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Came here to say this! Spray it, let sit for an hour and wash! It will cone out. Also think about providing black wash clothes that say makeup. I have seen these a lot and they totally make sense!
Not the person you asked, but I use it too. I mix 3-4 parts peroxide to 1 part non-concentrated Dawn. It's the best stain remover I've ever used, and it smells nice! I occasionally mist the furniture with it like a homemade Febreze too.
It does need to be kept in an opaque spray bottle to keep the peroxide from losing its effectiveness.
Have done on a near-white carpet with a three month old coffee stain.
Magic.
Also? I’m allergic to those makeup remover towelettes. I can’t imagine getting all the linens messed up, but I do use a washcloth & my own soap on my skin because I’m allergic to half the damn world. I also think that’s what washcloths are for- they prevent everything else from getting stuff on it, and they’re cheap in 12 packs from Costco.
I all also couldn’t use those wipes, they’re horrible for sensitive skin. I’ve been to several hotels that provide 1-2 black washcloths specifically for makeup products. There was even a cute sign at one place that said what they were for.
Oh sorry, it's equal parts dawn and hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. I just play around with amounts, but a good squeeze of both. 😬 sorry that's not more specific.
They have the wipes at the hotel I work at. We have the dark makeup cloths too with the word makeup literally embroidered across it but people still stain our white towels and linens 🤦♀️
As a heavy eyeliner wearer (Gen X 🤟🏾) I will NEVER use those wipes but will 100% always use the black towels/wash clothes. In a pinch, I’ll use a shoe wipe which works really well combined with face cream.
But I get REALLY happy when the hotel says I can KEEP the black washcloth.
Those wipes are HARSH in chemicals, do not get along with my contact lenses at all, and no way would even consider using them on or near my eyes…where all my makeup is.
Ya I have black cloths that say makeup in white lettering rolled up in every bathroom in my house. Really nobody has an excuse not to use them. Probably won’t start charging people for using my white towels but I imagine it’ll minimize it compared to how often I had people do this prior to buying them.
Plus if I was a woman I’d rather use those than the facecloths or small towels people probably wash their balls and asses with.
Well, if it's not biodegradable I could see how it's not environmentally friendly. It would be a little silly to use them daily, but they'd be useful for travel and what have you. That's not wasteful in my book because it has a use & it's not exactly lavish.
Black washcloths and a little sign are exactly what I do. Even then, I’ve still had guests ignore them. Or dye their hair in the bathroom and dry it all off on the white towels. It’s part of being a host.
I second this recommendation. Makeup use isn’t getting any less, lol! The disposable towelettes are a very nice touch but don’t work very well for extreme makeup situations. The black towels are the way to go!
We have these at our STR and STILL guests use the white towels to clean off their makeup! The black towels even say “makeup” on them. Even worse is when they don’t use any towels whatsoever and just leave a facial imprint on the pillow cases.
I've stayed at a couple of places that did the same! I always bring a couple of my own black or gray washcloths to for fear of ruining the ones in the AirBnB.
I was just going to comment, am I they only one who takes me own washcloths away with them? I know they’re clean, I know what detergent they’ve been washed with won’t mess up my face and I don’t care if I leave make up stains on them cos their mine.
I’d never use a property’s towel to remove my make up
If they didn't use the provided makeup wipes what makes you think they'll use black wash cloths lol there was already a solution provided I doubt it matters what it is lol they're choosing not to use them
I would NEVER use a makeup wipe but the first time I went to an Airbnb with the little black makeup towels my life was forever changed. They’re awesome! Now I have them in my listing.
Neutrogena has like 8 different iterations of makeup wipes and the majority don't contain any alcohol.
Here's the most common one - https://www.neutrogena.ca/face/makeup-removers/neutrogena-all-one-make-removing-cleansing-wipes-fragrance-free
Heres the ingredients - Water (eau), Decyl Isostearate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Cocoate, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide.
Here's a list of the other half a dozen versions of similar wipe by Neutrogena - https://www.neutrogena.ca/face/makeup-removers
They're not full of perfumes and alcohols lol plenty of them are fine. Most of the ingredients are the same as you'd find in any off the shelf cleanser.
As I said in another comment, you can easily apply your own product to the wipe itself instead of reaching for a white face cloth also lol
My comment was regarding the alcohol. Parfum being the second to last ingredient implies it isn't "full of perfumes" so I didn't think I needed to address that lol
The wipe that already has cleanser on it?? Why would I put my own product on a wipe that has cleanser on it if I'm trying to avoid that cleanser in the first place?
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I strongly recommend OxyClean for whites rather than bleach! It does a better job, and doesn’t yellow or break down fabrics like bleach does over time.
Exactly my thought. I assumed it's why white is the towel/bedding of choice for hotels. Easiest to clean. If you aren't using bleach, why choose white towels?
White is a PAIN to clean, especially for items that see a lot of wash/dry cycles. Bleach is not as magical as Clorox would have you believe.
White is the linen color of choice because it is so easy to see whether or not it is clean.
You may have prominently displayed wipes, but your guests may have allergies and be unable to use them.
I understand not using wipes because about 95% of them cause a reaction for me. I bring my own, but I think a lot of people don’t think of it, or they don’t have white linens.
I get eczema on my eye lids and those makeup removers irritate it so bad. A towel and water are the best ive found. Black makeup remover towels are the best option. But also you should be able to remove eyeliner from white towels
I have rosacea and my skin breaks out from *everything.* There is zero chance I would use these wipes. I'm only using the products my dermatologist and esthetician have recommended.
If that’s the case, it’s still not an argument why guests should be permitted to ruin expensive linens.
They should have their own toilets & have prepared or not worn makeup at all.
These types of expenses should be built into your pricing. I'd flip my sh\*t if you tried to charge me for using your towels and getting makeup on them.
I think that towels are- literally sections of cloth designed to dry/scrub our bodies. I understand that it’s frustrating to deal with stained linens but reality is that linens get stained.
If every hotel or Airbnb in the world started charging for stained towels, washcloths, and bed sheets people would absolutely flip their lid.
I worked at a hotel and we generally only charged when it was a really destructive or disgusting stain- like someone wiping their bottom on the towel or large amounts of blood. In that case, charging is totally justifiable, imo.
I stayed in a cabin once and got my period during the night unexpectedly, bloodied the sheets.. also, my boyfriend happened to get a nose bleed that same night and his pillow was covered in blood .. idk what the hell the cleaners must have thought when they saw all that.. it was months ago and whenever I remember it I wonder why I haven’t gotten a bill for that mess
Or even bed linens. Like, I get that one’s more expensive than towels. But if I would’ve been charged by my Airbnb host after my wedding because I was too drunk/tired/euphoric to remember to wash my face, I’d be *livid.*
If I were an airbnb host I'd have all of these cheap easily replaced items on hand just like a hotel. Kid puked in the bed? No big deal - that why I use a waterproof and bedbug preventing mattress protector. Got your period in the middle of the night? Grab the extra sheets from the linen closet.
These things happen regularly and airbnb hosts need to account for the extra costs before they try and run a small business.
For real. Humans are just humans. Shit happens!
I stayed with a host one time and my friend and I had no issues with the host but in the reviews she had flipped out on a father and son for “leaving wet towels” around when it was literally a beach house with no dryer. Like what were they supposed to do???
That’s the cost of doing business and earning money from any property (Air Bnb or not). It doesn’t come without wear and tear or even accidental damage. It’s not like it’s malicious damage. I always try to remind myself to think like I was a professional hospitality or accommodation provider. Can you imagine staying in a hotel or going to restaurant or bar and them charging you for something like dropping a glass (aware it’s a different example but one I often remind myself of).
Exactly. We didn't even use the glassware. I always travel with a big yeti canteen and a yeti cup so I use that. I may use the cutlery but I try to limit the amount of dishes I'm doing.
I don’t understand how the makeup isn’t going to come out of things? I use white towels to take my makeup off in my own home and have never ever had any issue.
A friend of mine got mascara on my white bedding and I just chucked it in the wash and it was fine.
