Etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas Diane Gottsman tells Travel + Leisure that while “housekeepers are happy to tidy your room,” it is important to remain polite and observe etiquette and cleanliness standards.
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In short, you don’t need to meticulously make the bed or fold towels, although it is commendable, but there are a few simple things that help maintain order and avoid creating extra work for hotel staff. If you’re wondering how messy a hotel room can be before it’s too messy, you’re not alone. Etiquette experts provide key tips.
Designate space for different items
D. Gottsman advises guests to keep the room tidy so that staff can thoroughly clean the space and don’t have to “sort personal belongings from the floor or dresser.”
She recommends assigning clear places for items: put dirty towels in one corner, shoes together in another, and keep clothes in the suitcase rather than leaving them on the bed. This way, housekeepers won’t have to move anything to clean the room efficiently.
Don’t make the bed
While it’s polite to try to leave the room as tidy as possible, it’s definitely not necessary to make the bed before leaving.
Modern etiquette expert Myka Meier explains: “The bedding will be removed immediately anyway, so there’s no need to worry about making the bed.”
Clean up after your pet
This seems obvious, but it’s worth reminding. Accidents can happen, and the best pet-friendly hotels understand this. However, when traveling with a pet, be sure to have enough bags to pick up its waste.
It’s also important to dispose of them properly. This means you cannot throw the bag in the toilet and risk clogging it.
Don’t use the robe as a tissue
Don’t wipe your nose—or anything else—on hotel-provided robes. The same goes for makeup.
“Although they can be washed, it’s difficult to remove heavy stains,” says Gottsman.
Would you leave trash lying around at a friend’s house? If the answer is “no,” as it should be, then you shouldn’t leave it in the hotel room either. Meier advises throwing trash into designated bins. If there are recycling containers in the room, it’s worth sorting responsibly.
Don’t leave wet towels on furniture
“Never leave wet towels on the carpet or furniture, as they can damage wood or fabric, leave wet stains, or cause mold on the carpet, which may not dry before the next guest arrives,” says Meier.
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She recommends hanging used towels or neatly folding them in the bathroom.
Clean up broken items
“If you break a glass or bottle, try to collect the shards and broken pieces as best as you can,” says Gottsman.
It’s simply polite. Also, it reduces the risk of injury for both you and the housekeeping staff.
Don’t leave dirty dishes in the hallway
Next time you order food to the room, “don’t leave dirty trays in the hallway,” advises Meier. It’s not only impolite but can also be an obstacle that someone might trip over, and it can cause unpleasant odors.
It’s better to call housekeeping or room service and ask them to pick up the dishes directly from the room.
Leave furniture as you found it
If you moved hotel room furniture, for example, to adapt the space for a child or just to make it more comfortable, try to return everything to its original place before leaving.
The same applies to small but important items like your phone or TV remote control. If you unplugged anything, such as a lamp or alarm clock, plug it back in before you leave.
The bottom line
As Meier explains, it’s important to leave the hotel room tidy and respectfully maintained—similar to the condition in which you found it.
While these actions may seem minor or unnecessary, they greatly help housekeeping staff: it makes it easier for them to clean the room and prepare it for the next guest.
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