Escritora

You know those "help us conserve water" signs that ask guests not to have towels laundered unnecessarily? I'm curious how many of us actually are doing that. My own experience her and abroad is that regardless of whether you rehang your towel for a second use or leave it in the tub, housekeeping launders and replaces everything daily. Is this an issue the hotels genuinely want to address, or is it pure publicity with no punch behind it?

Ed

First, we don't wash our towels at home daily. We know of few people who do. <BR> <BR>As a result, when we think about it, we may "recycle" our towels for another use or two. <BR> <BR>Is this an issue the hotels want to address? The answer is a resounding, "Yes". Though the question and answer may be a bit different than you have in mind. <BR> <BR>Less laundering clearly reduces water and energy consumption. Something in which we should all have an interest. <BR> <BR>But, do note, energy, since so much has to be imported, is quite expensive in Europe. (Partly taxes, partly cost, but the end result is things like $4/gal. petrol and expensive electricity.) Hence, while some hoteliers have an ecological interest, there's a strong profit motive there as well. Nothing wrong with that at all ... that's the way the marketplace is supposed to work. <BR> <BR>FYI many US localities have mandated the use of flow control shower heads in an attempt to reduce use of relatively scarce water supplies. As well, we've been in US hotels that promote mulitple use of towels as well. The economics vs. Europe may be a bit different, but they are still significant. <BR> <BR>And in both Europe and such hotels in the US, I've not found the towels getting laundered anyway, at least as long as we rehang the towels. <BR> <BR>twenj

Never

NEVER1 NEVER! NEVER!

Escritora

I'm with you, Ed. Nothing wrong with making a profit by doing good, and we all SHOULD be more concerned about conservation, even on holiday, which is why I raised this unglamorous subject. I've just found that in Europe, Asia, North and even South America (except in the Galapagos) my rehung towels often have been laundered anyway. But as you say, I don't take a fresh towel every day at home. I think I'll make a travel resolution to make sure I can reuse my towels on my next trip--9 days in 1 hotel needn't require 9 towels!

nancy

sometimes it is hard to find a place to airdry the larger towels, esp. in a small room / bathroom. <BR>also, as someone mentioned, they always do seem to get picked up. <BR>now, i ran into an interesting concept, somewhere in the states. <BR>this was not a 4 star , but not a cheap place either, by any means. <BR>the hotel left a sign, that you could put on your bed , if you did not feel the need to have your sheets changed that day. <BR>The hotel gave one the option of having sheets changed every 3rd day. <BR>Thought it very practical!

Cass

I was pleased to be given the option in Europe of leaving the towels on the floor if I wanted fresh ones or else hanging them up for re-use -- in the name of ecology. <BR> <BR>I wish the US hotels would offer that option. Instead, I have occasionally come across hotels who actually refold and rehang dirty towels as if they were fresh ones (you don't want to know how I know). <BR> <BR>I wash my own towels once a week. (If a towel gets dirty after one shower, bath, or handwashing, you haven't done that good a job cleaning yourself in the first place.... and I don't want to hear about it.)

Robin

I've seen this option both in the US and in Europe, and I have often taken the suggestion (to not turn in towels). Oftentimes it's not just generic "ecology"-- most recently, at an inn in Maine on a small island, the hotel described itself as the major water user in the area, and made the suggestion as a way to be fair to their neighbors. Since I don't wash my towels every day at home I am not put off by not having them replaced on the road. Incidentally, I don't consider myself much of an environmentalist, so, for me at least, it's more about being reasonable and practical than ecological.

Kavey

I often see the option of reusing towels (in the bath or on the floor to change, hung up to keep) but not quite so often the option to keep the sheets. <BR> <BR>I am quite happy to have the sheets changed only every few days as I certainly dont have clean sheets every night at home... <BR> <BR>With towels, I usually keep the large one I use on my body, as it isnt so wet, but the smaller one I use for my hair is sopping wet, so unless there is some heater rail to dry it I only ask to change that one... <BR> <BR>My husband has short hair so usually keeps both of his towels for a couple of days before changing them...

fran

I'm prepared to take alot of flack for this response but....when I'm on vacation I want the luxury of clean sheets and clean towels everyday. Nothing ---well, almost nothing--- feels as good as taking a nice hot bath and then getting into a bed with fresh clean sheets.

Robin

Fran, I hope you don't get a lot of flack. You certainly pay for the right to use the towels as you see fit. No one paying for a hotel room should have to be at all uncomfortable.

Mary

I want my bath towel fresh every day at home and on the road. Sheets I don't care if it's once a week. I do concern myself with conservation but my way is to hang my laundry out and recycle whatever I can. I also take Navy showers to help conserve water.

Mostly

I'm delighted to hear someone hangs out their laundry -- nothing smells as sweet -- but Mary, do you live in the US? There are actually many municipalities that have zoning prohibiting hanging out laundry for "aesthetic" reasons. I once had a blanket hanging out to air behind my house and got a knock on the door from an "incensed" neighbor threatening to call the police to enforce the ordinance.

Art

Being (as Kavey called me) a big bear of a man, I use bath sheets at home and usually require 2 hotel bath towels to get dry when on the road. I do try to hang them up to dry and do not require new towels every day. As most of you, I do my towels and sheets once a week at home and without special happenings, I also am content to do that when away as well. It would be nice if the Hotels gave a small credit for not incurring the expense of washing them every day. Everyone would benifit from that, the Hotel, the guest and the enforiment. <BR>Regards, <BR>Art <BR>

mary

mostly, <BR>yes i live in us. i live in a rural area and quite a few of us still hang our laundry out. sheets are THE best right after being on the line! as a matter of fact, i am looking at buying some more acreage and will not buy where there are covenants against hanging out laundry or other such silly things. please do not get me going on the topic of conservation-you'll ban me from the forum! oh nooo.....

Kavey

Art <BR> <BR>Am hoping you werent offended <BR> <BR>Kavey

Art

Kavey, no I was not offended. It was a fairly good description. <BR>Art <BR>