DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am the hostess to two frequent houseguests (a married couple). They are delightful company and thoughtful guests, with one exception: They put their suitcases on the bed to pack and unpack. I have luggage racks in every guest bedroom in my house, including the one where they habitually stay, so there is no need for this distasteful and unsanitary practice.
Can you please suggest a kind way to request that they not put their luggage on the bed? I find it easy to have the kinds of conversations that are house-specific (“These are the Wi-Fi credentials,” “These are the hours we typically eat”). But I struggle with things that seem universal, such as “Please use a coaster” and “Please don’t put your luggage that has just come out of baggage handling onto these freshly laundered bed linens.”
GENTLE READER: There is no effective way to police what guests do in the guest room behind closed doors, which leaves Miss Manners suggesting two alternatives: less easily damaged guest bed covers, or better guests.
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(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
