Most of us spend the last few minutes of a hotel stay hunting for phone chargers and zipping suitcases. The room behind us barely crosses our minds. For the person who walks in next with a cart, though, what you leave behind sets the tone for the whole shift.
According to one 2026 roundup of hotel worker habits, housekeepers often have less than half an hour to strip beds, sanitize bathrooms, vacuum, restock and reset a room. Nobody expects guests to clean before they go. A handful of small habits, however, can make that half hour a lot easier.
Leave a Tip, Even If You Skipped Daily Cleaning
Tipping comes up first because it’s the thing housekeepers see least of. Surveys suggest it’s often forgotten. One 2025 Bankrate reading, as summarized by a hotel tipping guide, found only about a quarter of Americans say they always tip housekeeping. That’s up slightly from the year before but still low.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association suggests $1 to $5 per night, with $2 to $5 typical at upscale properties[1]. Afar’s tipping guide also points out that you should still tip if you hung the do not disturb sign, since housekeeping still has to clean the room after checkout[2]. Leave the cash somewhere obvious with a short note, because an unmarked bill on the nightstand can be mistaken for something you forgot.
Gather Your Towels in One Spot
Hotels tend to run on a simple towel code. Towels left on the bathroom floor or hanging over the tub are ready to be replaced.[3] Tucking them behind the door or under the bed just sends housekeepers looking for them.
The Points Guy suggests going one step further on your last morning. Gather all your towels, ball them up with any other wet things inside, and leave them in a pile on the bathroom floor.[4] That way, nobody has to touch anything wet or otherwise questionable[4], and the whole load can go out in one trip.
Clear Out Food and Room Service Trays
Few things make a room harder to reset than leftovers. Pizza boxes, half finished room service trays, melted ice cream containers and open takeout bags can quickly make a room smell unpleasant.[3] Food left sitting also attracts bugs and creates extra cleaning issues[3].
The fix takes about a minute. Most hotels prefer that room service trays go outside the door or get picked up by staff directly[3]. Boxes and containers belong in the trash, ideally tied up in a bag if there’s one handy.
Flush the Toilet and Use the Trash Can
It sounds almost too basic to mention, yet housekeepers bring it up often. One roundup notes that walking into a bathroom and finding an unflushed toilet is not a great way to start cleaning a room[3]. It’s a two second job that leaves a lasting impression on whoever comes next.
The same goes for trash. Tissues, wrappers and used items should land in the bin, not on counters or beside the bed. A room with rubbish in its proper place is faster to service, and it’s safer for the person emptying it.
Pick Up Clutter From the Bed and Floor
Housekeepers seem to ask for the same courtesies again and again. A 2026 summary of recent Travel + Leisure and BuzzFeed reporting describes them as less clutter, fewer hazards, and clearer communication[5]. You don’t need to make the bed or scrub anything. The point is that the room can be serviced without anyone stepping over your things.
The bed deserves a special mention. The Points Guy notes that it’s tempting to fling items on your hotel bed as you’re getting ready[6], but piles of clothes and bags there slow the cleaner down. Moving your things to a chair or luggage rack before you leave takes seconds. Bare floors also help, since a vacuum can’t do much around scattered shoes and cables.
Mention Spills, Stains or Damage at the Front Desk
Accidents happen, from spilled wine on the carpet to a broken lamp. Hiding them doesn’t help anyone. A quick word at the front desk lets the hotel send the right person with the right supplies, rather than leaving housekeepers to find the problem mid shift.
Being upfront can also spare you a surprise later. Hotels often discover damage during turnover, and a note from you at checkout gives them context. It’s a small courtesy, and it tends to be received well.
Do a Final Sweep for Your Belongings and Fridge Items
The last check of the room is really for your benefit, but housekeepers feel it too. Lost items mean extra paperwork, storage and follow up calls. Look under the bed, in drawers, in the safe and in outlets near the headboard.
Don’t forget the minibar or fridge. If you’ve stored food there, dispose of it or pack it before leaving, since perishables can cause unpleasant odors for the next guest[7]. A ten second scan of the room from the doorway can save the next person a lot of hassle.
