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Man shares 'hilarious' list of bathroom cleanliness rules left by Airbnb host

'Gentleman, it would be highly appreciated if you took a seat both for number one and for number two'

Chelsea Ritschel
Wednesday 17 July 2019 22:53 BST
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Man shares list of Airbnb rules left by host (Twitter)
Man shares list of Airbnb rules left by host (Twitter)

A man has shared the “hilarious” cleaning rules required by his Airbnb host, which includes meticulously removing all water droplets leftover after showering.

Over the weekend, Ian Hickton was staying as a guest at an Airbnb when he found a list of specific bathroom rules.

According to Hickton, who shared the list on Twitter, it reminded him of the League of Gentlemen characters Harvey and Val, who are known for having a strict set of rules at their home in place to confuse guests.

“Actual house rules from an Airbnb I stayed at last night,” Hickton tweeted. “Is this where League of Gentlemen got the inspiration for Harvey and Val?”

The list starts with a minor request, asking that guests “please try your best to use the washbasin without splashing the mirror”.

However, in addition to keeping the mirror free of water streaks, the owner also asks that guests follow detailed instructions when it comes to showering and using the toilet.

“Before taking a shower, please lay the provided floor mat on the floor,” the list continues. “When finished please put it back on the radiator to dry. If you are likely to splash the floor when using the washbasin, please do the same when using it.

“After taking a shower please use the squeegee provided to remove any water clinging onto the glasses, onto the tiles and onto the window in the first floor bathroom.

“When finished with the squeegee please use the towel that you will find in the bathroom to finish the job of drying the inside of the shower.”

The Airbnb host also includes their preferences for how guests treat the toilet, including the use of a mandatory toilet brush.

“The use of the toilet brush is not optional,” the rules state, elaborating that the purpose of the brush is to “remove any signs of your passage, of whatever colour, from inside the toilet (above and below the water line), from the toilet rim, and from the underside of the toilet seat.”

The last rule on the list, before concluding with a reminder to make sure the bathroom floor is dry, asks male guests to take a “seat both for number one and for number two”.

On Twitter, the list has been met with amusement, with some suggesting the rules are a red flag.

“I wonder how violations are punished,” one person wrote.

Another said: “‘Do not leave any traces of your passage’ How sinister is that!?”

Although Airbnb does not require it, the company recommends hosts include a cleaning fee in listing prices for cleaning services after each booking, so that each guest arrives to the “clean and tidy space they see in your listing photos”.

According to Airbnb, hosts that receive consistently low cleanliness ratings may be subject to penalties.

The company does not say what, if any, penalties can be applied to guests that do not follow rules of cleanliness.

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The Independent has contacted Airbnb for comment.

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