Post by High Priestess on Mar 1, 2016 15:06:15 GMT
Don shared 2 years ago on HOsting 911
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-15070
Unused Cream cheese and butter
First, in the discussions concerning various things, the question came up about used soap...I found that there are some web sites that deal with providing small hotel size quantities of these things; here is one of them, called Personal Care Accessories: www.americanhotel.com/hotel-supplies/Guest-Room-Amenities-and-Supplies/Personal-Care-Accessories.aspx
I haven't used them yet, but it looks like you can purchase a lot of various items for what we do. (i.e. soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.).
My question, however, is concerning another type of unused item: butter and Cream cheese. I provide O.J. and never reuse what is left over, but I have been leaving the butter and cream cheese in the fridge until it gets to about 2/3's down...what is the general consensus concerning this? I haven't seen anything wrong, but I don't want to offend my guests.
10 comments•1 like
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Kitty & Creek
Susan
Susan2 years ago
just my .02... toiletries should be in unused condition. one can find sample sizes at any walgreens/cvs pharmacies, just stock 'em up and refill with new ones if necessary. as to food items, it's kinda "yuckie" to be met with partically used butter/cream cheese and other odd items in the fridge. my Guests purchase and consume their own food and do not (and probably choose not) to use any opened food items in the fridge. one never knows if a Guest will be "turned off" by something partially used/opened that is available for consumption. I'd say, err on the conservative side and always provide unused items for Guest use.
Reply Like 1 reply•4 likes
Don
Don2 years ago
Thanks...
Jamie, he's Jerry
Jamie, he's Jerry2 years ago
i think it would be a good idea to parcel up things like butter and cream cheese into individual servings. that way they don't look shared. it has not been a problem for us however.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Don
Don2 years ago
How do you parcel it up?
Elen
Elen2 years ago
I would not put out butter if it was opened. Could really be a turn-off. When cleaning out the fridge after a guest leaves, I do various things:
1.) If there is left-over butter, I just make cookies!
2. Left-over Peanut butter makes great cookies too.
3. I found that filling a jam pot from a larger size was not a hit. Nobody wants to try it because it still looked like it was 'handled.' So I started making my own jam in small jars. It's amazing how much the guests loved it and were thrilled with home-made jam. And very cost-effective.
I think the difference is: if the food comes out of a bottle by squeezing, (like catsup) it can be offered to the next guest. If it's something a person might have used their knife or fork in, like mayonnaise or butter, I don't re-serve it.
Reply Like 4 replies•5 likes
Don
Don2 years ago
Thanks...good insight.
Susan
Susan2 years ago
Elen, right on. Frankly, as a Host one should look back on the "swanky-iest" stay they've ever had - be it the W, the Delano, or the Grosvenor - new, unopened and clean!
Kim
Kim2 years ago
Elen...great ideas!
Elen
Elen2 years ago
Exactly, Susan. I try to think of myself as the guest. How would I like it?
Kim
Kim2 years ago
Most guests don't want to eat stuff left over from prior guests, even if it's obvious that it's in good condition. My solution has been to put all left-over -but still perfectly good juice, milk, butter, cream cheese, olive oil, and even fruit and vegetables or cured meats into a paper bag and hang it on the outside of the organic garbage containers on the street. This is what other neighbors do here, because they are a lot of poor people in Barcelona looking in food in the trash. When they see a bag hanging on the outside of the container, they know that it's extra food that people in the neighbor leave for them.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Susan
Susan2 years ago
I "wish" that could work here in Los Angeles... I just dump out the opened used items - "I" don't want to touch them and know the next Guest will not either.
Kim
Kim2 years ago
Oops, sorry for the typos. I meant to say "there" are a lot of poor people in Barcelona looking for food in the trash. This is so tragic. I can't bear to let good food go to waste, and I recycle everything else as well.
Reply Like 1 like
Don
Don2 years ago
Thanks to all for your insights and suggestions! We're new at this (1.5 months) and are still learning the ropes!
Reply Like 1 like
Jamie, he's Jerry
Jamie, he's Jerry2 years ago
you can buy chocolate making trays at michaels at hobby lobby. but you might find it more effective to just buy individual servings at costco. it generates a lot of waste but it eliminates any ick factor. i have had over 100 guests and it has never come up. our one negative guest comments came from other issues, not food.
Reply Like 2 likes
Jeanne
Jeanne2 years ago
For toiletries we put out full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Between guests we sanitize the outside of the bottles. No soap bars and much less expensive than individual toiletries. A 3 slot wall dispenser would be even nicer. For cream cheese I purchase individual 1 oz packages at Sam's. I utilize a vacuum sealer to partition foods such as coffee or snacks into individual portions.
Reply Like 4 likes
Allison
Allison2 years ago
I purchased a body wash/shampoo/conditioner dispenser for our guest room shower.
Best. Investment. Ever!!
Reply Like 2 likes
Jamie, he's Jerry
Jamie, he's Jerry2 years ago
This post had me thinking about individual soaps and I did a search for same. I found two really good soap makers in Colorado when I was there, and I think I can do individual soaps for bath and shower. I will keep you posted as I get more info. She is sending me samples and I will be checking out others who might be more local.
