Towel

The towel rule is the most universal piece of on-premise lifestyle etiquette, and the reasoning is straightforward: shared mattresses, vinyl benches, and play furniture see dozens of bodies a night, and a barrier of fresh fabric between skin and surface is the only realistic way to keep the room hygienic between scenes. Most clubs hand out a stack at check-in or stock them at the entrance to each playroom; some larger venues issue wristbands or towel-deposit chits to track returns.

The unwritten conventions around the towel are nearly as load-bearing as the rule itself. A towel laid out flat marks a play surface in use; a towel folded or removed signals the surface is free; a towel draped over the shoulder while walking the playroom is read as a person who is open to socialising but not currently in a scene. Used towels go in dedicated hampers, never back on shared furniture, and most clubs stock fresh towels throughout the night rather than expecting one to last a whole visit. Some venues add a wipe-down protocol on top of the towel rule, providing disinfectant spray for participants to clean any vinyl or leather they have used.

Failure to use a towel is rarely treated as a serious violation on first offense - a host or another guest will offer one with a quiet reminder - but repeated failure is one of the few etiquette breaches that can get a couple removed for the night. The same expectation extends to lifestyle resort takeovers and full-ship cruises with on-board playrooms: bring your own from the cabin if the venue does not stock them, and treat the towel as the ticket of admission to any shared play surface.