Rental Car Etiquette

[NHdisneylover]

hands full of garbage? How much accumulates in a vehicle between stops?

I guess we travel very differently than some here---like a PP trash does not accumulate in my personal vehicle or a rental car. If we have drinks from a fsat food place, the next stop everyone grabs their own empty cup and tosses it, etc. Since we normally stop to put gas in the vehicle shortly before return anything left (that last soda just finihsed, etc) can be tossed then

 

[DisneylandDarling]

I don't throw things all over, but I've brought pizza or other takeout to my hotel room. The best thing I can do is just leave it on a table or on the floor next to the trash can. If there's a receptacle in the hallway, I don't think it's meant for for collecting stuff that was in a room. There's a reason why housekeeping carts have two large bags - one for the used towels and the other for all manner of waste including stuff that won't fit in those micro cans that are typical of a hotel room. Used towels are supposed to be left on the floor. Housekeeping doesn't have an easier task just because a guest tidied up. They always have to remove the sheets anyways, so trying to make the bed just adds extra work.

Besides that, I doubt that most car rental returns like having customers with their hands full of garbage as they're exiting the car and then having to empty trash cans. As long as it's easy enough to toss into a trash bag and give a quick vacuum, they really don't mind cleaning it up. Maybe I'll leave a throwaway map in the center console or a bag with wrappers and napkins. I will try to at least tidy things up so it's not all over the place, but I have no qualms about leaving it in the car as long as it doesn't stain anything.

This is expected. There are people paid to do this job, and as long as it's not a disaster area they really have no problem doing the job. Often attempts to help them out create more work. Here's an interesting discussion on Quora:

https://www.quora.com/Do-hotels-maids-prefer-that-I-leave-the-room-cleaned

Assuming we are talking about checkout day, the worst thing you can do is make the bed because the room attendant has to UN-make the bed. If you are staying over and it makes you feel better, make the bed and leave a note to not change the sheets. They will usually tidy it up the hotel standards. If you want to help the room attendant on the day of departure, do the following:

1. Strip the sheets off the bed and pillow cases and leave in a pile on the floor opposite the bathroom door.
2. Take all used towels, washcloth, and bath mat and place in one pile on the bathroom floor.
3. Take the trash can from under the desk and the trash can from the bathroom and place them together next to the sheets (by the bathroom door).
4. Replace the iron and ironing board (wrap or retract cord of iron)
5. Replace the tv remote to where it was on checkin day
6. Open the curtains.

You have just saved the attendant minutes and her energy by saving her the steps she has to take to walk to the other side of the room to grab the trash can and walk back to the other side of the room. Stripping the bed takes little time but again, energy. Finding the remote and walking it back to place...energy/time. Ironing board and iron...energy and time.

She would appreciate these steps probably more than a tip.​

I would argue that they absolutely have an easier time in their jobs when guests don't leave trash all over for them to clean up. I appreciate the list, but I'm pretty set in my standards for leaving a hotel room. I don't make the bed because that's pointless. I don't always take the trash out to the hallway trash, however I always do it when it's full/close to overflowing or items don't fit. It's easier to throw all towels inside the dry bathtub at the end of the stay, so that it's contained to one area and not blocking the doorway, etc. What I'm talking about isn't (IMO) even an "extra" thing, really. It's just common courtesy.

For car rentals, when you refuel before dropping off is probably the best time to throw away garbage as well as along the way. I don't know where a car rental company would have room for accumulated trash for everyone dropping off.

 

[ronandannette]

I don't throw things all over, but I've brought pizza or other takeout to my hotel room. The best thing I can do is just leave it on a table or on the floor next to the trash can. If there's a receptacle in the hallway, I don't think it's meant for for collecting stuff that was in a room. There's a reason why housekeeping carts have two large bags - one for the used towels and the other for all manner of waste including stuff that won't fit in those micro cans that are typical of a hotel room. Used towels are supposed to be left on the floor. Housekeeping doesn't have an easier task just because a guest tidied up. They always have to remove the sheets anyways, so trying to make the bed just adds extra work.

Besides that, I doubt that most car rental returns like having customers with their hands full of garbage as they're exiting the car and then having to empty trash cans. As long as it's easy enough to toss into a trash bag and give a quick vacuum, they really don't mind cleaning it up. Maybe I'll leave a throwaway map in the center console or a bag with wrappers and napkins. I will try to at least tidy things up so it's not all over the place, but I have no qualms about leaving it in the car as long as it doesn't stain anything.

