Whenever I'm leaving a hotel room I always straighten things up a bit. Make sure all trash is in the wastebasket, put all the dirty towels in one place, just little stuff like that. My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy and asks me if I'm going to "clean the room for the maid" whenever we leave a hotel room.

Am I the only one who does this? Does anyone else think it might help the maid get her job done a little more quickly? Besides, who wants to touch another person's empty beer or coke bottle?

I know - probably a frivolous thread. But a curious mind would like to know!

I don't make the bed - it will be changed anyway! I do take care of trash and towels, and it's not only because I think of the maid - it helps to make sure I did not leave any small things behind.

Chele60,

You're not alone. I do the exact same things as you. Drives my DH crazy, as well. To me it's just a matter of courtesy. After all, the housekeeping department is there to "clean the room," not clean my personal mess.

I tidy too. The maids job is to clean the room, not clean up after me. I put all the towels in one sport, fold the bed covers back semi-neatly and make sure the floor is clear. It takes 2 minutes max and makes it nicer for all concerned - I think.

I always clean the room... always.
I don't make the bed but I wipe down any tables/countertops I have used and roll all my used towels into a ball. I repack all my stuff or store it in the closet. It's basically like no one is staying in the room when I leave for the day. It's a habit and I can't imagine leaving the room really messed up... it's just not my nature.

I also straighten up. I pick up all of my crap, pick up the trash, and throw all of the used towels in the tub.

I always tidy up the room. If papers, half eaten food, etc. is left all over, how is the maid supposed to know what to throw out and what not? I leave the dirty towels in a pile in the bathroom and clear the floor of clothes, etc.
Imagine how long it would take the poor maids if everyone left the room looking as if a tornado went through there.

I staighten up, too. The maids don't always know what is garbage so I throw away what we don't want (travel brochures, newspapers, half bottles of pop or water, etc).

What is DH?

DH = 'Dear Husband'

Here's another one that picks up the room. It's the housekeeper's job to clean the room, not clean up after myself or my husband (or after my kid!) We always put the towels in one place on the bathroom floor, pick up garbage etc, just general picking up. (Oh yeah, and we tip too. (See other thread)).

I think I misunderstood the question, I thought you asked if others clean up when leaving. I do clean up every day - who wants to live in a messy room even if it's only one day?

I clean up, too, both during a stay and before checking out. It helps me assure myself that I'm not leaving anything behind, and during the stay it just gives me peace of mind. In a little room I can't stand a bunch of clutter.

I straighten up so I don't trip over wet towels but mainly to make sure it's clear what is trash and what is not. Many maids are scrupulous about not throwing away anything that might possibly be something a guest wanted to keep -- so if a newspaper isn't in the wastebasket, she might end up putting it back on a table somewhere. I've seen them carefully leave pocket change and a half-consumed botton of Snapple -- as if to say "I'm not taking your money, and thought you might still be wanting the Snapple."

My DH pulls up the covers and sort of straightens the bed, which makes me stupidly crazy. I enjoy not having to make the bed in the morning. It's part of vacation!

Oh thank goodness I'm not crazy then? No, really, I agree, the maid is there to clean the room not pick up after me. I've always learned to treat others as you would have them treat you. Also, don't forget to leave a tip.

I do
I make sure all the papers and trash are in the trash bin and the towels are in a pile together.
I make sure all my things are put away-also discouraging someone else from messing about with them~

Our housekeepers are not to throw away anything, no matter how much it looks as if it should be tossed, so...I'm one that tosses everything I don't want, including the paper. Also neaten up the sink so they can get to the counter to clean and put all the used towels over the edge of the tub. Next I hide things I don't want them to take away...like the fruit and cheese tray or what-have-you.

In our casita at this hotel...I clean before housekeeping comes too...but in this case it's because I don't want anyone talking around the hotel about what a slob the GM/wife are! LOL I would like to get them to STOP giving me new boxes of tissue and rolls of toilet paper...I'm going to have to get a storage facility soon, and please please please don't take away my slivers of soap...it's Caress, not hotel issue!

My parents make the bed in the hotel room. I remember as a child complaning I had to make my bed on vacation. I think their comment was something like, we'll leave you at home next time.

I'm not the best about making the bed at home (ah, the joys of the single life) and I don't make the bed on vacation (ah, the joys of vacation), but I do straighten up and archive/pitch paperwork daily more for my sake than the maid's. I put towels to wash on the floor and hang up ones I'm using again.

I stop short of making the bed and wiping down surfaces, but I do tidy up, for the same reasons others mentioned: I want to make it easy for the maid to distinguish trash from treasure, and I don't want to lose track of my things. And since so many hotels now "offer" the option of reusing towels, I either hang them or pile them in the tub, depending on whether they're keepers or not. I must say, this is all mostly for my own convenience, although I also can't imagine leaving a real mess for the poor maid to deal with.

I don't make the bed, but I am pretty neat as I don't want to "lose" anything. Also, if I'm on business, I'm often traveling with a group and if we need to meet in someone's room to review something, I'd rather not have people come in and be uncomfortable seeing frilly unmentionables strewn about