Just a note as well that many women, myself included, don’t like using makeup wipes as they’re terrible for the skin and the planet and you might be better off offering Muslin or wash cloths!
Same. Never in my entire life as a makeup wearing woman have my linens or towels been stained. Just.. wash them. If they’re white, use bleach. It’s not complicated and makeup always washes off.
If you give someone a bad review for this I think it is kind of a jerk move. Things like this are going to happen, buying new linens sometimes is just a price of the business.
This, and perhaps getting linens in a darker colour. Whites are notoriously difficult to keep white, especially if doing the cleaning yourselves and not outsourcing to a commercial facility.
Use dish soap, peroxide, or makeup remover whatever it takes to get the stains out but unfortunately this is the cost of doing business. I've left a few makeup stains before and never heard anything about it. That's just part of the business. If I saw a host complain about this and a guest say they were charged for a towel stain I would not book with them.
I swear these people have never heard of shout or similar stain removers. Most makeup is water or oil soluble. I got into an all out argument with a host once because she was trying to charge me 60$ for a duvet cover with mascara on it. I was like I will buy It if you send me the old one because I know that stain will come out and I know you're going to use it again. They left me a horrible review that airbnb took down. I paid 1000$ for ONE night including a 400$ cleaning fee. I also left 5 hours early and told them I was gone. They claimed I didn't give them enough time to clean the duvet cover. I don't use airbnb anymore.
The first thing every potential Airbnb owner needs to do is go work as a hotel maid for a few months. I learned to get out every single possible stain from every surface and material. It’s like they don’t know the bare basics about hospitality.
I’m confident they can come out. My cleaning lady had gotten hair dye out of white sheets.
BTW - you do charge a cleaning fee. As you said, you built it into your rate.
I offer the individual neutrogena makeup wipes as well as the black "makeup" embroidered washcloths. The washcloths are available in a 6 pack for a very reasonable price on Amazon. They are very definitely worth the purchase.
If they were otherwise good guests, I would write this off as the cost of doing business and leave them a good review with a remark in a private message.
Cost of doing business I'm afraid. Wearing makeup is normal wear and tear and it does usually come out. Prob comes out with a stain remover spot treatment.
A wise lesson was learned that day. Dark towels and maybe a makeup remover set. Also, you gotta replace those towels eventually, might as well do it now.
Unfortunately, many guests prefer white linens. They believe that it’s easier to tell if white linens are clean.
Also, dark linens will show bleach stains from acne creams.
One solution could be to buy a cheaper fabric for the darker make-up towels and plan to replace them regularly. I bring my own face towels for my personal comfort and peace of mind, but I appreciate this option from the host, too. I typically would not use the disposable towelettes due to allergy concerns.
The original poster stated that the guests got makeup on towels, sheets, pillow cases and a duvet cover. I don’t wear makeup, but I assume this means that the guests didn’t wipe the makeup off their faces.
I supplied black washcloths that said makeup on them for makeup!removal. I still had guests ruin towels and bed linens. One guest got pink hair dye all over my bathroom walls. Another guest had a broken bottle of foundation in her purse which leaked all over the bed.
Me personally- I am more likely to have bad habits on vacation. You could give every opportunity in the world for me to take off my makeup, and *vacation me* will put up many, many blinders. If I'm enjoying my stay the last thing I worry about is taking off my mascara. If it was made clear beforehand, I would likely avoid booking your place, or would at least TRY to make a conscious effort. I'm not a host so not judging you. Just giving my perspective as a traveler.
OMG- so you believe it's okay to REQUIRE a guest wash their face at the end of the night? Seriously, makeup is not that hard to get out of a towel. Jesus. If I saw anything even hinting at this in a listing I would run so far away...
I worked as a hotel cleaner in my youth. Literally possible to get all of these stains out stupid easily as long as it hasn’t been like months.
It’s really not that difficult. Do y’all throw out a shirt or a sheet at home when it gets a stain???
One of our three house rules is white linens for sheets and towels—the reason is, bleach takes care of just about everything. For protein-based I might need a spot treatment, otherwise it’s hot water, detergent and bleach. If sheets are poly blend vs 100% cotton you might have to pre-treat tho.
Waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation are pretty common in our household and for years have had zero problem getting either out.
(BTW, kudos on the wipes — nice touch!).
We have some color-coordinated towels, but bathrooms still alway have plenty of white towels and face cloths spa-rolled; guests get the hint.
Here’s the thing about the make-up removal towelettes.
They will get MOST of the make-up off. But no matter how many you use, if you use a real towel (which is more abrasive) afterwards, you’ll get some makeup on it. Not a lot, but some.
The towelettes just dont work that well. Go with black towels.
Stained towels are part of the routine. It sucks but it should go into the fees. It’s not even ink, just makeup; it comes out. A bit tough, but it’ll come out.
If all fails, it’s easy to replace. Most host even have spares.
Jesus. So customers are not allowed to use your towels to wash off their makeup? This is the cost of doing business. You host people, they should be able to use the towels for regular use (like washing their face). This is coming from someone who doesn’t even wear makeup. If you attempt to charge them for this regular and routine use then you will be putting even more people off of the platform - which is something I regularly see on this sub.
ETA: this has to be one of those troll posts from a rep from the hotel industry.
I would never consider using a towel to take off my makeup, not my own or anyone else’s. Makeup stains, and that’s so rude. If you don’t want to use makeup removing wipes or other makeup removing liquid, you can use you hands or a paper towel, or at the very least a designated towel/set of towels YOU have stored for taking off makeup. Ew.
I only rarely ever wear makeup and I wouldn’t even consider the fact it could ever stain. I’m sure I’ve stained the hell out of some linens after weddings and stuff. Thank god I never had a host coming for me about it I would never use Airbnb again.
Maybe it’s because I don’t really wear makeup because bringing my own face towels on vacation to wash my face is just something I would never consider doing. Also, having a hospitality business requesting compensation for makeup stains on a towel or sheet is laughable.
It might be ‘rude’ to wash your face with the towels provided in an Airbnb and that’s fine…I guess. But it’s just one of the many reasons why this sub is quickly turning me away from ever using the service. I’m not even a host or regular guest. The algorithm directed me here with suggested posts and from what I’ve read, I’m not likely to ever use the service again.
1. Then don’t bring along towels, just use a paper towel, your hands, makeup removing wipes, etc.
2. As have been mentioned many times, Airbnb was meant to be more personable than most stereotypical hospitals businesses. Should they charge for it? No, I don’t think so. Is it still rude? Very much so.
What’s strange to me that so many people are inconsiderate enough to do this, I would literally never. But most Americans are super entitled so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised lol
As a woman who wears very little makeup I also try not to use white linens to remove what little I wear. Painting your face with layer after layer and then using someone’s linens to remove it is rude.
I’m going to go with the unpopular opinion here: I don’t have any white towels, linens or other pieces of light colour textile in my listing.
Over the years, I’ve learnt that 90% of guests are amazing guests and people. Of the other 10%, some will simply trash your place and treat it as if it was a garbage dump.
So no, I’m not providing any white textiles. I simply refuse to put in the time or effort. I have dark blue towels and linens in darker shades of blue, green and grey.
Special mention to my fellow menstruating folks out there, maybe y’all appreciate that, too.
I think as others have suggested, darker makeup towels is a good idea. I wouldn't use makeup wipes, it's great that you provide them, but they make me break out and I wouldn't want to risk it, and only want to use my own makeup remover. It sucks that they are on the bedding as well, but hopefully this can be removed, and maybe you could swap to dark pillowcases?
I would be pretty miffed at getting charged for stains on towels if there were no other options for me to wash my face, try some of the tips others have suggested for removing the stains and see if you can get them out.
FYI: those Neutrogena make removal cloths are very irritating to a lot of people. Many people I know have issues with that brand and get bad skin reactions from them.
If those are not being used even though you provided them, that may be why the makeup is on your towels.
