When your hot tub guests won’t leave

Not too long ago, we received a letter:

Dear Softub Express,

A few weeks ago, we had some friends over. The evening went great! We had a cookout, enjoyed some hot tub time, and in general just had a lot of fun with our friends. But, as my wife and I were ready to wind things down, our friends seemed to be settling in to stay. The evening grew late – very late – before they finally said goodbye.

We want to continue entertaining and sharing our Softub with friends, but how can we make sure the festivities wrap up at a decent hour?

Sincerely,

“Sleepy in Seattle”

Of course, when you have a Softub, it’s not surprising that your guests want to stick around. The comfort, powerful jets and soothing warm water make everyone want to spend as much time as possible inside. But, thankfully, there ARE a few things you can do to help your guests know it’s time to go, without breaking any etiquette rules.

Start cleaning up

Go ahead and start cleaning up the party mess. That’s a pretty clear signal to your guests that it’s time to wrap things up. Put away the food, pick up any wet towels that are laying around – you get the idea. And your guests are likely to as well.

Turn off the tunes

Do you have music playing? Go ahead and turn it off. Instant party killer.

Turn on the lights

If you’ve had any party lights on, shut those off. Then, turn on the harsher patio lights. Beyond holding a sign that says “Please Leave Now” (Which you would never, ever do.), this is the clearest you can be that the party is over.

Good luck, Sleepy in Seattle. And if all else fails, just be honest. If they’re close friends, there’s nothing wrong with telling them you’re tired, and it’s time for the party to end.