This is expected. There are people paid to do this job, and as long as it's not a disaster area they really have no problem doing the job. Often attempts to help them out create more work. Here's an interesting discussion on Quora:

https://www.quora.com/Do-hotels-maids-prefer-that-I-leave-the-room-cleaned

Assuming we are talking about checkout day, the worst thing you can do is make the bed because the room attendant has to UN-make the bed. If you are staying over and it makes you feel better, make the bed and leave a note to not change the sheets. They will usually tidy it up the hotel standards. If you want to help the room attendant on the day of departure, do the following:

1. Strip the sheets off the bed and pillow cases and leave in a pile on the floor opposite the bathroom door.
2. Take all used towels, washcloth, and bath mat and place in one pile on the bathroom floor.
3. Take the trash can from under the desk and the trash can from the bathroom and place them together next to the sheets (by the bathroom door).
4. Replace the iron and ironing board (wrap or retract cord of iron)
5. Replace the tv remote to where it was on checkin day
6. Open the curtains.

You have just saved the attendant minutes and her energy by saving her the steps she has to take to walk to the other side of the room to grab the trash can and walk back to the other side of the room. Stripping the bed takes little time but again, energy. Finding the remote and walking it back to place...energy/time. Ironing board and iron...energy and time.

She would appreciate these steps probably more than a tip.​

I like to think of myself as courteous in general but I am NOT stripping the bed in a hotel. And honestly, I likely wouldn't remember where the remote was originally if my life depended on it.

 

[bcla]

hands full of garbage? How much accumulates in a vehicle between stops?

I guess we travel very differently than some here---like a PP trash does not accumulate in my personal vehicle or a rental car. If we have drinks from a fsat food place, the next stop everyone grabs their own empty cup and tosses it, etc. Since we normally stop to put gas in the vehicle shortly before return anything left (that last soda just finihsed, etc) can be tossed then

The last time I returned a rental car we stopped at a McDonald's near the airport. We ate in the parking lot, but on the return when there was a bag left still on the seat the return agent said "if you're done with that just leave it there." In my experience this is typical. It's tough enough with four bags, a kid, and a child seat. I certainly don't turn a rental car into a dumpster, but if there's a little bit of stuff left that I don't need, I've been told to just leave it there and I return the car with a clean conscience.

 

[Planogirl]

I would never strip a hotel bed. However we do throw away trash and put our things away. I do so at home and prefer to do so at a home away from home (room or car) too.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I guess the simplest way to boil it down for myself is that things which require special equipment (a vaccum, a car wash, a washing machine) are things I feel are resonable to expect the service to provide for me as a traveller. Things that just require I be responsible for my own mess (tossing trash into any of hudnreds of public rescpticals near roadways and parking lots, etc) I feel is on me.

Yesterday DS18 and I made a 6 hour road trip. We stopped at Subway for lunch and brought drinks, cookies (in bags) and napkins into the car after. Tossed the drink cups, with cookie bags and napkins balled up inside at hte gas station an hour later. Stopped for drinks at McDs a a couple of hours later and tossed those cups in the trashcan in the hotel parking lot before unlaoding the luggage and checking in. I mean, this doesn't even really involved conscious thought and certianly not big effort on our part.

 

[bcla]

I like to think of myself as courteous in genral but I am NOT stripping the bed in a hotel. And honestly, I likely wouldn't remember where the remote was originally if my life depended on it.

I don't think stripping the bed is normal. However, I think most people at least loosen the sheets. I certainly don't like sleeping in a tightly made bed.

And some might think that making the bed before checking out is the considerate thing to do, even though the maid will have to strip the sheets because they're getting washed anyways.

 

[NHdisneylover]

The last time I returned a rental car we stopped at a McDonald's near the airport. We ate in the parking lot, but on the return when there was a bag left still on the seat the return agent said "if you're done with that just leave it there." In my experience this is typical. It's tough enough with four bags, a kid, and a child seat. I certainly don't turn a rental car into a dumpster, but if there's a little bit of stuff left that I don't need, I've been told to just leave it there and I return the car with a clean conscience.

See, I would have them tossed the food debris in the bin in the McDs parking lot before driving off. Well, except I would be highly unlikely when travelling with a child to eat in the parking lot before a flight---I was always big on getting them out of confined spaces and moving before they had to be confined to an airplane seat---but then again it was usually me alone with two of them, so I needed every advantage I could find for myself
I don'T envy you still juggling kid, luggage and carseat alone---I am on that other sweet end of it with grown kids who can manhandle luggage, check into the hotel, etc (though niehter drives so when DH is not with us that still fally 100% to me and i hate driving---but the kids are good navigators and guides into tight parking spaces at least)

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't think stripping the bed is normal. However, I think most people at least loosen the sheets. I certainly don't like sleeping in a tightly made bed.

