When it was time to leave thecottage, I would bring it back to my bed-sit, wash it in the basin, and iron and fold it so that it would be ready for the next visit.
Norgaard does nudge things in that direction, with an arcadian sequence in which Bo is taught to swim and our weary adventurers, rescued by a motherly cottage dweller (Marie Mondrup), are given a stack of pancakes and a bed for the night.