How Do You Deal With Washing Bedding for Short Term Rentals?

How Do You Deal With Washing Bedding for Short Term Rentals?

Joe SplitrockPro Member
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Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes

For those not familiar, we got our first STR under contract and we are bringing my 12 year old daughter into the process of starting it up and managing it. We have owned long term rentals for many years, but decided to try something new and use it as a teaching experience.

As we mapped out our plan, one issue we see is laundry. Typical bedding will have a sheet set and comforter or blanket. I have heard that some hosts do not wash comforters between stays and instead only wash the sheets. Given that people lay on beds, eat on beds without being under the covers, it seems ideal if everything is washed every time. The issue is comforters can fill an entire washer. It is not practical to wash something that larger regularly. I am going to assume when someone has several beds with comforters, that they are only washing those occasionally. I am not sure we are comfortable with that from a sanitary perspective, but I am interested in what others do and what is most common practice.

There seems to be three options:

1. Just provide some type of blanket that can be washed between stays on each bed.

2. Put a duvet over the comforter and remove/wash it each time.

3. Use a traditional comforter and only wash as needed or every X number of stays.

I am interested to hear what others are doing. Is there a specific brand of blanket that is easy to wash and holds up well? Do you all put mattress protectors under the sheets to prevent stains on the bed?

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Investor · Sevierville, TN · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 25 votes
6y

@Joe Splitrock We do duvets so that everything that touches the skin gets washed every stay. Not only is it hygienic but incredibly important during COVID. All sheets and towels are white so they can be washed on hot with bleach (easier to get stains out). 3 sets per property is our minimum in case a set gets ruined. That way you’re not scrambling to get another set before a stay.

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  • Avery CarlBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · USA · Member since 2016 · 909 posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    We do the traditional comforter and wash every x number of stays. 

  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    6y

    We do as Avery said.

    We have a super capacity washer dryer to manage the laundry during a turnover. We also keep multiple sets of extra sheets and comforters and rotate them.

  • Rental Property Investor · The Villages, FL · Member since 2017 · 341 posts · 398 votes
    6y

    We do the same as Avery mentioned, I have some traditional comforters and some quilts. When the comforters need replacing, I will go with all quilts, they wash well, are less bulky and provide plenty of warmth, especially in Florida temps.

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
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    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    6y

    @John Underwood or @Avery Carl or @Lisa Graesser I have heard people say having three sets of sheets per bed per property is a good number. Is that what you have seen in your experience? I have read some people say they like white sheets, like hotels, because you can bleach to remove stains. I have also heard others say gray or a darker color to be more forgiving. Any thoughts on this?

  • Avery CarlBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · USA · Member since 2016 · 909 posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Joe Splitrock we do 3 sets. One on the beds, dirty ones with the cleaners, and a spare set in a locked closet in case of emergencies.

    There are times that no amount of bleach can make a white sheet look not dingy, so we use mostly khaki or light gray.

  • Avery CarlBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · USA · Member since 2016 · 909 posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    I should also add that we do those colors because that's what our cleaner prefers. We do whatever makes it easiest for her.

  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Joe Splitrock:

    @John Underwood or or have heard people say having three sets of sheets per bed per property is a good number. Is that what you have seen in your experience? I have read some people say they like white sheets, like hotels, because you can bleach to remove stains. I have also heard others say gray or a darker color to be more forgiving. Any thoughts oforgiving.

    We switched over to white sheets and white towels after trying colored sheets and towels. Makes it easier and you can't get any more rent for colored sheets.

    We have 2 sets of everything because our cleaners do the laundry on site. The super capacity washer and dryer make this possible. Thats 6 beds worth of linens.

  • Rental Property Investor · The Villages, FL · Member since 2017 · 341 posts · 398 votes
    6y

    I have 3 sets of sheets for each bed available. We do not use white sheets or towels, just use colors that match our decor. I will in the future use the same color towels for all baths in each house because I find they are always mixed up in the linen closets for each bath. My houses sleep 4-6 so I keep 6 towel sets in the master and 4 towel sets in the guest baths. We get booking anywhere from 2-45 nights.

