We’re leaving a sit tomorrow (one that we’ve done before) and have just received the checklist of what TH recommend we do before we leave. Whilst we always endeavour to leave the home clean and tidy we do feel that some of the expectations are unreasonable. We always strip the bed but it is often impossible to wash bedding because of the time that you’re leaving. Some homes that we’ve stayed in send theirs to the laundry, others prefer us to leave things for their cleaners. We have never yet met an owner who has left us with clean bedding to change the bed (and some folk don’t have more than one set for the guest bed). It is the advice about food that concerns us most. We always try to buy just enough for our stay but occasionally we overbuy and this results in some food not being eaten. We hate food waste and feel it would be better to leave uneaten food for the owners rather than throw it away (it’s impossible to take some foods away with you if you’re travelling). It would seem less wasteful to leave things in the fridge with a note and leave it up to the owners to decide what to do with it. We have found previous owners were delighted if they found a few uneaten goodies on their return and were hugely thankful.
I stopped reading those type of ‘guidance’ Emails long ago! Most of us are mature adults with enough common sense to figure out what is appropriate! IMHO these messages are infantilizing.
Hi @Jane 
I think a lot of this comes down to communication and reasonable expectations rather than rigid rules.
We always aim to leave a home clean, tidy and welcoming, but there’s a difference between being respectful guests and providing a full hotel-style turnover service.
Bedding is a good example. We’ll usually strip the bed and wash linens if timing allows and if there’s a replacement set available, but many homes only have one set of guest bedding, or owners specifically prefer their own cleaner/laundry arrangement. In those cases it makes more sense to leave things organised rather than half-finished.
Same with food. We also dislike unnecessary food waste and have found many owners genuinely appreciate unopened milk, juice, fruit, pantry items or a few “goodies” left behind with a note. That said, we try not to leave large amounts of perishables or anything that creates work for owners after travel.
For us, the best sits are where both sides apply a bit of common sense and kindness rather than treating THS checklists as absolute rules
If you’ve sat for them before, then do what you did before since it seems to have been fine!
Bedding, I just ask sitters to strip it and leave it along with any used towels.
Food, as we try to give sitters a clean fridge at handover we would like the same back. Unopened food is fine to leave behind but in most cases we prefer not to eat opened food (if it’s a whole zuchini or banana left over that’s different, leave that, but your partially eaten takeout food or leftovers from last nights dinner? No, please toss it yourselves).
@Jane Just carry on doing what you are already doing on your sits. For newbies, the checklist may be of use but for those experienced, we know what is required and just do it.
I’ve never opened the THS checklist emails. Never needed to, because I use common sense and have received nothing but rave reviews. I chat with my hosts, read their welcome guides, ask Qs if needed, and act accordingly. My relationship is with my hosts, not with THS.
No answers from me - with 125 reviews, many compliment me for how clean I left the house, a few ding me for not leaving things as they want. Most recently got dinged for leaving some bagels, cream cheese, and a bottle of salad dressing in the refrigerator. Everything was dated and not expired. I thought I was being nice. (And I didn’t arrive to a completely empty refrigerator, either.)
As an HO I would always want the sitter to at the very least strip the bed and put the sheets/towels into the washing machine. Even if they don’t wash them. I don’t want to have to handle/touch a stranger’s linens nor would I expect them to do that for mine. When I visit anyone as a guest I ALWAYS strip the bed and start the load of laundry.
Fortunately we do have several sets of sheets for the guest bed. However we don’t expect the sitter to make up the bed. We will take care of that.
Same goes for cleaning the bathroom. I have no desire to clean a tub/shower, toilet nor sink after someone else.
If I (and I do) leave a spotless home, I expect to come home to my home in the same condition.
As sitters we recognize we are strangers in someone’s personal home. It’s important to me to respect that and leave a home as clean, if not cleaner than I find it. It’s more a sign of my own personal hygiene standards.
Some hosts don’t want the bed stripped, because pets can damage the bed. Better to ask, if their welcome guide doesn’t say.
I wouldn’t start a load of laundry I wasn’t there to finish, because sitting damp isn’t good. Plus, if the washer floods after you’ve left, you leave a mess.
@Jane, congrats on the repeat housesit. Kudos on pragmatic, thoughtful mindset.
Forget THS generic checklist. Rather communicate with your Pet Parent. View vary.
