Hotel cleanliness
Mar 30, 2014 | 12:50 pm
#16
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I'll take option 2 thanks. So far so good.
Mar 30, 2014 | 3:46 pm
#18
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As my NOLS hiking instructor once said, after eating a piece of food he'd dropped on the ground, "if it were that easy, we'd all be dead by now."
I've never gotten sick from a hotel, subway, or handling money. I do tend to wash my hands after riding the subway and before eating, but not always.
People have evolved with bacteria for a few million years. We're used to the vast majority of them. In fact, about six pounds of the average adult human's body weight is bacteria.
I've never gotten sick from a hotel, subway, or handling money. I do tend to wash my hands after riding the subway and before eating, but not always.
People have evolved with bacteria for a few million years. We're used to the vast majority of them. In fact, about six pounds of the average adult human's body weight is bacteria.
Mar 30, 2014 | 4:03 pm
#19
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I have a live and let live policy with dirt and germs. I don't worry too much about them, and it appears they don't worry too much about me.
However, if you really want to worry about germs I suggest you worry most about your shoes. Think of all the dirty nasty things you stepped in during the day, that public bathroom floor, the dog pee on the street, etc... Now, just how often to you wash you hands after touching your shoes, just how often do you scrub your shoes with bleach to kill off those nasties!!!
However, if you really want to worry about germs I suggest you worry most about your shoes. Think of all the dirty nasty things you stepped in during the day, that public bathroom floor, the dog pee on the street, etc... Now, just how often to you wash you hands after touching your shoes, just how often do you scrub your shoes with bleach to kill off those nasties!!!
Mar 30, 2014 | 4:11 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: UA 1/MM SPG gold, CEO: Grandmother of 4
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I thought perhaps I should post my observations about hotel cleanliness. I was Director of Housekeeping at a major downtown chain hotel (one with all those points, etc.) As a result of those years I insist that those I love travel with the following:
1. A small bag of Clorox antispectic wipes
2. A disposable sheet (in case you can't get extra sheets from hotel)
3. A small hand towel and face cloth from home.
4. A small (legal)amount of liquid dish soap
5. A small (legal ) amount of 90% alcohol
Here's why:
1. The first thing the maid will do is wipe down the tub, she will then take whatever wet clothes and towels are on the floor to the cart, but the towels that have been used and are on the sink will be used to wipe down the counters! I clorox the door handles in the bathroom also.
2. Those fabric covered sofas and chairs--forget about sitting on those! Fabric furniture NEVER gets cleaned properly, or if it does get a shampoo every year or so that is not nearly enough to take care of the problem. Cover the chair with a bath towel and ask the front desk for two extra sheets (one for the sofa and the other to top sheet your bed (after you pulled the comforter off the bed). If the seating is plastic or leather wipe it down with the clorox cloth!
3. Those hand towels have been used for cleaning everything! It's your call, but sometimes you will be happy to have your own!
4. Those glasses--better hope they are the plastic kind pre-sealed in shrink wrap. If not, re wash the glass with your clorox wipe and rinse the glass well! NEVER, ever drink from a glass you have not washed.
In countries where traveller's tummy is a real threat don't forget to rinse out your glass, your toothbrush, anything you are going to put to your lips with bottled water.
Remember: most major hotels now use a wipe down product for their bath tups and sinks--it does not disinfect the way good old comet used to! it just makes every thing shine and takes away the scum. I usually put a hand towel in the bottom of the tub or shower stall so I can stand on that.
You should know that it is not unusual for human urine to show up on the bedroom walls under the special spectrum light. If you want to know how good your maid is look under the bed first thing! That'll give you a clue as to how to proceed.
I am not compulsive, but I have learned the hard reality of hotel housekeeping.
1. A small bag of Clorox antispectic wipes
2. A disposable sheet (in case you can't get extra sheets from hotel)
3. A small hand towel and face cloth from home.
4. A small (legal)amount of liquid dish soap
5. A small (legal ) amount of 90% alcohol
Here's why:
1. The first thing the maid will do is wipe down the tub, she will then take whatever wet clothes and towels are on the floor to the cart, but the towels that have been used and are on the sink will be used to wipe down the counters! I clorox the door handles in the bathroom also.
2. Those fabric covered sofas and chairs--forget about sitting on those! Fabric furniture NEVER gets cleaned properly, or if it does get a shampoo every year or so that is not nearly enough to take care of the problem. Cover the chair with a bath towel and ask the front desk for two extra sheets (one for the sofa and the other to top sheet your bed (after you pulled the comforter off the bed). If the seating is plastic or leather wipe it down with the clorox cloth!
3. Those hand towels have been used for cleaning everything! It's your call, but sometimes you will be happy to have your own!
4. Those glasses--better hope they are the plastic kind pre-sealed in shrink wrap. If not, re wash the glass with your clorox wipe and rinse the glass well! NEVER, ever drink from a glass you have not washed.