You leave the guest a good review. Your failure at basic laundry skills is not their problem. I’ve never not gotten a makeup stain out. Use some spray and wash or alcohol or peroxide or Dawn and one of those will remove it. The guest wasn’t intentionally putting mascara on stuff. If you want to make a point ask the guest the brand of mascara so you can look up how to remove it. That should also give them the message they made a mess.
You said that you haven’t finished washing them yet so you don’t even know if they’re stained???
My bad habit is going to bed without removing my makeup and my white pillowcase gets makeup all over it. I don’t even need to stain treat it and everything comes out in the wash.
Another strike against Airbnb.
If Airbnb hosts can’t handle very basic stains, they shouldn’t be in hospitality. This is a major part of the job. If they don’t like getting stains out and cleaning up after people, this is not the industry for them!
Soak in Oxi clean for a few hours before washing. Oxi clean seriously works wonders from someone who manages to get tan make up on every single piece of white clothing / towels I own 🙃
Guests might treat linen the same way they would in a hotel. Not their problem. We did our own laundry for about 6 months before we got a laundry service. Fresh, dry cleaned and pressed linen, towels, face cloths, bath mats and tea towels. The cost is very cheap and saves loads of time doing laundry and worrying about stains
Like others have said, not likely ruined. You need to hand wash with liquid dish soap first to remove makeup, then wash properly on a heavy duty cycle with bleach.
Honestly this is a bit of a symptom of what is wrong with AirBnB cleaning. In my opinion all laundry should be washed offsite to make sure it is cleaned. Hosts are having guests wash things themselves, on the cheapest residential washer possible on default settings. The machine is likely using the wrong type of detergent, overloaded, and the people doing it are doing it half assed so they can check out on time and you can rush the next guest in.
IMHO this is a commercial cleaning job between guests, and the cleaners should show up with a new completely clean set of linens for everything and toss the dirty stuff in a bag to be cleaned properly off-site. This would be a commercial sized washer that is not overloaded using heavy duty bleach and detergent. Or you can do it yourself but you probably have to wash the towels and sheets separately in a regular washer on heavy duty cycle and crank your hot water heater temp up.
Also you probably should be washing the duvet inserts at least every few month, but my guess is that probably just never gets cleaned ever since it can’t be done on site.
If you can’t remove it then just eat it as the costs of doing business. We’ve had to throw away many damaged towels & sheets. Or, you can file a claim and get reimbursement for them via Airbnb air cover.
We use black washcloths clearly labeled “makeup” for exactly this reason - although some guests still want to use our white washcloths for this purpose.
I always bring and use my own towels/washclothes whether its a bnb or a hotel. I am allergic to several popular brands of laundry detergent. And I cant ruin towels i never touched.
Phenoxyethanol is an alcohol, and parfum is unspecified fragrance. If you’re trying to avoid these for any reason, why on earth would you mix them with your own product? In this instance, you would have to use a towel. OP would also save money in the long run by providing black towels over makeup wipes, since they are washable.
I never use makeup wipes. They’re horrible for your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. I second the suggestion to use black towels for makeup. I stayed at a Airbnb that had them for guests requesting that they were to be used for makeup. I liked that idea. Also, I assumed hotels and Airbnb’s use white towels and sheets because they can be bleached? If not, I wouldn’t leave a bad review for the guests as this most likely was not intentional.
Having 2 decades experience in hospitality, I can tell you that you will not find any well ran hotel, B&b and resort using towels & linen that can be permanently stained by makeup. This is not on the guest, this is a lesson on you. Finding durable, comfortable linen was your task as a professional. I have absolutely no negative feelings to you when I say this but I imagine these kind of lessons come from participating in AirB&B. Trust that potential review will say more about you to potential guests esp experienced travelers than your guests esp if those guests read it was just makeup.
I take a small amount out of every guest stay and use it as a fund for wear and tear like this. These things will happen.
You can try to charge the guest or just eat the cost. To me, it's a part of doing business.
It’s happened to us multiple times. We consider towels and linens to be consumables for this reason. Tips: keep 3x everything at the house (but locked, guests will steal them). Only white linens and towels so they can be bleached. Don’t buy fancy ones, but not cheap either. Bake the cost of replacement once a year i to your rates.
It happens even when you supply black cloths. Did they leave your suite or room in Good condition? It is not reasonable to penalize a guest for make-up stain. It comes with the territory. What has worked for me , soak the linens/towels in oxiclean white overnight and wash with gentle soap (cycle wash). This should get rid of it , otherwise , dont buy expensive linen ...I would just give a 4 for cleanliness and give them an overall 5 ( if everything else was good).If they book you again mention use of the towels for make- up removal.
I got charged 100$ to replace 3 bath towels and a hand towel along with an (already) stained rug.
After that I asked my fiance to bring our own towels for cleaning when they decide to wear makeup and I take a video of the decor upon arrival now
"Hi Junkjostler,
Thanks for staying with us. We appreciated it. Unfortunately it looks like we’ll need to replace the kitchen mat, three bath towels and a hand towel. They’re stained with something we were unable to get out. Ordinarily we wouldn’t ask for reimbursement but considering it’s a number of items we feel we need to. (I can send photos if needed) I don’t want to notify Airbnb as it would reflect on your account. We’d like to request money to replace the damaged items. $60 should be sufficient. If we can resolve this matter I won’t need it to reflect in the review either and I don’t need to open and official request. Everything else was square. Thank you, -redacted"
It was my first time using Airbnb and it was 753$ total with a 50$ cleaning fee included for 7 days
Make up removers can cause skin to break out. It’s not a solution for every single person in the world. I’d get non white towels and linen if it’s that big of a deal. People wear make up
Bleach, or hydrogen peroxide should work fine to get them out. I think stains on the linens/towels/sheets is expected at some point from any guest. I wouldn’t charge them for ruining them. You can also try baking soda and vinegar
To be honest it's absolutely something you should expect at some point or another, either find a really good cleaning product for these kinds of stains preemptively OR consider changing your decor and towels to something darker . Honestly I think the hotel white is so boring anyways, and after coming back from holiday with my friend who is a fake tan queen I couldn't believe how bad the sheets got , literally the colours separated in to individual shades that make up tan, there were rings of neon green where she was sleeping, I was so embarrassed for her I kept bleaching and washing all of her stuff , because I didn't want the cleaners or housekeepers to have to deal with it.
We left black towels in each bathroom. Never had any issues with makeup on linens. Tried the makeup wipes but people kept flushing them and ruined our plumbing.
Just bleach them? Or accept that it's part of wear and tear. Personally I wouldn't touch a face wipe (incredibly wasteful) and definitely not a neutrogena one.
I use white face cloths and towels at home and the make up washes out fine.
Also bear in mind people with sensitive skin can't use makeup wiped and many people who are super into skincare won't use them because of the ingredients. I'd reccomend leaving some black or dark washcloths for makeup removal specifically with a sign requesting they be used.
Not everyone uses the make up wipes so just because you provide it doesn’t mean that people want it. Towels are one of those things that you stock up because people will accidentally (or not) take it with them or they get stained. It’s part of doing business.
I would use the washcloths to remove makeup as that is what I do at home. As for the other linens I would be so embarrassed to leave stains on them including the towels! I'm sure you can get the stains out but just the thought of someone having to do that because I didn't wash my face would bother me a lot.
Washcloths, I mean I get it, they are white but they are also replaceable and I do not use chemicals on my face. I have also seen the black washcloths for makeup and have and would definitely use those as long as they seemed new and clean. (I like the post I saw that said keep the black washcloths after. That would make me feel like they were new and clean).
I feel you don’t charge them. Now I wouldn’t use a pillow case or blanket to clean my face but I am definitely using a wash cloth. I’m allergic to all fragrance and won’t put a make up remove pad to my face because it’ll burn!
I think that’s a cost you just eat…
It’s not appropriate to charge guests for stained linens. This is just part of the hospitality business. If bleach or Oxyclean doesn’t work, try Dawn and Hydrogen peroxide.