Reply Like 3 likes
Deborah
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-15070
Unused Cream cheese and butter
First, in the discussions concerning various things, the question came up about used soap...I found that there are some web sites that deal with providing small hotel size quantities of these things; here is one of them, called Personal Care Accessories: www.americanhotel.com/hotel-supplies/Guest-Room-Amenities-and-Supplies/Personal-Care-Accessories.aspx
I haven't used them yet, but it looks like you can purchase a lot of various items for what we do. (i.e. soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, etc.).
My question, however, is concerning another type of unused item: butter and Cream cheese. I provide O.J. and never reuse what is left over, but I have been leaving the butter and cream cheese in the fridge until it gets to about 2/3's down...what is the general consensus concerning this? I haven't seen anything wrong, but I don't want to offend my guests.
10 comments•1 like
Follow
Like
Kitty & Creek
Susan
Susan2 years ago
just my .02... toiletries should be in unused condition. one can find sample sizes at any walgreens/cvs pharmacies, just stock 'em up and refill with new ones if necessary. as to food items, it's kinda "yuckie" to be met with partically used butter/cream cheese and other odd items in the fridge. my Guests purchase and consume their own food and do not (and probably choose not) to use any opened food items in the fridge. one never knows if a Guest will be "turned off" by something partially used/opened that is available for consumption. I'd say, err on the conservative side and always provide unused items for Guest use.
Reply Like 1 reply•4 likes
Don
Don2 years ago
Thanks...
Jamie, he's Jerry
Jamie, he's Jerry2 years ago
i think it would be a good idea to parcel up things like butter and cream cheese into individual servings. that way they don't look shared. it has not been a problem for us however.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Don
Don2 years ago
How do you parcel it up?
Elen
Elen2 years ago
I would not put out butter if it was opened. Could really be a turn-off. When cleaning out the fridge after a guest leaves, I do various things:
1.) If there is left-over butter, I just make cookies!
2. Left-over Peanut butter makes great cookies too.
3. I found that filling a jam pot from a larger size was not a hit. Nobody wants to try it because it still looked like it was 'handled.' So I started making my own jam in small jars. It's amazing how much the guests loved it and were thrilled with home-made jam. And very cost-effective.
I think the difference is: if the food comes out of a bottle by squeezing, (like catsup) it can be offered to the next guest. If it's something a person might have used their knife or fork in, like mayonnaise or butter, I don't re-serve it.
Reply Like 4 replies•5 likes
Don
Don2 years ago
Thanks...good insight.
Susan
Susan2 years ago
Elen, right on. Frankly, as a Host one should look back on the "swanky-iest" stay they've ever had - be it the W, the Delano, or the Grosvenor - new, unopened and clean!
Kim
Kim2 years ago
Elen...great ideas!
Elen
Elen2 years ago
Exactly, Susan. I try to think of myself as the guest. How would I like it?
Kim
Kim2 years ago
Most guests don't want to eat stuff left over from prior guests, even if it's obvious that it's in good condition. My solution has been to put all left-over -but still perfectly good juice, milk, butter, cream cheese, olive oil, and even fruit and vegetables or cured meats into a paper bag and hang it on the outside of the organic garbage containers on the street. This is what other neighbors do here, because they are a lot of poor people in Barcelona looking in food in the trash. When they see a bag hanging on the outside of the container, they know that it's extra food that people in the neighbor leave for them.
Reply Like 1 reply•2 likes
Susan
Susan2 years ago
I "wish" that could work here in Los Angeles... I just dump out the opened used items - "I" don't want to touch them and know the next Guest will not either.
Kim
Kim2 years ago
Oops, sorry for the typos. I meant to say "there" are a lot of poor people in Barcelona looking for food in the trash. This is so tragic. I can't bear to let good food go to waste, and I recycle everything else as well.
Reply Like 1 like
Don
Don2 years ago
Thanks to all for your insights and suggestions! We're new at this (1.5 months) and are still learning the ropes!
Reply Like 1 like
Jamie, he's Jerry
Jamie, he's Jerry2 years ago
you can buy chocolate making trays at michaels at hobby lobby. but you might find it more effective to just buy individual servings at costco. it generates a lot of waste but it eliminates any ick factor. i have had over 100 guests and it has never come up. our one negative guest comments came from other issues, not food.
Reply Like 2 likes
Jeanne
Jeanne2 years ago
For toiletries we put out full size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Between guests we sanitize the outside of the bottles. No soap bars and much less expensive than individual toiletries. A 3 slot wall dispenser would be even nicer. For cream cheese I purchase individual 1 oz packages at Sam's. I utilize a vacuum sealer to partition foods such as coffee or snacks into individual portions.
Reply Like 4 likes
Allison
Allison2 years ago
I purchased a body wash/shampoo/conditioner dispenser for our guest room shower.
Best. Investment. Ever!!
Reply Like 2 likes
Jamie, he's Jerry
Jamie, he's Jerry2 years ago
This post had me thinking about individual soaps and I did a search for same. I found two really good soap makers in Colorado when I was there, and I think I can do individual soaps for bath and shower. I will keep you posted as I get more info. She is sending me samples and I will be checking out others who might be more local.
Reply Like 3 likes
Deborah