How about: “Yes! We’d love to see some photos of your holiday!”
Or “Your cat can’t operate a mobile phone and I only respond when asked politely”
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@Jjay your line of thinking is spot on this HO has treated you like the help instead of being a hospitable host. Try responding with - I’m happy to let the cleaner in so they can tidy up the rooms that have been off limits to us during the sit please confirm the date and time the cleaner will arrive - see how she responds. People like this HO will never appreciate above and beyond as they think you’re obligated to be their servant,
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I’d send them a message saying no problem and letting them know that I’ll be sticking a brush up my ass too, to make sure the floors get swept while I am at it!
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I would politely say that as their room has been off limits that you feel its inappropriate for you to go clean the room now
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That’s a tough one. These sound like the type of people that they will knock down a few stars of your review regardless of whether you clean their bedroom or not. If you really don’t want the extra cleaning here is what you can say:
We hope you’re having a great trip. We’ve been keeping the main living areas and the pets well-taken care of. Regarding the bedroom and ensuite, since these spaces have been off-limits during our stay (except for watering the plants), we haven’t included them in our cleaning routine as it wasn’t part of our initial agreement.
We want to ensure we respect your privacy and the boundaries set initially. We’ll make sure the rest of the house is in good shape for your return.
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Thats nice to hear but unfortunately its not that way. Sitters don’t seem to have half the rights or respect from some home owners as we deserve.
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You are completely right, it’s all about attitude and manners.”Would you mind, please, and quick dusting” would work much better than “good dusting” and no “please”. Just the idea that the dusting should be thorough sounds too demanding but I really think that nice people who think of you as an equal would probably not ask at all, not even in a polite way.
Just follow your heart. Do whatever you feel is right and, whatever you do, just put a full stop to that sitting. Maybe you feel that not cleaning can bring a bad review and drag the issue longer with more impact in your wellbeing than just doing a quick dusting and forget about the whole thing. It could also work the other way, if you feel that dusting their room and bathroom is the last straw and makes you feel diminished and non assertive, then just don’t.
It would be nice to mention something about it in your review.This would not reflect in their review and would be helpful for other sitters.
Please let us know how it goes.
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Thank you so much everyone, really appreciate this community! We have decided to dust and vacuum the rooms and try to leave on happy terms. We will be kind in our review but will mention some of the negative experiences that we have had. It won’t help us but perhaps some constructive feedback could help the HO make future sitters feel more welcomed and comfortable than we have. And maybe it will help future sitters make a more informed decision about applying to this one. Thanks again everyone!
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Sigh. They need to dust off their people skills much more than these rooms need to be dusted.
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@Jjay , I’m just curious, are the homeowners new to THS, or do they have previous reviews? It doesn’t seem like hosting is their “thing”. I commend you on doing your best to make it a good experience.
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Don’t worry at all about an honest review possibly backfiring on you - THS now has a blind review system where both reviews are published at the same time and can’t affect eachother. This way members can review eachother more honestly without worry 
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I would assume if for instance there is a primary bedroom and guest room where I am staying, there’s no reason for me to “hang out” in the bedroom. However, if it’s not off limits to the pets, I’d still need to go in there from time to time to vacuum, look for hairballs, vomit, etc and would certainly vacuum before I left, but the “good dusting” remark I’d take as someone who really doesn’t understand the site, and is not someone I’d sit for again, but if there is a duster, and it’s possibly I’d just do it.
If it’s a room that’s been closed to the pets and to me, than I would just tell the homeowner, that I have enough to do cleaning up the areas I actually used.
I wouldn’t clean any rooms I’ve not been allowed to use. I’d say in a direct, yet friendly way, like:
Oh, seems like there’s been a misunderstanding. Sitters clean after themselves and the pets during the sit, but we aren’t operating as hired cleaners. If you’d like rooms I’m not using cleaned, please feel free to book a cleaner and I’d be happy to let them in if we can coordinate timing.
Meanwhile, (pet’s name) and I are doing well. I’m sure he/she will be happy to see you on your return. Meanwhile, happy travels!
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@Maggie8K Fabulous response! 
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The instructions that they gave you to have that room off limits is the one I would stick with. That they want you to be a maid service is changing the rules. With the exception of plant watering, the room is off limits.
I would reply that you only feel comfortable with the original agreement. You stated that they haven’t made you feel particularly welcome.
Trust your gut on this one.
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I can see where you are coming from here, but from what we’ve read so far about these HOs, sadly I’m not sure they’ll notice (let alone appreciate) the kindness.
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@Maggie8K you are a genius with words!
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@Jjay I would follow the lines of @Maggie8K. Something like:
Which we will glady do for your home but not having had access to that/those rooms and things being undisturbed, we think it’s best not to enter that/those room at this time. Thank you for your understanding.
I see you’ve made up your mind.
Total perogative.
But do please nick a star off hospitality or communication with a comment as to why in the narrative.
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If you have been in that house for a long time as a siter, even if you have not used those rooms, they will surely be full of dust and they would like to find them clean, that is understandable.
But I think it would be necessary to remind them that they told you that you couldn’t use those rooms and it doesn’t seem fair for them to expect that now you can go in to those rooms to clean them.
Maybe as a courtesy, you could remove the dust.
They haven’t even asked nicely, it sounds like a coercive demand for them to give good references about you.
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Hi @Jjay
Agree with the many other comments that I’ve sat in a few large homes that I usually just use the kitchen, lounge, bedroom and bathroom. I make sure these rooms are clean and tidy plus any entrance area but don’t touch other rooms. I did a sit with 6 additional bedrooms, many with ensuites! I’d be there all day cleaning those if asked!