Most hotel guests are thinking about getting home when checkout time rolls around. They pack their suitcases, check the bathroom for forgotten chargers and toiletries, grab their bags, and head out without giving much thought to the state of the room.
For hotel housekeepers, though, what guests leave behind can make a big difference. They often have several rooms to clean within a limited amount of time, and a room that needs extra attention can put the rest of their schedule behind.
Nobody expects you to scrub the bathroom, change the sheets, or clean the floors before leaving. You’re paying to stay at the hotel, after all. Still, a few small courtesies can save housekeeping staff some unnecessary work.
Here are 10 checkout habits that can make a housekeeper’s day harder than it needs to be.
Checking Out Late Without Telling Anyone
Staying in your room a little past checkout time might not seem like a big deal, but it can interfere with the housekeeping schedule. Staff usually have a list of rooms to prepare before the next guests arrive, and even a short delay can affect their plans.
If you need more time, call the front desk and ask whether a late checkout is possible. Giving the hotel advance notice is much better than staying past the deadline without saying anything.
Related: 14 Ways Guests Make Hotel Employees’ Jobs More Difficult
Leaving Personal Items Spread Across the Room
Chargers plugged into every outlet, clothes draped over chairs, toiletries covering the bathroom counter, and shoes tucked under the bed can make cleaning more difficult. Housekeepers try to avoid handling personal belongings, so having items scattered across the room can slow them down.
Gather your belongings while packing and check the drawers, bathroom, and closet before leaving. It gives the cleaning staff more room to work and lowers the chance of something being moved or overlooked.
Leaving the Room in Complete Disarray
Hotel rooms are meant to be lived in during your stay, so nobody expects everything to look untouched when you leave. A suitcase on the floor or a few clothes on a chair is perfectly normal.
The trouble starts when food containers, clothing, used towels, and personal belongings are scattered across every surface. Taking a couple of minutes to gather your things and throw away your trash means the housekeeper can get straight to cleaning rather than spending extra time picking everything up.
Related: 10 Things That Keep Getting Stolen From Hotel Rooms
Hiding Wet Towels Around the Room
Leaving damp towels behind doors, under beds, or in corners creates an unnecessary problem for housekeeping. Wet fabric can develop a musty smell, and moisture can transfer to carpets, furniture, and other surfaces.
Most hotels have a designated place for used towels, such as the bathroom floor, tub, or shower area. Leave them there instead of scattering them around the room.
Leaving the Toilet Unflushed
Few things are more unpleasant for a housekeeper than walking into a bathroom and finding an unflushed toilet. It’s a small detail that’s easy to take care of before checking out.
Give the toilet a quick flush before leaving. It takes only a few seconds and saves the person cleaning the room from an unpleasant first task.
Related: 11 Hotel Room Items You Should Think Twice About Using
Leaving Food All Over the Room
Room service trays, takeout boxes, pizza cartons, open snack packages, and half-empty drinks can leave quite a mess behind. Food scraps and spills can also cause lingering odors and attract insects if they’re left sitting around.
Use the hotel’s room service pickup system if one is available, or gather food containers and throw away the trash before leaving. Some hotels ask guests to leave trays outside the door, while others arrange pickup through the front desk.
Leaving Hair All Over the Bathroom
Hair tends to collect in places that are easy to overlook, including shower walls, sink drains, bathroom floors, and around the bathtub. Housekeepers are used to cleaning bathrooms, but large clumps of hair can make the job particularly unpleasant.
You don’t need to scrub the bathroom before checking out. If you’ve left a noticeable amount of hair behind, taking a moment to gather it up is a considerate gesture.
Tossing Trash Everywhere Except in the Trash Can
Empty bottles on nightstands, food wrappers on the floor, used tissues behind furniture, and other bits of garbage create extra work for the cleaning staff. Emptying the trash cans is already part of their routine, but picking up litter scattered throughout the room is another task.
Most hotel rooms have at least one trash can, usually near the desk or bathroom. Use them throughout your stay rather than leaving garbage wherever it’s convenient.
Related: 15 Things You Should Always Do Before Leaving Your Hotel Room
Getting Makeup and Self-Tanner All Over the Linens
Hotel towels and sheets are often white, which makes stains easy to spot. Foundation, mascara, lipstick, self-tanner, and hair dye can leave marks that require extra washing or special stain treatment.
A little makeup on a washcloth isn’t unusual, but heavy stains can be difficult to remove and may permanently damage the fabric. Use makeup remover wipes when possible, and avoid using white hotel towels to remove hair dye or self-tanner.
Keeping the “Do Not Disturb” Sign Up for Days
There are plenty of good reasons to hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your hotel door, whether you’re sleeping, working, or simply want some privacy. Leaving it up for several days without arranging any housekeeping service can mean a much bigger cleanup later.
Trash can accumulate, used towels pile up, and bathroom surfaces may need extra attention after several days without service. Some hotels also have policies about how long staff can go without entering a room, so check with the front desk if you’d prefer to skip daily cleaning.
You don’t have to leave your hotel room spotless before checking out. Housekeepers are there to clean, and a normal amount of mess comes with the job. Just pick up your belongings, use the trash cans, keep wet towels in the bathroom, and let the front desk know if you need extra checkout time. Those small gestures can make a busy shift a little easier for the people cleaning up after your stay.
