVE to do better. Cut something else out of the day in order to really clean the rooms.

Things happen. I'm having the same issue with my tearing apart rooms right now to stain & verathane. Pulled out one bed and was horrified what I found along the baseboard. Cobwebs can only be seen in the right light and if you're standing in just the right spot. We can't beat ourselves up every time we miss something or heaven forbid a cobweb appears! We do the best we can. When I find stuff like this, I go around checking everywhere. Would I want a guest to tell me if they found a wash cloth up high? No, because it was an oversight. If the bathroom and room were very clean then you know that there is a good standard there. Oh, and yes, I've cleaned the tub/shower area and somehow found a dry/used washcloth up high on the curtain rod (ours are as high as the ceiling).
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.

Oooo. I need her! Does she do windows too?
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.

Oooo. I need her! Does she do windows too?
[/quote
I have a Higher-up for windows - GOD washes my windows every time it rains!

 

[Joey Camb]

It happens.
Not sure how tall you are, I am thinking not very. When I ask my daughter to help she does not see anything hanging such as that, and I find them, every time. She is 4'10". I am tall.
It is in her invisible field of view, or as you put it in driving "her blind spot" plus she wears glasses. So my incessant nagging about the enemy being "hair! hair! hair!" seems to take precedence over LOOK UP and find face cloths over shower rods.
I wouldn't want to be told. Stuff happens. If it happened here, and someone told me, it would just make me feel sick, like I am feeling right now thinking about it, and how i need to get on my hands and knee and fine tooth every aspect of this business. Which is humanly impossible, what with me expected to then be there to haul luggage up the stairs for every guest check in. (yes that was sarcasm doing its thang right there)
I think I am better off closing my doors than trying to have everything perfect for every person. Sorry, that is how I feel about it today. Last night I had nightmares about going away and the ACRE of wood outside in our parking area, closer to the other businesses. I know, let's cut the giant 150+ year old tree down right before we leave for 2 weeks.
"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!.

"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!

How did this tall/not tall housekeeper CLEAN the shower? Obviously NOT by moving the shower curtain either to open it or close it. Just a quick swipe at the drain and the handle?
Sure, we all miss stuff. But if no one ever mentions anything we go under the assumption that everyone is doing their job and it's all hunky dory.
Tearing the wallpaper down last week I pulled HUGE spider webs down out of one corner. I was mortified. But, how many guests saw that? 10? 20? Right now I am appalled by the dust on the woodwork that I am trying to paint.
And telling myself I HAVE to do better. Cut something else out of the day in order to really clean the rooms.
.

"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!

How did this tall/not tall housekeeper CLEAN the shower? Obviously NOT by moving the shower curtain either to open it or close it. Just a quick swipe at the drain and the handle?
Sure, we all miss stuff. But if no one ever mentions anything we go under the assumption that everyone is doing their job and it's all hunky dory.
Tearing the wallpaper down last week I pulled HUGE spider webs down out of one corner. I was mortified. But, how many guests saw that? 10? 20? Right now I am appalled by the dust on the woodwork that I am trying to paint.
And telling myself I HAVE to do better. Cut something else out of the day in order to really clean the rooms.

Things happen. I'm having the same issue with my tearing apart rooms right now to stain & verathane. Pulled out one bed and was horrified what I found along the baseboard. Cobwebs can only be seen in the right light and if you're standing in just the right spot. We can't beat ourselves up every time we miss something or heaven forbid a cobweb appears! We do the best we can. When I find stuff like this, I go around checking everywhere. Would I want a guest to tell me if they found a wash cloth up high? No, because it was an oversight. If the bathroom and room were very clean then you know that there is a good standard there. Oh, and yes, I've cleaned the tub/shower area and somehow found a dry/used washcloth up high on the curtain rod (ours are as high as the ceiling).
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.

Oooo. I need her! Does she do windows too?
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.

Oooo. I need her! Does she do windows too?
[/quote
I have a Higher-up for windows - GOD washes my windows every time it rains!
.

she does - and as part of the design of the new windows they flip down and out so you can do both sides sort of on rotation should you wish to.
We have chaps who clean the outside ones on the first Monday of the month so I have to remember to close them all before they come - they are excellent and do it all from the ground with a special pole thing and special detergent mixed in with the water, means they are wet but never dry streaky

 

[gillumhouse]

It happens.
Not sure how tall you are, I am thinking not very. When I ask my daughter to help she does not see anything hanging such as that, and I find them, every time. She is 4'10". I am tall.
It is in her invisible field of view, or as you put it in driving "her blind spot" plus she wears glasses. So my incessant nagging about the enemy being "hair! hair! hair!" seems to take precedence over LOOK UP and find face cloths over shower rods.
I wouldn't want to be told. Stuff happens. If it happened here, and someone told me, it would just make me feel sick, like I am feeling right now thinking about it, and how i need to get on my hands and knee and fine tooth every aspect of this business. Which is humanly impossible, what with me expected to then be there to haul luggage up the stairs for every guest check in. (yes that was sarcasm doing its thang right there)
I think I am better off closing my doors than trying to have everything perfect for every person. Sorry, that is how I feel about it today. Last night I had nightmares about going away and the ACRE of wood outside in our parking area, closer to the other businesses. I know, let's cut the giant 150+ year old tree down right before we leave for 2 weeks.
"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!.