And some might think that making the bed before checking out is the considerate thing to do, even though the maid will have to strip the sheets because they're getting washed anyways.

I doubt many (any) people would make hte bed for the sake of a housekeeper ---- anyone who has stripped beds at home after guestrs knows that isn't really going to help (nor is it going to hurt though). Me? I tend to pull the bedding up and sort of semi make it---not to help housekeeping but becuase I don't feel comfortable in the room with it that messy while I am getting ready or waiting on my fellow travellers---I want a smooth place to sit or to set my backpack down, etc. I suppose someone might see that and think I am doign it to help housekeeping?

 

[bcla]

I guess the ismplest way to boil it down for myself is that things which require special equipment (a vaccum, a car wash, a washign machine) are things I feel are resonable to expect the service to provide for me as a traveller. Things that just require I be responsible for my own mess (tossing trash into any of hudnreds of public rescpticals near roadways and parking lots, etc) I feel is on me.

Yesterday DS18 and I made a 6 hour road trip. We stopped at Subway for lunch and brought drinks, cookies (in bags) and napkins into the car after. Tossed the drink cups, with cookie bags and napkins balled up inside at hte gas station an hour later. Stopped for drinks at McDs a a couple of hours later and tossed those cups in the trashcan in the hotel parking lot before unlaoding the luggage and checking in. I mean, this doesn't even really involved conscious thought and certianly not big effort on our part.

Well - I don't think the point is that stuff just accumulates or gets hoarded. However, one or two bags is hardly going to register with the guy detailing the car. He might even appreciate it because there's work to do where he's getting paid. Last time I think I left one bag with used wrappers, one beverage, and the packaging from a USB power supply that I bought to use in the rental. In my experience that's perfectly acceptable and I've been told that it was fine.

 

[Poohforyou]

We clean out the inside of our stuff. If something spilled on the inside we'll clean it as it happens. I won't vacuum or clean the dashboard or anything like that.

In a hotel room we'll put things in/near the garbage/recycling. Sometimes the containers aren't big enough to hold everything. We'll make sure the bathroom isn't a mess but nothing different than what we do at home to leave it nice for the next person.

I wouldn't leave a pigsty for my own personal housekeeper, I'm not going to do that for someone not personally in my employ.

 

[Allison]

They're not my personal servants, so why make a difficult job harder for them? I have no problem spending 10 extra minutes before I leave putting all the dirty towels in the bathtub, picking up any wrappers/garbage, maybe taking the trash out to the main hall trashcan, etc so they don't have to. The same would go for rental cars.

I also feel like it's a reflection on myself on how I leave the room (or car). Sure, housekeeping probably won't know who I am, but I would feel guilty leaving a room trashed. I don't want them to come in the room and think "Geez...what a slob!"

I agree. I am always going to tidy up before I leave a hotel room or a rental car.

 

[bcla]

I would argue that they absolutely have an easier time in their jobs when guests don't leave trash all over for them to clean up. I appreciate the list, but I'm pretty set in my standards for leaving a hotel room. I don't make the bed because that's pointless. I don't always take the trash out to the hallway trash, however I always do it when it's full/close to overflowing or items don't fit. It's easier to throw all towels inside the dry bathtub at the end of the stay, so that it's contained to one area and not blocking the doorway, etc. What I'm talking about isn't (IMO) even an "extra" thing, really. It's just common courtesy.

For car rentals, when you refuel before dropping off is probably the best time to throw away garbage as well as along the way. I don't know where a car rental company would have room for accumulated trash for everyone dropping off.

Every car will go through an external wash and then a detailing before it's brought back to the rental lot. Most major airport rental car centers have car washing facilities. They expect to be removing trash, so they'll obviously have trash bags and dumpsters to collect it. Even my neighborhood car rental location has an onsite area to clean. I found a picture of it, and I see a few trash cans and a shop vac.

When I rent a car I'm doing so with the understanding that I'm paying for a complete service. Obviously turning a rented vehicle into a dumping ground is poor form, but leaving a few things that need to be removed is trivial for a service business. That would be like cleaning up after myself with a restaurant meal.