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
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    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    6y

    @Lisa Graesser and @John Underwood and @Avery Carl - Is there a magic brand for linens and towels that you all like to use? I am assuming the ideal is something that cleans well and dries fast. Is there a brand you like from Amazon or wherever you get them?

  • Rental Property Investor · The Villages, FL · Member since 2017 · 341 posts · 398 votes
    6y

    I do not have a go to place for linens, but I know alot of people do. I have never ordered linens online, have only gone to stores like Home Goods or Tuesday Mornings. I like to be able to look, feel, get good quality and good price.

  • Investor · Sevierville, TN · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 25 votes
    6y

    @Joe Splitrock We do duvets so that everything that touches the skin gets washed every stay. Not only is it hygienic but incredibly important during COVID. All sheets and towels are white so they can be washed on hot with bleach (easier to get stains out). 3 sets per property is our minimum in case a set gets ruined. That way you’re not scrambling to get another set before a stay.

  • Investor · Sevierville, TN · Member since 2018 · 13 posts · 25 votes
    6y

    Forgot to mention, always use a waterproof mattress protector. You don’t want a situation where someone has an accident on your bed and now you have a ruined mattress. I prefer the ones that zip around the entire mattress, and I put them on the box springs as well so bed bugs are easier to spot. I order all my linens from Amazon since they are cheap and will be easier to replace.

  • Member since 2018 · 40 posts · 21 votes
    6y

    I agree with Camille, I think it is very important that everything gets washed between guests. I am not a germaphobe by any means but I get really grossed out by bedspreads and comforters that I think have not been washed. 

  • Cliff H.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Nashua, NH · Member since 2014 · 610 posts · 486 votes
    6y

    I believe many of the hotels go the removable duvet route.

    I’ve always gone with the thinner, quilted (sorry don’t know official name) non-stuffed comforters. Several can fit in a larger washer depending on size of the bed and separate blankets can be pulled out and out on the end of the bed for colder months, while keeping the beds looking neat and clean during the summer.

    Avery’s 3 sheet rule is a good one.

    I go white sheets for everything and keep them white through the magic of Delta Carbona Super Whites in the wash (which was a pro tip from other hosts at airhostsforum.com). Never had a single sheet go yellow yet.

    Now if only I could figure out why the energy efficient dryer takes two runs to dry the towels I’d be in business.

  • Architect · Alexandria, VA · Member since 2016 · 317 posts · 371 votes
    6y

    @Joe Splitrock whatever you do do not get a color like red or something that cannot wash with everything else. We once bought red towels because it looked great with the decoration but we soon realized we had to wash it separate if there were other colors or white. A few times we had to do one wash for only one towel. Not very efficient. Live and learn.

    I agree with the three sets. For our basement unit we only have two but that is because we do the laundry right away as we live above so there is always a spare in case of an emergency.

  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    6y

    Hey @Joe Splitrock, we wash all the linens between guests. Quilts are done every 2 or 3 guests depending.

    I use all white sheets. I buy the Big One sheets from Kohls. They are a 70/30 Cotton/Poly blend in a percale weave. Nice and crisp. They wash up great and are holding up very well even after 3 years of use.

    They key to keeping white sheets white is NOT to use bleach. Bleach binds with the oils from the body and causes the dingy, yellowing you get. We use the Lysol laundry sanitizer. They are almost as white as the were when they were new. When they finally start to look dingy, you can do a load with bluing and that will restore the whiteness.

    Towels, also white, are from Costco. The Grandeur Hospitality brand. They are awesome. They wash up great, hold up well and are very reasonable when on sale. Under $4 per bath towel when they are on sale. I am still using the ones we bought 3 years ago. They are just now starting to look a bit ragged, but only when compared with a brand new one.

    I am using the Charisma quilts from Costco. They hang great on the bed. Nice sized. Not small like so many others. They wash up great and hold up amazingly well. All are 3 years old and they look like they are new. They are summer weight so not really for winter use. For winter we have the standard comforters you buy anywhere.

    Another nice thing about the Charisma quilt is they cling very well to the Kohl's top sheet so they move together.

