I'm a guest and we always put as many loads as poss on before we leave, and separate remaining dirty laundry into coloured/whites/towels etc. close by the washing machine.

We think it is only courteous and having found the home in excellent order when we arrived, think we should help do the same for the next guests.

I always feel sorry that I haven't managed to do ALL the laundry, but inevitably you are tied for time to do all the bed linen in 4 bedroom villa on the last morning - and everyone wants to have that last dip in the pool - although we try to encourage everyone to use towels we have brought with us for that last swim, and pack them in our own dirty laundry suitcase.

'Sandpiper Retreat' you can rest easy that even with a New Years Eve hangover , your guest will respect your property and the washer will be on!

It might be a bit 'sad' but I quite enjoy using the American machines whilst away, and it is not as much of a chore somehow. On the last few days I try to wash some of our own clothes so that I haven't got as much when we get home.

And, we always leave our leftover washing tablets, dishwasher tablets, washing up liqid etc, as we have always found supplies on our arrival.