Always Bring These Things When You Crash at a Friend’s Place

A presumptuous houseguest is a houseguest that is unlikely to be invited back. No one wants the type of guest who assumes they have free rein to use appliances and household wares without limits. Sure, everyone needs access to certain amenities in the home, but you can be a better guest by bringing a few of these extras anytime you crash at someone else’s home.

A power strip

As Reddit points out, you can do yourself (and your host) a favour by bringing a power strip — or two — with you. Electrical outlets are coveted household real estate. Particularly in the event of a crowded home, bring your own power strip so you’re not using someone else’s charger, unplugging appliances, moving furniture to find extra outlets, or generally posing a nuisance for your host in pursuit of electricity.

Towels and a pillowcase

Bringing your own towel nips a potentially awkward situation in the bud. Everyone needs to bathe, it’s true, but not everyone wants to handle a towel that has wiped you clean. Another item you might want to consider, especially if you’ll be crashing at someone’s place for a while, is a pillowcase (and even your own pillow). If anything, it’s helpful to cut down on your host’s laundry load, and you probably prefer yours anyway.

A foldable hamper or laundry basket

To avoid potentially cluttering your own space — or having your clothes mixed with other people’s — you might want to bring a foldable hamper or laundry basket. Especially if you’ll be staying long enough to need to do laundry, it’s the perfect spot to let your dirty clothes accumulate, and it’s one less thing your host has to provide.

Your own water bottle or commuter cup

Dishes pile up even when it’s only an immediate family unit living in the same space. Bringing your own water bottle (or commuter cup or thermos for things like coffee), shows your host that you’re aware of how easily a kitchen can become cluttered and saves you from rummaging through their cabinets too much.

Ear plugs

You might not be on the same sleep schedule as your host. In the event that they go to bed later than you, you can do yourself (and them) a service by bringing foam ear plugs so they don’t feel like they’ve got to keep the noise level down too much when you turn in early.

Your own laundry detergent

This might be going above and beyond, but it shows a great deal of conscientiousness when you bring something like laundry detergent, which is an essential household item that can run pretty thin when a dwelling gets crowded.

Of course, this is all contingent upon the length of your stay, but thinking about what you can bring, as opposed to what your host can provide, will invariably make you a more helpful, gracious guest.