    We have 6 sets of sheets for the 2 queens and 4 sets for the king. 3 sets for each of the twins (4 in bunkbeds). I have 42 bath towels, 64 hand towels and over 100 washcloths. I have extra pillowcases for all as they get trashed faster than the sheets. We can do 3 back to backs and not do a stitch of laundry. We also have tons of bath rugs. So I can wait for a extra day to knock out all the laundry if necessary.

    We have extra sheets on the shelf available to guests if they need them. They are not part of the standard rotation.

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
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    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Denise H.:

    I agree with Camille, I think it is very important that everything gets washed between guests. I am not a germaphobe by any means but I get really grossed out by bedspreads and comforters that I think have not been washed. 

     I agree washing everything is ideal, but how would the guest know? Do you state in the listing that all bedding is washed? 

  • Rental Property Investor · Stewartsville, NJ · Member since 2016 · 420 posts · 280 votes
    6y

    Hi @Joe Splitrock,

    Our solution is not to provide linens, towels, pillows, or blankets.  We do this for both of our rentals, and so far has not been an issue and we have not seen any decline in bookings.  If anything the guests almost seem to prefer it in this post-Covid world since they don't even have to worry about if it was cleaned, not cleaned, etc.

    Mike

  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    OP
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Mike Shemp:

    Hi @Joe Splitrock,

    Our solution is not to provide linens, towels, pillows, or blankets.  We do this for both of our rentals, and so far has not been an issue and we have not seen any decline in bookings.  If anything the guests almost seem to prefer it in this post-Covid world since they don't even have to worry about if it was cleaned, not cleaned, etc.

    Mike

     Interesting... Are you doing short stays, like 2-7 days? That surprises me that your guests would bring their own bedding and towels. Some people wouldn't even have the right size bedding. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Stewartsville, NJ · Member since 2016 · 420 posts · 280 votes
    6y

    We do 2 days to 14 days rentals. 


    In our listing we indicate the bed sizes we have, and that guests need to bring their own bedding.  We also have this in our house rules, our rental agreement, in our welcome email we send 5 days prior to their arrival, and their pre-night check-in message.

    This may limit us for people that are farther away and want to fly to these destinations, but there appears to be enough demand within a drive-able distance that we haven't seen any issues to date.

    Mike

  • Oliver GobaPro Member
    Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    @Joe Splitrock

    We don’t provide sheets for our short term rentals. We wash the duvet covers ~3-4 stays.

    It has worked well so far.......

  • Rental Property Investor · Harrisburg, PA · Member since 2018 · 369 posts · 406 votes
    6y

    Great answers here - from some real professionals in the STR business. We modeled our amenities after some of theirs, as a matter of fact. 4 sets of everything per condo, each guest turnover beds are stripped and clean linens and comforters replaced for their use if desired. We take the dirty stuff home (3 hr drive) and wash and fold for next time. We are 2 separate couples so it's one guest on, then one guest off, and rotates throughout the year unless there's a personal vacation or somebody gets sick, then we have to double-up the visits. No biggie.

  • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Joe Splitrock  where I vacation at the beach in Ocean City MD, and the Delaware beaches, it is traditional for rentals to NOT supply linens.  Most people know to bring their own sheets and towels, and kitchen towels.  But pillows, blankets, and quilts are supplied at the rentals. 

    Even coming by car, a family is not going to have room for 4 pillows and blankets along with everything else.  There are local companies at the beaches that rent linens, because there are more and more people coming from far away and don't want to be bothered bringing their own.  The beach is the only place I've rented where you're expected to bring your own.  Everywhere inland I've been to supplies linens.

  • Rental Property Investor · Henrico, VA · Member since 2019 · 265 posts · 155 votes
    6y
    I just just stayed at a short term rental. They provided clean linens, but no comforter. In the email before arrival, they stated in big letters to bring your own blanket if desired and pillow cases.  I think it was a covid policy and not sure if they do that as a normal way of operation. 
  • Rental Property Investor · MD · Member since 2020 · 27 posts · 21 votes
    6y

    We have found success with having multiple sets of everything, and have a cleaning team who replaces, and then washes the dirty off site. Providing linens and towels helps the guests not have to worry about it, and you can certainly charge for it to cover your risk / cost, as well as cleaning teams time. Review the local services in the area, and be competitive, with a slight mark up for convenience. 

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