Despite being a journalist writing about hospitality I am, like the rest of the population, a consumer of hospitality too. I appreciate excellent service and a quality product as much as anyone else. From time to time though the odd thing will really get my goat: like hotel bed sheets.
I recently stayed in a hotel in Paris and was subject to some pretty zealous house-keeping. Don't get me wrong - I love coming back to a clean and tidy room after a hard day of exploring one of the most romantic cities of the world. But one thing just plain annoys me: bed sheets. Is there really any need for them in this day and age?
First of all this is the 21st century. Nobody has slept under bed sheets in their home since Queen Victoria was on the throne. We have all discovered the duvet and its simple 'one-lift' mechanism for getting into a warm bed. As this requires very little thought about getting into bed it also comes in very handy when you have had a few too many vin rouge.
Secondly bedsheets, as they come in multiples, require more than just one-lift. They require several. Plus a lengthy un-tucking process to free the multiple sheets from the mattress to which they have been attached with an arc welder and a particularly heavy mix. This nightly fight with the bed sheets becomes a clash of wills with the housekeeping staff - who, without fail will continuously re-attach the freed sheets even tighter to the mattress every day no matter how much effort has gone into freeing them the night before.
Finally - why do hotels believe you wish to sleep under piles of linen feeling warmer than sitting next to an open fire during a Caribbean heat wave? And once you have removed several layers of blankets where on earth do you put them? Particularly in a Continental hotel room that is, as always, on the small side.
Just what is the point? Surely this repetitive use of labour, tucking in bedsheets, costs the hotel thousands of Euros every year? And the cost of washing multiple sheets, rather than just one duvet and cover, is damaging the environment? And why oh why can't the housekeeping take the hint that I don't want the bloody things tucked in????
Comments (9)
When I go to a hotel, guest house, etc my heart sinks when I see that there is only a duvet on the bed. In my opinion it is only useful if you are sleeping in a heavily air conditioned room. There is nothing worse than waking up in the night running with perspiration and shivering when you turn back the duvet. There is nothing better than pure wool blankets which can be added or subtracted as the ambient temperature rises or falls. Pure cotton bedsheets - lovely, lovely, particularly if they are percale and oldish, so that they have a lovely silky feel. I had some that I've used for 30 years and they were bliss to get into
If I needed a bit of extra warmth, I used to heat up one of those modern hot water bottles in the microwave (1 1/2 mins each side).
Posted by Patricia White | September 24, 2007 4:57 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 16:57
Thanks for the reply Patricia to my rather tongue-in-cheek blog. I'm afraid it just goes to prove the old adage - women get cold while men get hot. Call me lazy but I can't be doing with hot water bottles or adding and retracting bed sheets throughout the night depending on the ambient temperature. I prefer my sleep to involve less housework.
Posted by Christopher Walton | September 24, 2007 5:24 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 17:24
Thanks for the reply Patricia to my rather tongue-in-cheek blog. I'm afraid it just goes to prove the old adage - women get cold while men get hot. Call me lazy but I can't be doing with hot water bottles or adding and retracting bed sheets throughout the night depending on the ambient temperature. I prefer my sleep to involve less housework.
Posted by Christopher Walton | September 24, 2007 5:24 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 17:24
Hi Christopher.
Great Post.
Sheraton hotels offer their clients to preserve the environment by reducing the sheets and towels.
unfortunately I believe that such action should involve price reduction...
Anyway - you should try other hotels such as verlain - Three Star Hotel in Paris.
Posted by Three Star Hotel in Paris | November 13, 2007 1:03 PM
Posted on November 13, 2007 13:03
Good point! I have just taken over the housekeeping at a lovely Resort, they were using top sheets with the duvets.......arc welded as you say.
After years of asking guests what they prefer, I have foungd that its only the Australians who insist on having a top sheet, most people prefer to have just the duvet.
No doubt in the summer we will be putting them all back on again!!!
Posted by Queen Of Clean | December 4, 2007 11:04 AM
Posted on December 4, 2007 11:04
Sorry
I love hotel bedsheets - much more hygienic. Stayed in 2 hotels in London which only had a duvet. Both duvets smelt. I slept on top of the duvets rather than have it next to my face I am not sure the duvet cover is changed in these hotels every time a guest stays. Changed clean sheets are much easier to detect and much more hygienic.
Posted by belcathy | December 17, 2007 11:59 AM
Posted on December 17, 2007 11:59
Hi
Am Mr Adams and i will like to order some bed sheets from your shop to a newly built Orphanage Home.I will appreciate if you can email me with the types and prizes you have in stock as well as the method of payment you accept so i can know the quantity to order.Thank you.
Best Regards,
Mr Adams
Posted by Adams joe | June 6, 2008 1:22 AM
Posted on June 6, 2008 01:22
Hi
Am Mr Adams and i will like to order some bed sheets from your shop to a newly built Orphanage Home.I will appreciate if you can email me with the types and prizes you have in stock as well as the method of payment you accept so i can know the quantity to order.Thank you.
Best Regards,
Mr Adams
Posted by Adams joe | June 12, 2008 1:14 AM
Posted on June 12, 2008 01:14
Hi Sir,
Am Mr Adams and i will like to order some bed sheets from your shop to a newly built Orphanage Home.I will appreciate if you can email me with the types and prizes you have in stock as well as the method of payment you accept so i can know the quantity to order.Thank you.
Best Regards,
Mr Adams
Posted by Adams Joe | July 2, 2008 12:43 AM
Posted on July 2, 2008 00:43