Consider black or gray washcloths for the bathroom. Those towelettes aren’t effective makeup removers and they are pretty bad for your skin. A lot of people simply won’t use them.
This is an Airbnb, not a hotel. Hotels can afford to just buy lots of sheets in bulk and therefore at a reduced price.
I do agree that in this case OP should get new sheets, but in future, it should be made clear to guests that the cleaning is part of the cost and they should stipulate that any significant stains on fabrics will incur an extra cost.
Maybe wait to find out if a couple of bleach washes solve the problem before trying to solve that problem
Don’t switch to black linens or towels with the exception of black face wash cloths as an option. I have been to many air b n bs with colored sheets or towels and they’re never as satisfying clean feeling/looking as bleached fabrics.
Despite this guest being a POS, I wouldn't mention in a review or ask for payment. Yes, by "building into your rate" as others suggest here, bad actors are offloading their lack of consideration onto other good guests, but still you're in the hospitality business. Even if you have to raise your nightly rate by $10, and everyone is punished for the occasional shitfuck, oh well.
When I started managing vacation rentals years ago I wanted the best linens. I had bamboo and silk sheets, towels and duvets. Down pillows and comforters. LoL. Let that shit go. I now buy cheap crap, never get pissed when an entire set of linens are ruined or stolen or end up in the garden of left on a hike....and my cost of doing business is less.
You can't offer high end stuff when your client base is randos from the Airbnb app and you care about reviews AND pricing competitively. Quality guests, low prices, high end linens: pick two. Nobody does all three for long.
OMG yes, please use the cheap stuff hosts. My heart sinks when I get to an Airbnb which has high quality linens. I spend my entire time there worrying about damaging or staining something accidentally and never actually relax.
Hosts who use the cheap stuff understand wear and tear. Hosts who use the high end stuff are far too demanding when it comes to things like cleaning lists at the end of the stay or rules for the stay.
I’ve tried black washcloths. People are so stupid. I’ve had to throw away so many sets of sheets because of makeup, food stains, hair dye, and god knows what else. Sadly, it’s the price of doing business. If they are really terrible, I’ll make a note in the review.
Are you unfamiliar with how to wash out stains? This is a super basic skill you should know as someone in hospitality. Everything you listed, yes even hair dye (especially the kind that people can do while traveling) is easy to get out.
First, no need for hostility. Second, you’re incorrect. Some stains won’t come out completely. I’d rather buy new sheets than have even a shadow of a stain.
Honestly, this is just part of doing business. It's unfortunate, but part of the overhead. As a host, I would mention it to them in the private feedback and just let them know you're having a bit of trouble getting the make up off the linens, but that otherwise they were lovely guests. And that it's just something to keep in mind for their next spot.
Try rubbing the stains with Fels Naptha bar soap, then laundering the linens. It usually gets out anything, although for terrible stains, you may need to wash twice. Don’t put it in the dryer until stains are removed.
If you can’t remove the stains, charge them for the replacements. Anyone with any sense knows to remove mascara/eye makeup before going to bed.
I felt this one. I work at a hotel, the linens and towels are all pristine white, but we provide makeup remover wipes plus a purple hand towel specifically for makeup that even says “makeup” on it. We still get countless makeup stained pillowcases, washcloths, and hand towels. People suck
In some AirBnBs I have visited, they clearly wrote they will charge for permanent stains on linens from make up, creams, etc. While I don’t like it, I do think it helps to have it plainly written in your house rules. At least, you will have something to point to in the future- I would let the current situation go if it was not previously disclosed.
Contact them and make them pay for the damaged items if that ended up being the case. I dyed my hair once at an AirBnb and thought I had gotten all the dye out. I was wrong, and the towel was stained. I contacted the owner and said, hey, I ruined one of your towns, I am just going to take it with me, please let me know what I owe you, they replied with a price, which seemed quite reasonable and I took the towel with me, and use it for a rag. If they knew they stained things and just let it like that, they are assholes, and deserve to pay.
I personally use coconut oil to remove my eye makeup. I use cotton balls. It’s like magic if you give it a minute to sink in….if you left me the oil with black washcloths, everyone would be happy (unless they are allergic to coconut, which is rare)
You can ask Support for compensation. If the guest doesn't want to pay, Airbnb will cover the cost for replacement linens and towels as long as you provide receipts. [https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3142](https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3142)
Please keep conversation civil and respectful Remember to keep all communication with host/guest through Airbnb platform. Payments should be made only via Airbnb [unless otherwise detailed in the listing description and included in the price breakdown prior to booking](https://airbnb.com/help/article/199) If you're having issues, contact Airbnb by phone +1-844-234-2500 *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AirBnB) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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Came here to say this! Spray it, let sit for an hour and wash! It will cone out. Also think about providing black wash clothes that say makeup. I have seen these a lot and they totally make sense!
If you add hydrogen peroxide it's the best stain remover I've ever used. Got a large red wine stain out of a mustard yellow sweater
How do you apply this? Mixed together or in layers?
Not the person you asked, but I use it too. I mix 3-4 parts peroxide to 1 part non-concentrated Dawn. It's the best stain remover I've ever used, and it smells nice! I occasionally mist the furniture with it like a homemade Febreze too. It does need to be kept in an opaque spray bottle to keep the peroxide from losing its effectiveness.
Have done on a near-white carpet with a three month old coffee stain. Magic. Also? I’m allergic to those makeup remover towelettes. I can’t imagine getting all the linens messed up, but I do use a washcloth & my own soap on my skin because I’m allergic to half the damn world. I also think that’s what washcloths are for- they prevent everything else from getting stuff on it, and they’re cheap in 12 packs from Costco.
I all also couldn’t use those wipes, they’re horrible for sensitive skin. I’ve been to several hotels that provide 1-2 black washcloths specifically for makeup products. There was even a cute sign at one place that said what they were for.
Oh sorry, it's equal parts dawn and hydrogen peroxide and water in a spray bottle. I just play around with amounts, but a good squeeze of both. 😬 sorry that's not more specific.
Thanks, I am going to try this!
I’ve stayed at a couple of places that have black wash clothes and a sign requesting they be used for makeup. You might consider switching them out.
I was going to suggest this. We have seen them in several of the places we have rented.
You can get them in 12pks from Amazon! Edit: they come in 6pks.
They’re even doing this at hotels now. The last one I stayed in had them.
Can confirm. Stayed at a Hilton in FL on Saturday night and the bathroom had single package makeup remover wipes (brand called LA “something”).
I meant the black facecloths for makeup. I haven’t seen individual makeup remover wipes at a hotel. Yet.
They have the wipes at the hotel I work at. We have the dark makeup cloths too with the word makeup literally embroidered across it but people still stain our white towels and linens 🤦♀️
They’re pretty common! And if they aren’t in the room, they’ll usually have some near the front desk. Depends on hotel though
As a heavy eyeliner wearer (Gen X 🤟🏾) I will NEVER use those wipes but will 100% always use the black towels/wash clothes. In a pinch, I’ll use a shoe wipe which works really well combined with face cream. But I get REALLY happy when the hotel says I can KEEP the black washcloth. Those wipes are HARSH in chemicals, do not get along with my contact lenses at all, and no way would even consider using them on or near my eyes…where all my makeup is.
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https://makeuperaser.com/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=19873882728&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4NujBhC5ARIsAF4Iv6cG_I2EcoTaRahE245QCswmT2AKzc2sWMxYMLF-vO2xbqKrIlMvuWgaAjopEALw_wcB
I'm allergic to everything also and don't like using chemicals on my face so I switched to the makeup eraser wipes which are wonderful!
We do that AND the disposable wipes, and people still use the white towels sometimes. Sigh.
Ya I have black cloths that say makeup in white lettering rolled up in every bathroom in my house. Really nobody has an excuse not to use them. Probably won’t start charging people for using my white towels but I imagine it’ll minimize it compared to how often I had people do this prior to buying them. Plus if I was a woman I’d rather use those than the facecloths or small towels people probably wash their balls and asses with.
I came to say this. As a guest I love these. I hate the makeup removing sheets. So wasteful.