 

[Vicki926]

I would never leave trash in a rental car. I don't leave trash in my own car (DH and DS's cars are another story). I make it a habit to clean out my car as soon as I park in the garage at home. It takes like two seconds to grab cups, receipts, etc. and toss them in the garbage before I go into the house. We do the same thing when we use rental cars. I don't worry about the exterior or vacuum the car, but I would never think of leaving our trash.

Agreed. I never leave trash in my car. When I get out, if there's garbage in there, I take it with me to throw it out. Always. No water bottles rolling around, no clothes strewn about.. i certainly wouldn't leave trash in a car that's not mine.
Hotel rooms-I throw all the used towels in the tub, leave the bed as is. The bed is generally straightened up-not made-only so I can be sure I didn't leave anything in the tangle of sheets. There's never trash laying around. I throw my garbage out, if only because I don't like looking at it. As we're leaving, if anything is left out, we just toss it before we leave.

 

[LYSE]

I don't think anyone on here has said it's okay to leave a room/car disgusting.

I am talking about cups bags etc.. that can easily be tossed.

If you want to clean that's cool, but it's not expected and some nicer places start getting insulted when you do their job for them.

It's literally their job to clean up after you and you pay for it.

 

[powellrj]

We usually strip the bed and leave the sheets with the dirty towels in the bathtub. We aren't doing it because we neat people, but because we stay at lots of pool houses where you have to do those things to get your deposit back, so its just habit. The same with the trash, we gather it, we just leave it by the door. The remote goes on the desk or nightstand, but have no idea where it was when we got there.

DH is really good about cleaning out the rental cars, but he isn't as good about keeping the cars cleaned up at home. It drives me crazy at home.

 

[hereyago]

As for rental cars: I wash it before I return it and remove trash and vacuum if it needs it. Why do I do it?
Because my dad trained me to return things the way you got them.

For Housekeeping: I am an Housekeeping Inspector/Supervisor. When I am on vacation, I am not whipping out my black light and all that. If it is something noticeable I call housekeeping to have them come back and rectify it.
And no, I don't use their blankets or duvets, because I know they are not washed each time.
I do strip my bed and gather trash when I check out because I know there may be another room the housekeeper may have that will need extra time.

When I was about to leave hospital after having dd, my then dh (who also worked in housekeeping at one time) we stripped the bed and gathered the trash. Just because it was habit,lol.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Interior- throw away trash like receipts and any drink cups used (that would be used on the way to the airport),etc. No I'm not vacuuming/cleaning the crumbs from the car

Exterior-No car wash

Rental car companies can charge a fee for needing to excessively clean it (though I don't know how often they charge for that) so I just do a light cleaning as listed above.

For example here is Avis's Terms of Agreement on the subject:
"h) charges for cleaning the vehicle's interior if the vehicle is returned in an excessively dirty condition that requires extra cleaning or deodorizing. This includes, but is not limited to, spillage of fluids, food, vomit, other stains, and unpleasant odours including cigarette smoke"

They should be cleaning the car regardless (quick vacuum, quick wipedown, exterior wash,etc). That being said I have refused a rental car 1 time (it was at Enterprise) because it wasn't cleaned prior to them giving me the vehicle. That has happened once and only once where I was given an obviously dirty car.

 

[Wendy31]

Interesting, no I don't pick up trash or anything..old cups, fast food bags wrappers etc...I leave it all the only reason I throw any of it out is because it bothers me while I have the car but I have never thrown it out to make things easier on the rental company...they don't care as long as you didn't actually soil the car.

As for hotel rooms, actually i will leave them quite dirty with trash all over the rooms...I also don't see a problem with it..however I will leave a daily tip.

I mean why would you pay someone to do something then do most of their job for them??

I seriously cannot imagine leaving MY trash for someone else to pick up - even if picking up/cleaning might be someone else's "job". And, really, picking up someone's else trash isn't the maid's job - her job is to clean the room & take out the trash that's been left in the waste cans. The maid shouldn't have to pick up a mess.

Leaving a car or hotel room w/ my "trash all over" & thinking, "Oh, someone else will get it" is just beyond me.

I'll even pick up random trash I see. The other night we were at a baseball game, & a person from the next section kicked a beer can into the aisle between our 2 sections. When I got up to use the restroom, I picked up the can & threw it away.

They're not my personal servants, so why make a difficult job harder for them? I have no problem spending 10 extra minutes before I leave putting all the dirty towels in the bathtub, picking up any wrappers/garbage, maybe taking the trash out to the main hall trashcan, etc so they don't have to. The same would go for rental cars.

