Quality of sleep is THE most important thing as far as I’m concerned. Good mattress/mattress topper/soft sheets and pillow cases (all white) and variety of pillows. Good mattress cover – vinyl lined is best although I’m trying a bamboo one that is more breathable.
Towels that don’t get scratchy! I just read that dryer sheets and fabric softeners are not always the best choice. Especially for people who are sensitive or allergic to certain odors.
OTOH, you can’t please everyone!
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I agree about the comfort of the bed, non-scratchy towels, and not using dryer sheets and other scented laundry products. But “all-white” has zero to do with quality or comfort. 
That’s simply a matter of personal aesthetics.
Easier to get stains out!
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As a person with allergies I would never use the makeup remover. You might want to consider just the gray towels you can buy in bulk.
Well you won’t please me at all. I and many people are allergic. I use fragrance and dye free laundry detergent and fabric softener and reusable wool balls for static in the dryer.
A lot of people who have eczema don’t realize it’s the chemicals and products that bought their skin that make the condition worse.
Someone with allergies to specifics would always make choices based on their needs - nut allergy? Don’t eat nuts; makeup remover allergy? Don’t use makeup remover. Allergic to dryer sheets? Ask BEFORE booking.
Airbnb hosts tend to want to ‘please’ guests, but I for one do not (in these cases). I prefer guests who do not put themselves ‘in harm’s way’ simply to save a few dollars on a hotel room.
My worst guests have been those who book and then are disappointed that their idiosyncratic needs were not met. A message saying ‘I am allergic to the smells from laundry detergents’ after they have checked in means I have a ‘guest who assumes the world revolves around them’. Do guests expect me to have another room for them sans whatever annoys them?
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Having severe reactions to chemicals and scents is not an idiosyncrasy and it’s in my opinion a disability. I book airbnb’s because hosts are more accommodating and have more flexibility in cleaning than hotels. I know you hate this but I don’t communicate my needs before I book (and others on this forum have also criticized me) but what I do is:
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If it’s in driving distance, I just pack my own bedding and towels and just ask that they remove air fresheners.
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If it’s not in driving distance, I offer to ship them (at my cost) cleaning and laundry supplies. I really think that that does not make me a problem guest. If there is a washer/dryer on the premises, I just pack my stuff and just ask that air fresheners are removed.
You attitude speaks of not understanding what true allergies are like. I do not have a sensitivities, I have allergies. Even if they were just sensitivities, the reactions are real.
It sounds like you are almost not believing that these allergies/sensitivities exists and are difficult to live with. You also imply that people like me think the world revolves around myself. The only way I can avoid any harmful chemicals and scents is to never leave my home. I expect to have reactions but try to minimize them as much as possible without asking an undue burden on the host.
Here’s a link to perhaps educate yourself and maybe you might show more compassion.
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IMO, regardess of whether people have allergies or sensitivities to chemically scented products, it can’t be good for anyone to breathe those things. It can take decades for cancers, for instance, to develop. You don’t get skin cancer from a sunburn you got 6 months ago, it’s from sunburns you got as a child.
If there are non-toxic alternatives to products, it seems like a no-brainer to use them.
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Of course! And I for one am very adamant that the products I purchase have these attributes. But it’s not about toxicity, it is sometimes about sensitivity - I have heard of guests getting specific about the presence of certain food items that are benign to others, or the need to avoid certain fabrics. These are not things that can be forseen by a host - a package of peanuts left for a guest or even specific ingredients of a cleaning product, for example.
Additionally, without a discussion with a guest who fears allergic reactions so that they can be either prepared or to cancel we hosts have no way to avoid the dreaded ‘3 stars’ when a guest decides that the host does not cater to their situation.
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I’m not going to go by each of your critiques. I will just say that this has been my experience and what I have to navigate. I have all 5 star reviews from places I’ve stayed at.
I feel like this conversation has become personal and nasty.
I don’t really appreciate when folks think it’s ok to not take people’s disabilities seriously. That was what I was addressing. To call disabilities idiosyncrasies shows a level of ignorance toward those who are handicapped.
You and others went much further and were not kind. And yes, it was personal.
I think I add valuable advice to this forum but there is no place for how nasty you and other have reacted to my comments. You did get personal.
I apparently need your cleaners. My cleaners have their way of cleaning, and that is that. I could supply them with your cleaning products, but I’d guess the chance of them using them instead of what they are long used to is about the same as the chance they’ll fold the towels the way I like or set out the amenities I supply. I do a quality control walkthrough when they are finished, to refold the towels, and set out all the amenities, but at that point I wouldn’t be able to tell if they washed the sheets with your detergent or cleaned with your products.