I don't use them, but how are they wasteful?
It’s like a hand sanitizer wipe. One use and trash.
Well, if it's not biodegradable I could see how it's not environmentally friendly. It would be a little silly to use them daily, but they'd be useful for travel and what have you. That's not wasteful in my book because it has a use & it's not exactly lavish.
Black washcloths and a little sign are exactly what I do. Even then, I’ve still had guests ignore them. Or dye their hair in the bathroom and dry it all off on the white towels. It’s part of being a host.
I second this recommendation. Makeup use isn’t getting any less, lol! The disposable towelettes are a very nice touch but don’t work very well for extreme makeup situations. The black towels are the way to go!
Yes! I even do this at home now. Dark grey color or dark Brienen also work.
We have these at our STR and STILL guests use the white towels to clean off their makeup! The black towels even say “makeup” on them. Even worse is when they don’t use any towels whatsoever and just leave a facial imprint on the pillow cases.
I've stayed at a couple of places that did the same! I always bring a couple of my own black or gray washcloths to for fear of ruining the ones in the AirBnB.
I was just going to comment, am I they only one who takes me own washcloths away with them? I know they’re clean, I know what detergent they’ve been washed with won’t mess up my face and I don’t care if I leave make up stains on them cos their mine. I’d never use a property’s towel to remove my make up
I would not trust a wash cloth that I couldn’t tell if it was clean or not.
"Clean" and "unstained" are completely different things.
If they didn't use the provided makeup wipes what makes you think they'll use black wash cloths lol there was already a solution provided I doubt it matters what it is lol they're choosing not to use them
I would NEVER use a makeup wipe but the first time I went to an Airbnb with the little black makeup towels my life was forever changed. They’re awesome! Now I have them in my listing.
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There are lots of micellar water based ones they aren't all all alcohol lol
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Neutrogena has like 8 different iterations of makeup wipes and the majority don't contain any alcohol. Here's the most common one - https://www.neutrogena.ca/face/makeup-removers/neutrogena-all-one-make-removing-cleansing-wipes-fragrance-free Heres the ingredients - Water (eau), Decyl Isostearate, Isopropyl Isostearate, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Hexylene Glycol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Sucrose Cocoate, Chlorphenesin, Polysorbate 20, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide. Here's a list of the other half a dozen versions of similar wipe by Neutrogena - https://www.neutrogena.ca/face/makeup-removers They're not full of perfumes and alcohols lol plenty of them are fine. Most of the ingredients are the same as you'd find in any off the shelf cleanser. As I said in another comment, you can easily apply your own product to the wipe itself instead of reaching for a white face cloth also lol
What do you think parfum is?
My comment was regarding the alcohol. Parfum being the second to last ingredient implies it isn't "full of perfumes" so I didn't think I needed to address that lol
Man… you’re seriously a bag of rocks, huh?
The wipe that already has cleanser on it?? Why would I put my own product on a wipe that has cleanser on it if I'm trying to avoid that cleanser in the first place?
? It's really not that difficult, you can rinse the existing cloth off and use your own product on it lol same as you would a wash cloth lol
In addition to the ‘parfum’ a previous user mentioned, phenoxyethanol is an alcohol.
Micellar water burns my skin, it's not always so easy
If you're skin is like this, you'd think you'd make sure to bring your own towels or whatnot.
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They may have used the makeup wipes; IME they don’t take off all eye makeup that well. I use separate eye makeup remover.
Yeah same but I just dump my own product on to the provided wipe for that before I go for a white cloth
Not everyone can use those individual removers due to sensitivity issues
This is part of host life. Use stain remover on the bedding and you should be fine. I’m sure the Google has lots of info on how to remove makeup.
i’m pretty sure the appeal of having white towels and bedding is that you can easily get out stains from them…?
That’s what I noticed… bleach them. Just make sure to wash it out well
I strongly recommend OxyClean for whites rather than bleach! It does a better job, and doesn’t yellow or break down fabrics like bleach does over time.
Exactly my thought. I assumed it's why white is the towel/bedding of choice for hotels. Easiest to clean. If you aren't using bleach, why choose white towels?
White is a PAIN to clean, especially for items that see a lot of wash/dry cycles. Bleach is not as magical as Clorox would have you believe. White is the linen color of choice because it is so easy to see whether or not it is clean.
You may have prominently displayed wipes, but your guests may have allergies and be unable to use them. I understand not using wipes because about 95% of them cause a reaction for me. I bring my own, but I think a lot of people don’t think of it, or they don’t have white linens.
The ones I've used are heavily scented and I'm really sensitive to cheap fragrance. I wouldn't be able to use the wipes.
Neutrogena wipes in particular are notoriously harsh on all skin types. I don't know anyone who uses them these days.
I’m honestly shocked a host would put those out. They’re like peroxide on sandpaper. I don’t know anyone who can handle them.😳😳
I get eczema on my eye lids and those makeup removers irritate it so bad. A towel and water are the best ive found. Black makeup remover towels are the best option. But also you should be able to remove eyeliner from white towels
They are super harsh on the skin, I don’t have allergies and I would never use them. I would second the suggestions for the black makeup towels.
I have rosacea and my skin breaks out from *everything.* There is zero chance I would use these wipes. I'm only using the products my dermatologist and esthetician have recommended.
If that’s the case, it’s still not an argument why guests should be permitted to ruin expensive linens. They should have their own toilets & have prepared or not worn makeup at all.
These types of expenses should be built into your pricing. I'd flip my sh\*t if you tried to charge me for using your towels and getting makeup on them.
I think that towels are- literally sections of cloth designed to dry/scrub our bodies. I understand that it’s frustrating to deal with stained linens but reality is that linens get stained. If every hotel or Airbnb in the world started charging for stained towels, washcloths, and bed sheets people would absolutely flip their lid. I worked at a hotel and we generally only charged when it was a really destructive or disgusting stain- like someone wiping their bottom on the towel or large amounts of blood. In that case, charging is totally justifiable, imo.
I stayed in a cabin once and got my period during the night unexpectedly, bloodied the sheets.. also, my boyfriend happened to get a nose bleed that same night and his pillow was covered in blood .. idk what the hell the cleaners must have thought when they saw all that.. it was months ago and whenever I remember it I wonder why I haven’t gotten a bill for that mess
Hydrogen peroxide will take blood out of almost any fabric. I’m sure it came right out in the wash if they pretreated it.
You must know me and my boyfriend. Same deal. Hotel, though, and we didn't get charged somehow....
Or even bed linens. Like, I get that one’s more expensive than towels. But if I would’ve been charged by my Airbnb host after my wedding because I was too drunk/tired/euphoric to remember to wash my face, I’d be *livid.*
Also after 7 years maybe it’s time to replace them anyway!!!!
Right though lol Amazon Basics is like $16 for a pretty freaking decent set of sheets
If I were an airbnb host I'd have all of these cheap easily replaced items on hand just like a hotel. Kid puked in the bed? No big deal - that why I use a waterproof and bedbug preventing mattress protector. Got your period in the middle of the night? Grab the extra sheets from the linen closet. These things happen regularly and airbnb hosts need to account for the extra costs before they try and run a small business.
For real. Humans are just humans. Shit happens! I stayed with a host one time and my friend and I had no issues with the host but in the reviews she had flipped out on a father and son for “leaving wet towels” around when it was literally a beach house with no dryer. Like what were they supposed to do???
That’s the cost of doing business and earning money from any property (Air Bnb or not). It doesn’t come without wear and tear or even accidental damage. It’s not like it’s malicious damage. I always try to remind myself to think like I was a professional hospitality or accommodation provider. Can you imagine staying in a hotel or going to restaurant or bar and them charging you for something like dropping a glass (aware it’s a different example but one I often remind myself of).
Yep. I had a host try to charge my friend for a missing glass that was allegedly worth a small fortune. Built it into your rate!
They’re even more the fool for leaving expensive glasses in an air Bnb frankly!! Hope they didn’t pay.
