When You See White Sheets What Do You Think?
The Airbnb Ambassador & Super Host Coach (A-Coach) sat in his office when the phone rang. It was on the Airbnb business line, and he picked it up.
“Good morning, A-Coach here. How may I help you?
“Hi coach, this is Shelby. I am new to hosting. I am in the process of furnishing my two guest rooms, and I am at a loss for bed coverings. Can you point me in the right direction?”
“I am happy to help. You will be surprised by how easy it is.
Only one way to go – white sheets
“You probably have noticed that ALL hotels use white sheets, bed covers, and towels.
“Luxury hotels all give the same reasons:
- They are easier to clean. Yes, white bedsheets are easy to wash or bleach in comparison to other color sheets.
- They don’t hide stains. Guests tend to be more careful while eating food or doing anything on a white bedsheet because they don’t want to spill on the CLEAN sheet.
- They feel luxurious. White color requires less maintenance. More importantly, because white shows dirt more easily when there are no spots, the guest feels the luxury after seeing that their bed is spotless and neat.
- They reduce stress. According to Psychologists, white color gives relaxation and peace of mind. It helps to overcome all worries and reduces tension often associated with travel.
“Hotels think that keeping the white theme throughout the bedroom is one effective way for hosts to prove their standards of cleanliness.
“There is also one efficient aspect to white beds. The all-white color theme tends to carry over into the bathroom (for towels and bathrobes). When the cleaning crew (maybe you) does the washing, they can throw bed linens, towels, and other dirty fabrics into the same washing machine without worrying about any colors running. When bed linen stains happen, white sheets are easy to bleach away.
Not the interior decorator, no worries – white goes with everything!
“White is more than versatile. With the bed covered in white sheets, white bed covers, and brightly colored pillows, the mattress becomes the centerpiece of your room, allowing for creative and colorful decorating elsewhere. As an artist might say, the rest of the room becomes the blank canvas for decorating.
“A good night’s sleep is one of the best ways to ensure higher ratings and customer satisfaction. 78% of survey respondents said that it is essential for guest stays to offer comfortable beds.[1]
“When you are in a hospitality business such as Airbnb, a best practice for beds is that they should be BETTER than the one you have at home. The best hosts go to great lengths to make their beds perfect.
“Guests should leave your listing feeling better than how they arrived, and sleep is one of the cornerstones for that experience. Soft sheets that do not irritate the skin, the right pillow, the type of fibers used, and thread count are just a few things that go into making a perfect sleep experience. And, don’t forget a fantastic mattress such as memory foam.
“Internal research done by Westin Hotels revealed an unmissable insight. Guests rated an excellent night’s sleep’ as the most crucial thing they expect from a hotel room.
What do hotels know about white sheets that you don’t?
Coldwater:
“A best practice is to use cold water on most linens unless heavily stained. Why? Because hot water breaks down the fabric materials faster. Linen replacement can be costly for you and affect your profits if you must replace your expensive sheets.
Rinse cycle vinegar:
“Add a capful of white vinegar to the machine’s rinse cycle. The vinegar clears up lingering soap, which helps sheets and towels bounce back.
Tennis Balls:
“Another best practice is to throw a few new, clean tennis balls into the dryer. It knocks out the lumps, reduces drying time, reduces static, and reduces the chance of wrinkles. Tennis balls save energy and time as loads dry faster.
Avoid Fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and fragrance products
“Our final best laundry practice is don’t to use fabric softeners. They can stain fabrics and reduce the life of those fabrics. Liquid softeners can occasionally leave blueish or grey stain spots on linen, and over time the waxy build-up can also cause yellowing on whites.
“Additionally, they are typically scented and designed so the scent will remain in the fabric. However, many people are allergic to perfume (i.e., fragrance allergies). The last thing you want unhappy guest because of a poor sleep environment leaving an unfavorable review.
“Shelby, is that enough information for you to furnish your new bedrooms in confidence?”
“More than enough information. And you may not realize it, but you saved me a lot of money. I would have made wrong choices and regretted it. I am focused on earning the best reviews ever. I want to be a Superhost!”
“I am sure you will make Superhost if you keep making good decisions.”
[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/718336/importance-of-comfortable-beds-to-us-travelers-when-choosing-a-hotel/