In countries where traveller's tummy is a real threat don't forget to rinse out your glass, your toothbrush, anything you are going to put to your lips with bottled water.
Remember: most major hotels now use a wipe down product for their bath tups and sinks--it does not disinfect the way good old comet used to! it just makes every thing shine and takes away the scum. I usually put a hand towel in the bottom of the tub or shower stall so I can stand on that.
You should know that it is not unusual for human urine to show up on the bedroom walls under the special spectrum light. If you want to know how good your maid is look under the bed first thing! That'll give you a clue as to how to proceed.
I am not compulsive, but I have learned the hard reality of hotel housekeeping.
Your post will be helpful to most people......... some people are happy just doing what ever
works for them! Safe travels!
Mar 30, 2014 | 4:22 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 1,574
I'm the same way. I work with a few germophobes and it seems like they're always taking sick days. I haven't had one in years. I figure I give my immune system plenty of practice by not reaching for the hand sanitizer after I touch anything.
Mar 30, 2014 | 5:39 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Taking spare sheets and towels with you is your choice.
Insisting your loved ones do it too is just annoying.
However the reason why we use hotels instead of carting our homes on our backs is so we can travel lightly. We expect them to provide bed linen and towels. Most of us can accept that some of the world's 7bn people might have used the facilities before.
Using handwipes etc isn't a bad policy when you have a cold or there's one going about I guess, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
Insisting your loved ones do it too is just annoying.
However the reason why we use hotels instead of carting our homes on our backs is so we can travel lightly. We expect them to provide bed linen and towels. Most of us can accept that some of the world's 7bn people might have used the facilities before.
Using handwipes etc isn't a bad policy when you have a cold or there's one going about I guess, but you have to draw the line somewhere.
Mar 30, 2014 | 9:23 pm
#23
Join Date: Sep 2010
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I appreciate the OP's post and found it interesting -- I have no doubt there's dirt or germs of various types in all hotel rooms no matter how clean they look to the naked eye. But.... who cares? I figure I get exposed to the same or worse out on the street, in a Starbucks, in an office, on an airplane, etc.
Since I started traveling heavily some years back (weekly flights, 120-180 nights/year in a hotel) I have actually noticed I get sick less frequently and when I do get a mild case of sniffles it seems to be gone within only a handful of days. I can only assume my immune system has gotten stronger from the increased exposure to a variety of environments and germs. I try to remember to wash my hands when leaving a restroom and that's about it, and it works fine for me.
Since I started traveling heavily some years back (weekly flights, 120-180 nights/year in a hotel) I have actually noticed I get sick less frequently and when I do get a mild case of sniffles it seems to be gone within only a handful of days. I can only assume my immune system has gotten stronger from the increased exposure to a variety of environments and germs. I try to remember to wash my hands when leaving a restroom and that's about it, and it works fine for me.
Mar 30, 2014 | 11:54 pm
#24
Join Date: Oct 2006
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I think I've heard the "urine on the wall" thing quite a bit about hotels (among other things on the walls).
Stupid question - outside of the bathroom, how exactly does urine get on the wall? Or do I really not want to know?
Stupid question - outside of the bathroom, how exactly does urine get on the wall? Or do I really not want to know?
Mar 31, 2014 | 12:03 am
#25
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Sheets and pillowcases are, IMHO, generally OK (since they have been washed); I understand that blankets and sheetcovers are almost never cleaned (or, at least, infrequently).
Mar 31, 2014 | 12:24 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hyatt Place
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Posts: 5,894
1. The first thing the maid will do is wipe down the tub, she will then take whatever wet clothes and towels are on the floor to the cart, but the towels that have been used and are on the sink will be used to wipe down the counters! I clorox the door handles in the bathroom also.
I've actually caught on to this concept myself over the years of travels. Problem is, I don't know what to do with that info. I can't fathom that dust under the bed could be grounds for requesting a room change... would people do that?
Last edited by evergrn; Mar 31, 2014 at 1:44 am
Mar 31, 2014 | 4:58 am
#27
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Stupid question - outside of the bathroom, how exactly does urine get on the wall? Or do I really not want to know?
"OMG what did you do?" I said.
"I hit the roof!"
:-)
Mar 31, 2014 | 5:26 am
#28
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Mar 31, 2014 | 9:32 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2007
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You don't mark your territory in new places? It makes it feel more homelike and keeps other packs from encroaching.
Mar 31, 2014 | 2:09 pm
#30
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Posts: 10,131
we have twice contracted a norovirus. pretty sure it came from the hotel. i sleep in full body cover(pj's and socks), and carry my own pillow case. the reason is, the hotels use pure lye soap, or worse to keep the germophobes quiet. my delicate skin gets burned from the harsh chemicals.