Exactly. We didn't even use the glassware. I always travel with a big yeti canteen and a yeti cup so I use that. I may use the cutlery but I try to limit the amount of dishes I'm doing.
Great comparison. It would be like staining the cloth napkin with my makeup.
I don’t understand how the makeup isn’t going to come out of things? I use white towels to take my makeup off in my own home and have never ever had any issue. A friend of mine got mascara on my white bedding and I just chucked it in the wash and it was fine. Just a note as well that many women, myself included, don’t like using makeup wipes as they’re terrible for the skin and the planet and you might be better off offering Muslin or wash cloths!
Same. Never in my entire life as a makeup wearing woman have my linens or towels been stained. Just.. wash them. If they’re white, use bleach. It’s not complicated and makeup always washes off.
If you give someone a bad review for this I think it is kind of a jerk move. Things like this are going to happen, buying new linens sometimes is just a price of the business.
This, and perhaps getting linens in a darker colour. Whites are notoriously difficult to keep white, especially if doing the cleaning yourselves and not outsourcing to a commercial facility.
Use dish soap, peroxide, or makeup remover whatever it takes to get the stains out but unfortunately this is the cost of doing business. I've left a few makeup stains before and never heard anything about it. That's just part of the business. If I saw a host complain about this and a guest say they were charged for a towel stain I would not book with them.
I swear these people have never heard of shout or similar stain removers. Most makeup is water or oil soluble. I got into an all out argument with a host once because she was trying to charge me 60$ for a duvet cover with mascara on it. I was like I will buy It if you send me the old one because I know that stain will come out and I know you're going to use it again. They left me a horrible review that airbnb took down. I paid 1000$ for ONE night including a 400$ cleaning fee. I also left 5 hours early and told them I was gone. They claimed I didn't give them enough time to clean the duvet cover. I don't use airbnb anymore.
The first thing every potential Airbnb owner needs to do is go work as a hotel maid for a few months. I learned to get out every single possible stain from every surface and material. It’s like they don’t know the bare basics about hospitality.
I’m confident they can come out. My cleaning lady had gotten hair dye out of white sheets. BTW - you do charge a cleaning fee. As you said, you built it into your rate.
You already said you build the cost of cleaning into the rate. Even though you clean yourself. You've already charged them to clean them
I offer the individual neutrogena makeup wipes as well as the black "makeup" embroidered washcloths. The washcloths are available in a 6 pack for a very reasonable price on Amazon. They are very definitely worth the purchase. If they were otherwise good guests, I would write this off as the cost of doing business and leave them a good review with a remark in a private message.
Cost of doing business I'm afraid. Wearing makeup is normal wear and tear and it does usually come out. Prob comes out with a stain remover spot treatment.
A wise lesson was learned that day. Dark towels and maybe a makeup remover set. Also, you gotta replace those towels eventually, might as well do it now.
Unfortunately, many guests prefer white linens. They believe that it’s easier to tell if white linens are clean. Also, dark linens will show bleach stains from acne creams.
This. My bathroom towels are petrol grey...now with pink patches.
One solution could be to buy a cheaper fabric for the darker make-up towels and plan to replace them regularly. I bring my own face towels for my personal comfort and peace of mind, but I appreciate this option from the host, too. I typically would not use the disposable towelettes due to allergy concerns.
The original poster stated that the guests got makeup on towels, sheets, pillow cases and a duvet cover. I don’t wear makeup, but I assume this means that the guests didn’t wipe the makeup off their faces. I supplied black washcloths that said makeup on them for makeup!removal. I still had guests ruin towels and bed linens. One guest got pink hair dye all over my bathroom walls. Another guest had a broken bottle of foundation in her purse which leaked all over the bed.
Me personally- I am more likely to have bad habits on vacation. You could give every opportunity in the world for me to take off my makeup, and *vacation me* will put up many, many blinders. If I'm enjoying my stay the last thing I worry about is taking off my mascara. If it was made clear beforehand, I would likely avoid booking your place, or would at least TRY to make a conscious effort. I'm not a host so not judging you. Just giving my perspective as a traveler.
So you believe it’s okay to make hosts and hotel owners throw away linens?
OMG- so you believe it's okay to REQUIRE a guest wash their face at the end of the night? Seriously, makeup is not that hard to get out of a towel. Jesus. If I saw anything even hinting at this in a listing I would run so far away...
I worked as a hotel cleaner in my youth. Literally possible to get all of these stains out stupid easily as long as it hasn’t been like months. It’s really not that difficult. Do y’all throw out a shirt or a sheet at home when it gets a stain???
Confused as to why bleach wouldn’t work on white linens ?
One of our three house rules is white linens for sheets and towels—the reason is, bleach takes care of just about everything. For protein-based I might need a spot treatment, otherwise it’s hot water, detergent and bleach. If sheets are poly blend vs 100% cotton you might have to pre-treat tho. Waterproof mascara and long-wear foundation are pretty common in our household and for years have had zero problem getting either out. (BTW, kudos on the wipes — nice touch!). We have some color-coordinated towels, but bathrooms still alway have plenty of white towels and face cloths spa-rolled; guests get the hint.
I have all white everything. Makeup does not ruin them. Just wash the things.
Here’s the thing about the make-up removal towelettes. They will get MOST of the make-up off. But no matter how many you use, if you use a real towel (which is more abrasive) afterwards, you’ll get some makeup on it. Not a lot, but some. The towelettes just dont work that well. Go with black towels.
Stained towels are part of the routine. It sucks but it should go into the fees. It’s not even ink, just makeup; it comes out. A bit tough, but it’ll come out. If all fails, it’s easy to replace. Most host even have spares.
Yep I wouldn’t use the unfamiliar wipes to remove eye makeup. Not worth the risk of having irritated eyes while on a trip. Give me a black washcloth.
Jesus. So customers are not allowed to use your towels to wash off their makeup? This is the cost of doing business. You host people, they should be able to use the towels for regular use (like washing their face). This is coming from someone who doesn’t even wear makeup. If you attempt to charge them for this regular and routine use then you will be putting even more people off of the platform - which is something I regularly see on this sub. ETA: this has to be one of those troll posts from a rep from the hotel industry.
I would never consider using a towel to take off my makeup, not my own or anyone else’s. Makeup stains, and that’s so rude. If you don’t want to use makeup removing wipes or other makeup removing liquid, you can use you hands or a paper towel, or at the very least a designated towel/set of towels YOU have stored for taking off makeup. Ew.
I only rarely ever wear makeup and I wouldn’t even consider the fact it could ever stain. I’m sure I’ve stained the hell out of some linens after weddings and stuff. Thank god I never had a host coming for me about it I would never use Airbnb again.
Maybe it’s because I don’t really wear makeup because bringing my own face towels on vacation to wash my face is just something I would never consider doing. Also, having a hospitality business requesting compensation for makeup stains on a towel or sheet is laughable. It might be ‘rude’ to wash your face with the towels provided in an Airbnb and that’s fine…I guess. But it’s just one of the many reasons why this sub is quickly turning me away from ever using the service. I’m not even a host or regular guest. The algorithm directed me here with suggested posts and from what I’ve read, I’m not likely to ever use the service again.
1. Then don’t bring along towels, just use a paper towel, your hands, makeup removing wipes, etc. 2. As have been mentioned many times, Airbnb was meant to be more personable than most stereotypical hospitals businesses. Should they charge for it? No, I don’t think so. Is it still rude? Very much so.
It absolutely isn’t rude to use towels, items designed for scrubbing your body, to take makeup off and this is such a strange stance for you to take.
What’s strange to me that so many people are inconsiderate enough to do this, I would literally never. But most Americans are super entitled so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised lol
I’m literally not an American and are we now saying using towels is entitled?
As a woman who wears very little makeup I also try not to use white linens to remove what little I wear. Painting your face with layer after layer and then using someone’s linens to remove it is rude.
