Houseguests - make or strip the bed when leaving?

[MrsPoliportsGoose]

Just that really. I have had houseguests to stay in the past who do one or the other.

Stripping the bed obviously makes my life easier, but I've been told by some that this is rude and suspicious (why?).

I'm a houseguest this week and am unsure what the etiquette is, and for various reasons don't feel comfortable asking the host!

So should I strip or make?

apparently some people don’t change sheets between guests so I guess stripping the bed is an attempt to make sure that’s not true?

I do strip the bed when I am a guest but I am not bothered if guests do it for me or not. I do always change the sheets though!

Make. I go by the "leave things as you found them" principle.

I make. It feels intrusive somehow to strip someone else’s bed

I only ever stay with family and I strip the bed before leaving.

I prefer guests not to - I do wash the sheets between guests but I would rather do it on my own schedule than have a huge pile of sheets on the floor. But our spare room is also our home office.

I used to hate it when guests stripped the bed because there were a couple of stains on the mattress that I was embarrassed about.

Now we have a new mattress (and protector!) but, when I stay in someone else's house, I still don't strip the bed in case it's embarrassing for the host.

Depends who I'm staying with. If they're a close friend or family then I'll offer (or just go ahead if I know they'll prefer it).

Or I leave it neatly turned down

I dislike it. I like it when guests fold the duvet back. It says ‘I want to show that I’m leaving the room tidy and want to acknowledge that you’ve now got the job of the laundry and thank you. But I won’t embarrass you by revealing the bare mattress which might now be brand new…!’

Ask. But if you don't ask then leave it made, it's overstepping the mark a bit to strip without asking.

Just ask the hosts? That’s what I do

Make.

I'd rather guests make the bed, i do wash the bedding after they've gone but would rather the bed still look nice until i have time to do it.

I strip the bed and I ask visitors to please do the same as it helps me out!

Well, apart from my elderly parents as wrangling duvets is beyond them these days.

Use your words? Ask??

If you know someone well enough for them to have you stay overnight, can't you just ask them what they would prefer?

I would never dream of stripping someone else's bed. And I wouldn't want anyone to strip a bed in my house. It takes seconds. How is it helping anyone in any significant way?

I would never dream of stripping someone else's bed. And I wouldn't want anyone to strip a bed in my house. It takes seconds. How is it helping anyone in any significant way?

Same here.

I ask.

DM prefers keeping bedding on basically like a dust cover until the next person comes to stay, when it's changed.

I always ask if they want the bed stripped. Unless it was at my parents when I knew we would be the next guests anyway so left it!

just ask

Make not strip.

That's what I do. Same reasoning.

Though I would offer to strip the bed first.

I strip the bed, mainly as when we’re houseguests it’s typically at my dads house and he’s very much into telling you how perfect other people are and always makes a big thing talking about other family members who’ve stayed and berating the ones that leave the bedding on - he goes a step further and likes the bedding both removed AND folded which baffles me as it’s only going in the washing machine but hey ho!

Depends who it is really, we have the same house guests regularly at the moment, if they only spend one night and are coming again soon, I don't change the bedding after every visit. Obviously if someone else was coming, I would change it. I'd rather strip it myself though

If I know the person well so family or close friend I would strip to help them out, if not I leave and make the bed.