It always seems bizarre that those people who have cleaners who work at home usually seem to keep their home cleaner than those who don't. Making sure that the room is neat and tidy before the cleaners arrive seems to be a strange waste of time. Yet, not only is it polite and helpful to assist the people who do keep the rooms tidy, but it will also help in some small way to ensure that if you are a repeat visitor, you are more likely to receive a level of service which is of particularly good quality.

Since it is your own belongings which are to be tidied, it is of little trouble to spend a few minutes at the end of your trip, sorting out one or two quick things in your room to save the cleaners both time and trouble.

The first and most obvious point, of course, is to make sure that you have all of your things with you. It is quite easy to leave items behind in drawers and particularly things that may have fallen down the back of units or cabinets. When cleaners make the bed during your stay they will usually remove sheets and blankets and shake these and in so doing it can be the case that small items and pieces of paper are knocked or blown down the back of the bedside cabinet. So check carefully to make sure that you have all of your things with you.

Also, the bedding can be sorted out by yourself in just a moment. Usually the blankets and top cover are left as they are, but by removing both sheets and all the pillow cases, and then stuffing all of these into one pillow case and leaving it in the middle of the room will help the cleaners significantly, and if you have already made yourself known to the cleaners they will be highly appreciative.

In the bathroom, make sure you have taken all of your bottles and cosmetics you intend to take, and anything you don't want, leave in the bin. If you have small children with you, make sure that dirty nappies are sealed into proper nappy disposable bags and not just slung into the bin. Not only is this particularly unpleasant for the cleaner, but it is likely to generate an odor that permeates the entire suite, and will be difficult to get rid of. Whilst you yourself may have, over many months, become quite accustomed to the scent of your little one, the subsequent resident may not be quite as sympathetic. It is remarkable how quickly such a smell can spread.

It goes without saying that toilets should always be flushed and towels left with the sheets and pillow cases. One point often forgotten is the sign on the door handle of your room. Often people leave a 'do not disturb' sign on the outside handle of their door whilst they are packing their cases, but then after leaving the room it is easy to forget that it is still hanging there. A door with a sign on it will mean that the cleaners will be unable to access it, and this will delay them from attending to the room by some considerable time, by which time they will begin cursing you. So always make sure that when you have finished with your room, you remove this sign and return it to the inside of the room.

Depending upon the weather, it is also a nice gesture to open the window slightly and let the room breathe after your stay. These are all simple and quick points that are based more upon courtesy and good manners than anything else, but can make quite a difference. It is surprising how well cleaning staff at hotels remember both the good and the bad residents and alter their cleaning regime accordingly. Invest in your future service wisely by carrying out these steps at the end of your visit.