What you are looking for are hosts that clean their own places. I don’t know of a way to filter for that, so if you really are looking for people to guarantee your needs you really need to ask before you book. Demanding once you book might not get you what you need.
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It’s not a sure-fire method by any means, but it’s more likely that listings without a cleaning fee are hands-on host cleaned.
You are probably right about the cleaners. After I re-opened after the pandemic I had a hard time finding cleaners that cleaned the way we need to for an Airbnb. I do the cleaning myself.
Well I disagree. I made a comment about make up remover and suggested using gray towels. That’s when someone patronized me about allergies.
SO, in the last hour I had a guest who booked yesterday and tells me now that they are very sensitive to fragrances and hope we don’t use any, not have plug-in, use fabric sheets etc.
Actually our listing says that we use Persil ProClean Free & Sensitive Laundry Detergent. We use woolen balls in the dryer to reduce static electricity. Our listing also says that we use Lysol fabric disinfectant that regrettably does have a lavender scent on the living room furniture and asks if that is an issue. [Lysol does not make a fabric disinfectant without a scent.]
I was not put off by this post-booking guest disclosure. I offered to not use that Lysol spray immediately prior to their stay but I raised the issue of prior use and possible lingering scents. I offered to use an ozone generator in the living room area (it is a bit of a project because we need to remove all the houseplants, of which there are many in that area). We would do this at no charge. I am waiting for their response if they’d like us to do that, which they will probably say ‘yes’ to because there is no charge and no potential detriment.
Yes, I think it would have been better for the guest to mention this earlier but I don’t see it as a big deal. Not to say that my reaction is the ‘right’ or ‘best’ one, just that I have the time and energy for this.
We bought the ozone generator with the idea that we’d periodically use this in the bedrooms (where we have no plants), but I view this as ‘upping’ our hospitality game and sanitizing procedures.
In my own STR I state that we use scent free products for cleaning and bedding and linens but that I can not guarantee a completely scent free place to stay. Even with my allergies, I can not guarantee my place will meet everyone’s needs.
I too use free and clear laundry detergent (there are less expensive ones on the market now - even store brands) . Free and Clear fabric softener and wool balls.
I personally would never ask a host to go as far as you have offered but thanks for understanding and going the extra mile.
FYI - There are scent-free disinfectant (From the smell, it seems like vinegar and water). I spray it on the coach. Lysol also makes a scent free sanitizer for the laundry. (I use this for the cool water washes when I can not use bleach). I do offer my guests the option not to use bleach if they let me know at least 2 days before they check in.
I also run a HEPA machine for up 24 hours before the guests arrive to help clean the air.
I’ve used Ozone machines before and they do scare me a bit. I once got a great deal on a car but the person was a smoker. Unbelievable about how well it worked.
Could you tell me please what scent-free disinfectant you can use on fabrics because I could not find any?
Yess, we use the Lysol scent-free sanitizer in a pre-wash/soak. The Lysol site says that used that way it is a disinfectant; if used in the rinse it sanitizes. My understanding is that it is better to disinfect. Do I have that right?
By the way, is there a reason why a guest might object to bleach??
On the ozone machine, this is the one I bought:
It’s not expensive: $72. Our plan is to use these in the bedrooms. I’m not sure that this is the best one to buy because eventually the ceramic plate that creates the ozone wears out, and I don’t see how to buy the replacement for the O-777 unit. Also, an ozone generator can kill bacteria, fungus, mold, even insects but the manual for this generator just talks about it eliminating odors. So it might not be strong enough for those other potential benefits of an ozone generator.
The smell. 2020202020
Regarding Ozone machine - I live in a very old house and I would have to remove my pets and about 40 plants so unfortunately that is not an option.
Regarding sanitize vs disinfect - I don’t know. I suppose one could google the answer.
Regarding bleach - I’m not sure but I occasionally get the request not to use. It’s probably due to Chemical Sensitivity Allergies.
Disinfectant - I have a guest right now so I can’t go upstairs to check. Sorry but it’s not really a fabric disinfectant but more for surfaces. Honestly I think it’s vinegar and water. I got it at Ocean job lot so it might be an odd brand that’s discontinued. I did find this however: https://www.amazon.com/One-Step-Disinfectant-Fragrance-Free-Friendly-Products/dp/B08KWXM6MH/ref=sr_1_7?crid=12QCNAK9H1ENR&keywords=fragrance+free+fabric+disinfectant+spray&qid=1660842528&sprefix=fragrance+free+fabric+disinfectant+spray%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-7
I’m starting to ease up on my over-cleaning due to Covid.
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