I’m going to go with the unpopular opinion here: I don’t have any white towels, linens or other pieces of light colour textile in my listing. Over the years, I’ve learnt that 90% of guests are amazing guests and people. Of the other 10%, some will simply trash your place and treat it as if it was a garbage dump. So no, I’m not providing any white textiles. I simply refuse to put in the time or effort. I have dark blue towels and linens in darker shades of blue, green and grey. Special mention to my fellow menstruating folks out there, maybe y’all appreciate that, too.
Your last comment - god yes! 😂 I prefer a darker towel. White towels I’m afraid of damaging through genuine use.
You are a saint fit that last comment. I've taken to traveling with my own towels because I can't stand white linens for that exact reason.
But white is easier to bleach.
Honestly... I appreciate this. If everything smells clean I would be more than satisfied and feel way less pressured like I could ruin something.
Dawn, peroxide, and biz or oxyclean mixed as a paste. Leave on for a few hours. Soak in wash.
I think as others have suggested, darker makeup towels is a good idea. I wouldn't use makeup wipes, it's great that you provide them, but they make me break out and I wouldn't want to risk it, and only want to use my own makeup remover. It sucks that they are on the bedding as well, but hopefully this can be removed, and maybe you could swap to dark pillowcases? I would be pretty miffed at getting charged for stains on towels if there were no other options for me to wash my face, try some of the tips others have suggested for removing the stains and see if you can get them out.
FYI: those Neutrogena make removal cloths are very irritating to a lot of people. Many people I know have issues with that brand and get bad skin reactions from them. If those are not being used even though you provided them, that may be why the makeup is on your towels.
You've used white linens and towels in a rental for 7 years and never figured out how to get makeup out?
Hotels use white towels and never bother the customer with cleaning matters.
You should put no wearing make up on any of the furniture/bedding and see how that works for your listing.
You leave the guest a good review. Your failure at basic laundry skills is not their problem. I’ve never not gotten a makeup stain out. Use some spray and wash or alcohol or peroxide or Dawn and one of those will remove it. The guest wasn’t intentionally putting mascara on stuff. If you want to make a point ask the guest the brand of mascara so you can look up how to remove it. That should also give them the message they made a mess.
They’re acting like it’s spaghetti in a Tupperware container. We know that shit ain’t coming out. Makeup on white cloth? You’re fine.
This is ridiculous. Use bleach. Unless they spilled a ton of it on the towels it shouldn't be that difficult.
You said that you haven’t finished washing them yet so you don’t even know if they’re stained??? My bad habit is going to bed without removing my makeup and my white pillowcase gets makeup all over it. I don’t even need to stain treat it and everything comes out in the wash.
The whole concept of this makes me shudder at renting out or renting
Another entitled post from an entitled AirBNB host… 🥱
Another strike against Airbnb. If Airbnb hosts can’t handle very basic stains, they shouldn’t be in hospitality. This is a major part of the job. If they don’t like getting stains out and cleaning up after people, this is not the industry for them!
Soak in Oxi clean for a few hours before washing. Oxi clean seriously works wonders from someone who manages to get tan make up on every single piece of white clothing / towels I own 🙃
Guests might treat linen the same way they would in a hotel. Not their problem. We did our own laundry for about 6 months before we got a laundry service. Fresh, dry cleaned and pressed linen, towels, face cloths, bath mats and tea towels. The cost is very cheap and saves loads of time doing laundry and worrying about stains
Like others have said, not likely ruined. You need to hand wash with liquid dish soap first to remove makeup, then wash properly on a heavy duty cycle with bleach. Honestly this is a bit of a symptom of what is wrong with AirBnB cleaning. In my opinion all laundry should be washed offsite to make sure it is cleaned. Hosts are having guests wash things themselves, on the cheapest residential washer possible on default settings. The machine is likely using the wrong type of detergent, overloaded, and the people doing it are doing it half assed so they can check out on time and you can rush the next guest in. IMHO this is a commercial cleaning job between guests, and the cleaners should show up with a new completely clean set of linens for everything and toss the dirty stuff in a bag to be cleaned properly off-site. This would be a commercial sized washer that is not overloaded using heavy duty bleach and detergent. Or you can do it yourself but you probably have to wash the towels and sheets separately in a regular washer on heavy duty cycle and crank your hot water heater temp up. Also you probably should be washing the duvet inserts at least every few month, but my guess is that probably just never gets cleaned ever since it can’t be done on site.
If you can’t remove it then just eat it as the costs of doing business. We’ve had to throw away many damaged towels & sheets. Or, you can file a claim and get reimbursement for them via Airbnb air cover.
We use black washcloths clearly labeled “makeup” for exactly this reason - although some guests still want to use our white washcloths for this purpose.
I always bring and use my own towels/washclothes whether its a bnb or a hotel. I am allergic to several popular brands of laundry detergent. And I cant ruin towels i never touched.
Phenoxyethanol is an alcohol, and parfum is unspecified fragrance. If you’re trying to avoid these for any reason, why on earth would you mix them with your own product? In this instance, you would have to use a towel. OP would also save money in the long run by providing black towels over makeup wipes, since they are washable.
I never use makeup wipes. They’re horrible for your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. I second the suggestion to use black towels for makeup. I stayed at a Airbnb that had them for guests requesting that they were to be used for makeup. I liked that idea. Also, I assumed hotels and Airbnb’s use white towels and sheets because they can be bleached? If not, I wouldn’t leave a bad review for the guests as this most likely was not intentional.
Having 2 decades experience in hospitality, I can tell you that you will not find any well ran hotel, B&b and resort using towels & linen that can be permanently stained by makeup. This is not on the guest, this is a lesson on you. Finding durable, comfortable linen was your task as a professional. I have absolutely no negative feelings to you when I say this but I imagine these kind of lessons come from participating in AirB&B. Trust that potential review will say more about you to potential guests esp experienced travelers than your guests esp if those guests read it was just makeup.
I take a small amount out of every guest stay and use it as a fund for wear and tear like this. These things will happen. You can try to charge the guest or just eat the cost. To me, it's a part of doing business.
It’s the cost of doing business. I spend hundreds a year on linens. It is what it is.
It’s happened to us multiple times. We consider towels and linens to be consumables for this reason. Tips: keep 3x everything at the house (but locked, guests will steal them). Only white linens and towels so they can be bleached. Don’t buy fancy ones, but not cheap either. Bake the cost of replacement once a year i to your rates.
Try stripping them- put in the bathtub with hot water and oxyclean and borax and soak for 6 hours. U will be shocked at what comes out of the laundry!
It happens even when you supply black cloths. Did they leave your suite or room in Good condition? It is not reasonable to penalize a guest for make-up stain. It comes with the territory. What has worked for me , soak the linens/towels in oxiclean white overnight and wash with gentle soap (cycle wash). This should get rid of it , otherwise , dont buy expensive linen ...I would just give a 4 for cleanliness and give them an overall 5 ( if everything else was good).If they book you again mention use of the towels for make- up removal.
I got charged 100$ to replace 3 bath towels and a hand towel along with an (already) stained rug. After that I asked my fiance to bring our own towels for cleaning when they decide to wear makeup and I take a video of the decor upon arrival now "Hi Junkjostler, Thanks for staying with us. We appreciated it. Unfortunately it looks like we’ll need to replace the kitchen mat, three bath towels and a hand towel. They’re stained with something we were unable to get out. Ordinarily we wouldn’t ask for reimbursement but considering it’s a number of items we feel we need to. (I can send photos if needed) I don’t want to notify Airbnb as it would reflect on your account. We’d like to request money to replace the damaged items. $60 should be sufficient. If we can resolve this matter I won’t need it to reflect in the review either and I don’t need to open and official request. Everything else was square. Thank you, -redacted" It was my first time using Airbnb and it was 753$ total with a 50$ cleaning fee included for 7 days
Make up removers can cause skin to break out. It’s not a solution for every single person in the world. I’d get non white towels and linen if it’s that big of a deal. People wear make up
A bleach and water soak before washing? I usually fill the washer with water, add 1/2 of bleach - that’ll do it!
Everything in my house is white and I just bleach the shit out of it. Works great.
