# Important rules when inviting guests to your house **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 18, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438 "2003-01-18T07:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/1 "2003-01-18T07:18:56Z")
Actually, my rules only pertain to the bathroom. When inviting guests over, whether for a couple of hours or a couple of days, make sure that: There’s plenty of toilet paper, including a spare roll somewhere if the length of stay or number of guests might make it necessary. You have a trashcan somewhere near the toilet, or at least in the bathroom. Unless all of your guests are men or post-menopausal women, some of us ladies have _items_ that need proper disposal. _You do not want us flushing them._ You provide soap. You provide a clean hand towel. Let me emphasize that: a CLEAN hand towel. Your hand towel should not be the same one up there for five years, never washed. Is all this too much to ask? If not, why am I one of the only ones of our friends that bothers? Note: this only counts for invited guests. Drop ins have to take what they get and deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/2 "2003-01-18T14:18:30Z")
Okay, who did what to who to bring this on? ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/3 "2003-01-18T14:53:38Z")
Nothing. This has been irking me for some time now, and I was thinking about it when I was cleaning the house yesterday for guests today. I always make sure that I’ve provided the above, and I’m irritated that others won’t do the same. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/4 "2003-01-18T15:42:12Z")
Ah. Well, for what it’s worth, I agree – the bathroom is definitely the one room I make sure looks spiffy for company. (After all, they’re in there alone, with plenty of time to snoop around…) ---
**Author:** ![TheNerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TheNerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNerd)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/5 "2003-01-18T16:12:43Z")
I follow one simple rule when inviting people into my home: No vampires or law enforcement personell. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/6 "2003-01-18T20:22:21Z")
be sure to have interesting items in the medicine cabinet. it makes it more fun to snoop. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/7 "2003-01-18T20:28:46Z")
If you invite someone over ‘to have a beer and watch the game,’ that doesn’t mean A beer. ---
**Author:** ![Triss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Triss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triss)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/8 "2003-01-18T20:36:46Z")
One main rule for my houseguests: Only come when you can’t stay too long. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/9 "2003-01-18T20:52:42Z")
Houseguests are like fish. After 3 days they get smelly… ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/10 "2003-01-18T22:11:37Z")
Ugg… tell me about it, Ruby! My ex-housmate had his girlfriend over as a “guest” for about 6 months. We finally kicked them both out (well, he moved out willingly, thankfully taking her with him!). She was a messy slob, and REFUSED to clean up her own messes (especially in the kitchen) because she “had her own apartment to clean”. Nevermind that she was in ours, 24/7!!! Don’t get me started on the mooching of the phone and internet service…!! I generally try and keep the apartment clean, but I’m really lazy. On the other hand, the only people we ever have over are other students who are likely living in much the same situations, so its not like we need to impress them. We do clean for parental visits, though, which don’t happen all that often due to the 800km between us! ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/11 "2003-01-18T22:26:26Z")
Houseguest: Do Not Take the Last One of ANYTHING. My friend Mike drops by one evening. I have 3 cans of beer. _3_. I’m planning to drink them, one by one. So I’ve had one, and I’m about to get the next one. Here comes Mike, and he goes: Hey, you got a beer? Me: well, I’ve only got two left ~ Mike: (grabbing beer) Great! One for you and one for me ! Sheesh. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/12 "2003-01-19T02:31:35Z")
**NinetyWt,** I think this memo’s for you . . . **To: NinetyWt** **From: Big Bird, c/o Sesame Street.** Hi, Ninety! I just wanted to remind you that it’s nice to share with your friends, When your friends won’t share with you, how do you feel? You feel sad, don’t you? So share with your friends! It’s fun to share. Have a nice day! Your friend, Big Bird. [sub]This memo was brought to you by the number 7 and the letter K.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/13 "2003-01-19T05:12:43Z")
When me and my best friend were roomies, we only had one rule when guests were anticipated: **WEAR PANTS** Phouchg Lovable Rogue ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/14 "2003-01-19T06:18:58Z")
Humm. My beau always comments about the lack of garbage can in my bathroom. I always toss stuff in the can in my bedroom, so it hadn’t really occured to me. I guess since I’m having a bunch of gals over for a Pampered Chef party next Sunday, I better pick one up, huh. How clueless am I that this never occured to me?😕 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/15 "2003-01-19T21:17:49Z")
waaaaaaaaaaaaah **Podkayne** it’s not my fault … _sniff_ I _still_ can’t tell which “one of these things is not like the others …” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/16 "2003-01-19T23:13:19Z")
If you are sleeping on the couch/fold-out bed and you wake up in the middle of the night because the dog is sitting and staring at you . . . it’s because you are in her bed. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/17 "2003-01-19T23:59:22Z")
It’s very simple. We have a few Guest Hand Towels. They are only used when we have Guest Hands in the House. Otherwise they are kept carefully under wraps in the Guest Hand Towel Closet. Also, those adorable -gag- soaps shaped like a rose bud are kept for when we have Guests in the House who might actually make use of soaps that look like a rose bud. The bathroom is kept spotless for such visits. The rest of the house? Ehhh… well. 😃 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/18 "2003-01-20T00:12:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whistlepig \* > \*\*If you are sleeping on the couch/fold-out bed and you wake up in the middle of the night because the dog is sitting and staring at you . . . > > it’s because you are in her bed. \*\* Good show. My hounds act as though my guest are there to visit them. They are pretty well-behaved but can demand attention at times. ---
**Author:** ![leechbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@leechbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leechbabe)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/19 "2003-01-20T00:20:39Z")
I’m currently suffering from visitor toilet trauma – maybe the collective wisdom of the teeming millions can assist. We have just moved house and the toilet is located next to the laundry (to be precise you must pass through the laundry to enter the toilet). Our bathroom is at the opposite end of the house. Now do I place soap (pump pack) and hand towel in the laundry next to the tub? Or do I place these items in the bathroom. Further clarification – the laundry has no nice place to hang a towel so if I put the towel in there is it okay to hang it over the edge of the tub? Or should I place the towel on top of my washing machine. Is it okay to have the machine running whilst there are guests or should it be off and all signs of dirty laundry hidden under my bed? My cat litter lives in the laundry also and can on considered offensive to non-cat people. Should I banish the litter and the moggies to the outside world whilst my guests are visiting to make the toilet experience more pleasant? ---
**Author:** ![nuthinboutnuthin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@nuthinboutnuthin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuthinboutnuthin)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438/20 "2003-01-20T02:45:41Z")
Whether you are single or married,male or female I would suggest having at all times… a few feminine sanitary products of some sort placed in an easily accessible area of the bathroom… Someday, someone will be forever grateful … and may even mention you in their will… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/important-rules-when-inviting-guests-to-your-house/149438.md?page=2)