I also feel like it's a reflection on myself on how I leave the room (or car). Sure, housekeeping probably won't know who I am, but I would feel guilty leaving a room trashed. I don't want them to come in the room and think "Geez...what a slob!"

Yes to everything you said!! This exactly!!

I don't throw things all over, but I've brought pizza or other takeout to my hotel room. The best thing I can do is just leave it on a table or on the floor next to the trash can. If there's a receptacle in the hallway, I don't think it's meant for for collecting stuff that was in a room. There's a reason why housekeeping carts have two large bags - one for the used towels and the other for all manner of waste including stuff that won't fit in those micro cans that are typical of a hotel room. Used towels are supposed to be left on the floor. Housekeeping doesn't have an easier task just because a guest tidied up. They always have to remove the sheets anyways, so trying to make the bed just adds extra work.

Besides that, I doubt that most car rental returns like having customers with their hands full of garbage as they're exiting the car and then having to empty trash cans. As long as it's easy enough to toss into a trash bag and give a quick vacuum, they really don't mind cleaning it up. Maybe I'll leave a throwaway map in the center console or a bag with wrappers and napkins. I will try to at least tidy things up so it's not all over the place, but I have no qualms about leaving it in the car as long as it doesn't stain anything.

This is expected. There are people paid to do this job, and as long as it's not a disaster area they really have no problem doing the job. Often attempts to help them out create more work. Here's an interesting discussion on Quora:

https://www.quora.com/Do-hotels-maids-prefer-that-I-leave-the-room-cleaned

Assuming we are talking about checkout day, the worst thing you can do is make the bed because the room attendant has to UN-make the bed. If you are staying over and it makes you feel better, make the bed and leave a note to not change the sheets. They will usually tidy it up the hotel standards. If you want to help the room attendant on the day of departure, do the following:

1. Strip the sheets off the bed and pillow cases and leave in a pile on the floor opposite the bathroom door.
2. Take all used towels, washcloth, and bath mat and place in one pile on the bathroom floor.
3. Take the trash can from under the desk and the trash can from the bathroom and place them together next to the sheets (by the bathroom door).
4. Replace the iron and ironing board (wrap or retract cord of iron)
5. Replace the tv remote to where it was on checkin day
6. Open the curtains.

You have just saved the attendant minutes and her energy by saving her the steps she has to take to walk to the other side of the room to grab the trash can and walk back to the other side of the room. Stripping the bed takes little time but again, energy. Finding the remote and walking it back to place...energy/time. Ironing board and iron...energy and time.

She would appreciate these steps probably more than a tip.​

When we check out of a hotel room, any trash is left in the little waste cans - we never leave trash (cups, napkins, etc) just randomly out & scattered on surfaces. If we had a pizza box, had my DH not done something w/ the box already, it would be beside one of the waste cans - and, typically, our trash is contained to the bathroom waste can & maybe one in the room. All our towels are left in a pile in the bathroom floor. I also throw away any used bars of soap. The remote is put back w/ the TV, & anything else we might have used (ironing board) is put away. I leave the beds unmade, but I don't strip the sheets. (When we check-in, I always fold back the bedspreads or duvet covers because I know they're not clean, so I just leave the covers folded back.) And I leave the curtains open. We always travel w/ Clorox wipes, so I'll usually wipe down the bathroom counter & wipe out any toothpaste residue left in the sink as well.

There are "check-out rules" at the beach condo where we stay which we follow - strip the beds & leave the sheets in the center of the beds, collect all dirty towels & other linens & put them in a laundry basket in front of the in-unit washer & dryer, start the first load of towels in the washer, put the coffee pot & any other dirty dishes in the dishwasher & start the dishwasher, & take all trash to the main trash receptacle on the property. In addition to the those things, I throw away any used soap & wipe down the bathroom & kitchen counters w/ a Clorox wipe.

In 2016, we rented a vehicle 3 times. We didn't wash the vehicle before returning it, but we did pick up the interior & made sure all our trash was out.

I never want get so entitled that I think someone else "appreciates" the opportunity of getting to pick up my trash.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I find it really suprising that people think that leaving trash behind for others to pick up would be appreciated as providing a job or that people would actually be insulted if trash were not left behind. This is absolutely not how my mind works.

And, personally, I do not feel that I am paying for someone to clean up my rental car for me---I feel I am paying to be provided with a clean, safe, well serviced car to drive in the designated time frame of the rental contract.