Excess food is subjective topic. Some Pet Parents may take offense at your decision to leave excess food - say, if they don’t want/like that specific food. Communication is the way forward.
If helpful, in regards food we have two action steps that we find work well for most pet parents.
- During handover we state that we do not want Pet Parent to return to a smelly fridge. But we are not there to eat their food. We clearly set expectations that we will use or trash any fridge food items that will expire before end of housesit. We will not use other fridge food items - unless expressly directed to do so by Pet Parent.
- Close to end of housesit we communicate with Pet Parent. If we’re staying an extra night then we’ll offer to make them dinner. If not (and subject to housesit duration) then we’ll offer to buy milk, eggs, bread. Some Pet Parents say thank you, some decline offer. No big deal. In come instances, we’ll offer to leave them specific food items (frozen/fridge) - most pet parents again say thank you, but some decline. Again no big deal.
Multiple pet parents have told us that they have loved returning home to a clean, empty fridge that they can then fill with whatever they want.
Not our property. Like you, we try to be kind. So we politely extend offer. But we respect Pet Parent preferences.
I’ve repeatedly left uneaten food for hosts. No problem, ever. That’s because I screen for reasonable hosts and we develop rapport.
Of course, I leave food that’s intact and fresh, not half-eaten, old or such.
If I saw that a host reviewed and complained about a sitter leaving perfectly good food, I’d figure that they should be avoided.
Pet Parent here. They send an equally ridiculous list to us to make sure our home is ready for our sitter. Step-by-step instructions on cleaning the house, which is quite honestly more particular than we ask of our house-cleaning service. Our house will be clean for you, but not sterile. That’s all we ask in return.
If there’s food we can use, we eat it. If not, we discard it. We do ask for the bed to be stripped, but if the sheets have also been laundered, we are ecstatic. We’re all grown-ups here, I think we can all work and communicate together.
That’s interesting to know! I have to confess to failing to empty the hoover bag before leaving. I hope they don’t leave me a bad review on the back of it!
Agreed Maggie!
That reminds me of the empty fridge we were confronted with on a sit that was held together with sticky tape and containe nothing but a plastic bag fo green slime that was possibly once a lettuce!
Absolutely. If they’re delayed for any reason then landry can become a problem. Totally agree.
Here here! Thanks Maggie.
Yes, and people often don’t realize how often washers can fail. If you’re around, you can more easily catch problems. If no one’s around, water can sit and leak and do greater damage.
Plus, with laundry, some hosts don’t prioritize guest linens on return home. They might prefer to have the washer and dryer free, so they can clean their travel clothes first. But sitters won’t know that unless there’s been communication in the welcome guide or via a quick Q, if that info is missing.
When it comes to hosts’ pet and home care preferences, no host can speak for anyone else.
I don’t understand the “just getting” part. IMO “exit” plans which exit on Airbnb and in many other accomodation situations are absent from the Welcome Guide, and should be discussed. I don’t use the Welcome Guide but have them in my information for sitters. When I sit, I if not already discussed, I always ASK before the homeowner leaves as I’m not a fan of washing and changing the linen both because of the impossibiity due to sleep and leaving time and/or simply not doing things the way the homeowner is used to or likes having things done.
I have never found homeowners who expected the linens washed and were unreasonable when they realized it wouldn’t work because of timing.
I think now that arrival and leaving time are on the listings, this can/should be discussed in the chat and not come as a surprise.
Regarding food. This seems to be a two way street with sitters often complaining about leftover food they won’t touch in the fridge and leave to rot and homeowners who may have dietary restrictions and tastes and don’t want your food left. As a homeowner I’m specific: “Please throw out any takeout or cooked “leftovers” or take them with. If you are leaving some good stuff, let me know what it is!” As a sitter, I always leave a note if I bought something I didn’t use and left it in the fridge or freezer or found my favorite sauce in the local supermarket and just opened it.
@Jane, during handover we take quick peek in fridge.
If contents look old/marginal, or if fridge cleanliness questionable, or if pet parent expresses odd views re food then we address this topic directly - we literally walk through the fridge with pet parent. “Oh I had no idea that [product] passed expiry date a few years ago” 
or “Gosh, how did that lettuce become slime?” (per your example 
).
We try hard to be kind, trusting and frankly reasonable people. But sometimes then experience and circumstances motivate us to actively manage conversations to avoid subsequent bad outcomes. Happens.