We set out a specific amount of toiletries and supplies for guests to use based on what we think (after 20 years of hosting) they will use, plus an additional 50% more...so there is 150% of what we think they’ll need. This includes toilet paper, soap, shampoo and moisturizer ALL in large size PUMP TOP bottles. The PUMP TOP bottles conserve resources and make it difficult (but not impossible) to pack up and run off with the supplies that are also intended for future guests. We encourage people to fill up their own travel bottles from our supplies and NOT to take our big pump bottles.
We also leave tea, coffee and snacks. Some guests use a little, some a lot and a few will use IT ALL. They figure they are paying for it so why not take it? Which is why we don’t leave out more than we are comfortable giving away.
Our experiences in “classes” of guests:
“Budget” - looking for low cost accommodations and frugal, but lovely people.
“Cheapskate” - clean out ALL the supplies and take them when they leave including toilet paper and paper towels because they “paid for them”, but still generally decent people.
“Criminal” - take the towels and a pillow and then don’t leave cash in the box for the produce they stole from the next door neighbor’s vegetable stand that runs on the honor system...NOT good guests.
99.9% of our guests have been GREAT — even the “cheapskates”! But it’s good to be prepared for that .1% who are not...and when they’re “criminal”, they should be reported to ABB and given an honest review.