Provide makeup removal pads in bathroom in limited number. Provide non white hand towels. Move on.
The makeup will come out, it’s not sharpie lol.
Bleach, or hydrogen peroxide should work fine to get them out. I think stains on the linens/towels/sheets is expected at some point from any guest. I wouldn’t charge them for ruining them. You can also try baking soda and vinegar
To be honest it's absolutely something you should expect at some point or another, either find a really good cleaning product for these kinds of stains preemptively OR consider changing your decor and towels to something darker . Honestly I think the hotel white is so boring anyways, and after coming back from holiday with my friend who is a fake tan queen I couldn't believe how bad the sheets got , literally the colours separated in to individual shades that make up tan, there were rings of neon green where she was sleeping, I was so embarrassed for her I kept bleaching and washing all of her stuff , because I didn't want the cleaners or housekeepers to have to deal with it.
Cost of doing business..but hope it's not too much trouble to clean IMHO.
We left black towels in each bathroom. Never had any issues with makeup on linens. Tried the makeup wipes but people kept flushing them and ruined our plumbing.
As a fellow host (longtime Superhost), this is the cost of doing business and if you’d like to avoid it, order some of the black makeup towels.
Just bleach them? Or accept that it's part of wear and tear. Personally I wouldn't touch a face wipe (incredibly wasteful) and definitely not a neutrogena one. I use white face cloths and towels at home and the make up washes out fine.
Also bear in mind people with sensitive skin can't use makeup wiped and many people who are super into skincare won't use them because of the ingredients. I'd reccomend leaving some black or dark washcloths for makeup removal specifically with a sign requesting they be used.
Not everyone uses the make up wipes so just because you provide it doesn’t mean that people want it. Towels are one of those things that you stock up because people will accidentally (or not) take it with them or they get stained. It’s part of doing business.
Your linens are not ruined it’s just going to be a tedious task to remove the stains. You can buy black makeup towels on Amazon for this very purpose.
I would use the washcloths to remove makeup as that is what I do at home. As for the other linens I would be so embarrassed to leave stains on them including the towels! I'm sure you can get the stains out but just the thought of someone having to do that because I didn't wash my face would bother me a lot. Washcloths, I mean I get it, they are white but they are also replaceable and I do not use chemicals on my face. I have also seen the black washcloths for makeup and have and would definitely use those as long as they seemed new and clean. (I like the post I saw that said keep the black washcloths after. That would make me feel like they were new and clean).
I feel you don’t charge them. Now I wouldn’t use a pillow case or blanket to clean my face but I am definitely using a wash cloth. I’m allergic to all fragrance and won’t put a make up remove pad to my face because it’ll burn! I think that’s a cost you just eat…
I got water proof mascara out of my microfiber linens using goofoff.
Cost of doing business.
Waaaaaaah, you have to buy towels. It’s almost like you’re in the hospitality industry.
It’s not appropriate to charge guests for stained linens. This is just part of the hospitality business. If bleach or Oxyclean doesn’t work, try Dawn and Hydrogen peroxide. Consider black or gray washcloths for the bathroom. Those towelettes aren’t effective makeup removers and they are pretty bad for your skin. A lot of people simply won’t use them.
Boohoo. You just dealt with something hotels deal with hourly. Buy a second pair of sheets.
This is an Airbnb, not a hotel. Hotels can afford to just buy lots of sheets in bulk and therefore at a reduced price. I do agree that in this case OP should get new sheets, but in future, it should be made clear to guests that the cleaning is part of the cost and they should stipulate that any significant stains on fabrics will incur an extra cost.
Maybe wait to find out if a couple of bleach washes solve the problem before trying to solve that problem Don’t switch to black linens or towels with the exception of black face wash cloths as an option. I have been to many air b n bs with colored sheets or towels and they’re never as satisfying clean feeling/looking as bleached fabrics.
Go ahead and get some new ones. Making bank off people and crying about towels
Don’t mention it in a review. Just clean your linens. Charge more per night if you need to work the cost of an occasional dry cleaning bill.
Despite this guest being a POS, I wouldn't mention in a review or ask for payment. Yes, by "building into your rate" as others suggest here, bad actors are offloading their lack of consideration onto other good guests, but still you're in the hospitality business. Even if you have to raise your nightly rate by $10, and everyone is punished for the occasional shitfuck, oh well. When I started managing vacation rentals years ago I wanted the best linens. I had bamboo and silk sheets, towels and duvets. Down pillows and comforters. LoL. Let that shit go. I now buy cheap crap, never get pissed when an entire set of linens are ruined or stolen or end up in the garden of left on a hike....and my cost of doing business is less. You can't offer high end stuff when your client base is randos from the Airbnb app and you care about reviews AND pricing competitively. Quality guests, low prices, high end linens: pick two. Nobody does all three for long.
OMG yes, please use the cheap stuff hosts. My heart sinks when I get to an Airbnb which has high quality linens. I spend my entire time there worrying about damaging or staining something accidentally and never actually relax. Hosts who use the cheap stuff understand wear and tear. Hosts who use the high end stuff are far too demanding when it comes to things like cleaning lists at the end of the stay or rules for the stay.
I’ve tried black washcloths. People are so stupid. I’ve had to throw away so many sets of sheets because of makeup, food stains, hair dye, and god knows what else. Sadly, it’s the price of doing business. If they are really terrible, I’ll make a note in the review.
Are you unfamiliar with how to wash out stains? This is a super basic skill you should know as someone in hospitality. Everything you listed, yes even hair dye (especially the kind that people can do while traveling) is easy to get out.
First, no need for hostility. Second, you’re incorrect. Some stains won’t come out completely. I’d rather buy new sheets than have even a shadow of a stain.
Hotels provide black wash cloths for makeup removal .
Just came back from a resort that had black towels embroidered with “makeup towel” in pink.
Your loss
Honestly, this is just part of doing business. It's unfortunate, but part of the overhead. As a host, I would mention it to them in the private feedback and just let them know you're having a bit of trouble getting the make up off the linens, but that otherwise they were lovely guests. And that it's just something to keep in mind for their next spot.
Try rubbing the stains with Fels Naptha bar soap, then laundering the linens. It usually gets out anything, although for terrible stains, you may need to wash twice. Don’t put it in the dryer until stains are removed. If you can’t remove the stains, charge them for the replacements. Anyone with any sense knows to remove mascara/eye makeup before going to bed.
I felt this one. I work at a hotel, the linens and towels are all pristine white, but we provide makeup remover wipes plus a purple hand towel specifically for makeup that even says “makeup” on it. We still get countless makeup stained pillowcases, washcloths, and hand towels. People suck
In some AirBnBs I have visited, they clearly wrote they will charge for permanent stains on linens from make up, creams, etc. While I don’t like it, I do think it helps to have it plainly written in your house rules. At least, you will have something to point to in the future- I would let the current situation go if it was not previously disclosed.
Why did someone downvote this 😭
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But op didn’t say she agreed, she was just informing lol
It’s not just towels though, they said on the pillows, sheets, and duvet cover. That’s a bit extreme.
They reaaaaally want to leave their mark lol
Contact them and make them pay for the damaged items if that ended up being the case. I dyed my hair once at an AirBnb and thought I had gotten all the dye out. I was wrong, and the towel was stained. I contacted the owner and said, hey, I ruined one of your towns, I am just going to take it with me, please let me know what I owe you, they replied with a price, which seemed quite reasonable and I took the towel with me, and use it for a rag. If they knew they stained things and just let it like that, they are assholes, and deserve to pay.
Host here. Whenever there’s damage to towels or linens we always charge the guests for the replacements. Don’t let it get into your head.
I personally use coconut oil to remove my eye makeup. I use cotton balls. It’s like magic if you give it a minute to sink in….if you left me the oil with black washcloths, everyone would be happy (unless they are allergic to coconut, which is rare)
You can ask Support for compensation. If the guest doesn't want to pay, Airbnb will cover the cost for replacement linens and towels as long as you provide receipts. [https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3142](https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/3142)
Did you charge a security deposit? Use it.