"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!

How did this tall/not tall housekeeper CLEAN the shower? Obviously NOT by moving the shower curtain either to open it or close it. Just a quick swipe at the drain and the handle?
Sure, we all miss stuff. But if no one ever mentions anything we go under the assumption that everyone is doing their job and it's all hunky dory.
Tearing the wallpaper down last week I pulled HUGE spider webs down out of one corner. I was mortified. But, how many guests saw that? 10? 20? Right now I am appalled by the dust on the woodwork that I am trying to paint.
And telling myself I HAVE to do better. Cut something else out of the day in order to really clean the rooms.
.

"If she didn't see the washcloth hanging over the curtain rod, she didn't clean the shower. Yes, you were right to mention it." I totally disagree with this statement. You being "not tall" should understand the predicament. But you have someone tall cleaning your showers, I think he is tall, he looks tall. haha!

How did this tall/not tall housekeeper CLEAN the shower? Obviously NOT by moving the shower curtain either to open it or close it. Just a quick swipe at the drain and the handle?
Sure, we all miss stuff. But if no one ever mentions anything we go under the assumption that everyone is doing their job and it's all hunky dory.
Tearing the wallpaper down last week I pulled HUGE spider webs down out of one corner. I was mortified. But, how many guests saw that? 10? 20? Right now I am appalled by the dust on the woodwork that I am trying to paint.
And telling myself I HAVE to do better. Cut something else out of the day in order to really clean the rooms.

Things happen. I'm having the same issue with my tearing apart rooms right now to stain & verathane. Pulled out one bed and was horrified what I found along the baseboard. Cobwebs can only be seen in the right light and if you're standing in just the right spot. We can't beat ourselves up every time we miss something or heaven forbid a cobweb appears! We do the best we can. When I find stuff like this, I go around checking everywhere. Would I want a guest to tell me if they found a wash cloth up high? No, because it was an oversight. If the bathroom and room were very clean then you know that there is a good standard there. Oh, and yes, I've cleaned the tub/shower area and somehow found a dry/used washcloth up high on the curtain rod (ours are as high as the ceiling).
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.

Oooo. I need her! Does she do windows too?
.

we have a lady who specialises in deep cleaning - does house rentals ie before new tenants move in etc we get her in to do say 2 rooms for 4-5 hours and really bottom them out helps keep on top of it.

Oooo. I need her! Does she do windows too?
[/quote
I have a Higher-up for windows - GOD washes my windows every time it rains!
.

she does - and as part of the design of the new windows they flip down and out so you can do both sides sort of on rotation should you wish to.
We have chaps who clean the outside ones on the first Monday of the month so I have to remember to close them all before they come - they are excellent and do it all from the ground with a special pole thing and special detergent mixed in with the water, means they are wet but never dry streaky
.

she does - and as part of the design of the new windows they flip down and out so you can do both sides sort of on rotation should you wish to.
We have chaps who clean the outside ones on the first Monday of the month so I have to remember to close them all before they come - they are excellent and do it all from the ground with a special pole thing and special detergent mixed in with the water, means they are wet but never dry streaky

My windows tip in also - BUT I have to take down the drapes and the sheers to do them on the outside. Spring when I bring the Girl in to climb up & down the ladder.

 

[Ice]

YES I would want to know.

 

[ukmaineiac]

So in conclusion for me...if you stayed at a b&b and found a face cloth on the shower curtain, what would YOU do?
if it were me, i would do nothing, shrug my shoulders and do nothing. Stuff happens.
IF there were crumbs in the sheets, or panties under the duvet then i would say something..

I'm definitely with the "stuff happens" group. I do my absolute best, but as Mad said there are times I'll go back into a fully cleaned room and think Holy Sh!t - how did I miss that. So - based on my own experience I now do two things:
1) I always go back into a room once I'm "dressed for guests" and have calmed down from the cleaning frenzy. I get an entirely different perspective.
2) I always try and do one unnecessary thing. ie clean the full length mirror in the bathroom or closet, magic eraser the baseboards, clean the extractor fan in the bathroom ........

 

[scrambled_eggs]

I just stayed at 4 different B & B's and in one of them I had the same thing. A washcloth draped over the shower curtain all dried up. I did not even notice it until I had the shower going but I did not think much of it when I saw it. The shower and bathroom were clean otherwise. I am not really grossed out by that stuff and don't expect a shower curtain to be taken down and washed after each guest either. Personally I would not mention it. I would be it was nick picking even though it shouldn't be there. People are not perfect and makes mistakes. It even happens to me. I have a room that has a small kitchen and I took out the dirty dishes I forgot to replace the coffee cups. The guests mentioned it to be and I went and got cups for them.

 

[gillumhouse]

The reason I would want to know is that I would be extra vigilant for THAT from then on. A case of trying to not make the same mistake twice.
It was because of the fear of NOT looking up that a certain message was sent - it was not something one wold want the next guest to find. I will now be more vigilant with wash cloths.

 

[gillumhouse]

Freaking dupe

 

[Bommelhoeve]

Think you always want to know, if you missed it once who says you will notice it with the next clean-up? Could be you are exposing multiple guests until someone write a really bad review (same washcloth as last time I stayed here ..)

 

[TheBeachHouse]

I would want to be told. Next time, we will be sure to look up. It's just a double check. If you don't think of it, it is easy to miss.