Yeah, they are white, thin towels that are (or used to be) used in bars to wipe the counter. !00% cotton, very absorbent, and I have different ‘stages’ of them: for lintless glass drying; but also as a strainer for making broths or jellies…and eventually, used as rags for cleaning (I am a bit of an environmentalist).
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If we’re driving i take our own pillows and duvet.. im taking bath sheets this time as we like large towels!. Plus loads of cooking stuff. I ask the host what cooking items they have as i like to cook from scratch. I’m taking our coffee machine this time too as its a 3 week sit and in he countryside. ( I know picky or what!) 
Joanne
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Oven gloves are a must for me, not single ones but the double ones. I have a pair that are the perfect length for me. Mini food tongs and my treasured small kitchen knife.
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A night light I can plug in near the loo so I am not bumbling around in the dark, and my favorite dish cleaning sponges, plus a litte dust pan and brush to clean up little messes easily.
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I brought a pair of wellies but never used them in the UK! Drat! Soooo bulky…and I also use a bowel to catch water so I can use the grey water for my plants, but, if I were traveling, I’d just use one of their large pots instead so don’t have to lug the bowel…redundant. And I use the dishwasher both at home and on sits cuz it really does save water! Check it out! I love my cat can brush, saves me from touching the inside of those gross dirty used cat cans before recycling them. Also, my small flask of stain remover has been handy for unexpected spills. Never leave home without microfiber cloths, makes clean up speedy, especially by kitchen sink for drops which could mark their floors. And, finally, if local sits I can drive to, my tempurpedic twin mattress pad ( which I learned of in the forum posts here) with my pillow and sheets has been a life saver! Whew, this is such a great place to stay informed, huh?
I take this pillow. It can be a pillow, a hand muffler on flights, book/ e-reader couch , and a bottle protector
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@ExploreDreamDiscover had to laugh at the word they blocked! I’ve had a few words blocked too. So very PC!!! 
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Currently in the process of working this out! I’m now petsitting full-time and frequently lugging a massive suitcase around on public transport is proving to be challenging, especially in more suburban/rural areas.
So far, I’ve really valued my little reading light as I like a warm/yellow light and lots of people don’t opt for this in their homes, my braun alarm clock as it’s very small and nifty, an aeropress go though I definitely need to invest in a portable bean grinder, my favourite instant coffee (little’s smooth colombian), a smallish bottle of my favourite EVOO, and a microplane as it’s my favourite kitchen tool. I’m also lugging around tons of ingredients including jarred spices as well as toiletries, but I’m looking to downsize on both 
I travel carry-on only and mostly use public transportation to get to sits, so I try not to bring too many extra things with me– I can get whatever I need on-location or else just make do without.
However, there are a few things I carry around everywhere: a can-opener (surprising amount of people either don’t have one or it’s rusty/gross/doesn’t work), a silicone mug lid (keeps curious cat paws and bugs out of my coffee), a fabric “mug rug” (sentimental item), a few bags of tea, Old Bay seasoning, rubber bands (for closing bags; again, not many people have bag clips surprisingly enough), a small net laundry bag, and a portable power strip.
I used to also take a portable coffee pour-over thing with me, until I forgot it at a sit. Mostly people have some sort of coffee-making thing anyway, even the folks in the UK who only drink tea, so I suppose I didn’t really need it after all.
I’m thinking about adding a little nightlight to my suitcase, as it’d be nicer ambiance than using my phone’s flashlight at night. On the other hand, I could definitely see myself forgetting it somewhere…
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I use a check list to avoid forgetting stuff.
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I had to use “Hades” as the four letter word beginning with H was a no no!
Keeping it classy!
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- Sharp! knives (paring & a chef’s knife)
- Hand-held manual knife sharpener
- Tide stain-stick, laundry detergent sheets & Shout dye-catcher sheets
- Favorite tiny whisk, for making salad dressings
- Favorite potato peeler
- A new scrub-sponge for dishes
- A miniature spice kit that I put together
- Artificial sweetener tablets in a convenient little clicky-container (discovered this on one of my European sits…awesome! Beats the heck out of Splenda packets)
- A RokuTV stick (guarantees I can access all my streaming apps without touching the owner’s settings or apps)
- iPad with detachable magnetic keyboard & stand (so I can leave the laptop at home)
- Wall charger w/both USB A & C ports
- Compact power strip
- Universal power adapter (if traveling international)
- extra pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses for backup
- Every medicine/drug I could possibly need in a pinch, if it can’t be found otc in most countries
It’s a lot, but I’ve traveled extensively for decades & found that these are the things I need in order to feel at home wherever I am. Plus, I’m a Tetris-packing QUEEN, so it really doesn’t end up taking up as much space as you’d think. I’d rather take less clothing, than go without the other stuff! 
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