Bedspreads and Blankets NOT Washed?

[dvcdisney]

Oh and by the way I do bring my own Lysol and spray everything down when we arrive and I run the dishwasher to clean all the glasses and dishes.
I also wear slippers or shoes whenever I walk on the floor.

I do all three things. I don't consider myself a germaphobe because I am sure I get enough everyday. However, it doesn't hurt to spray things in hotel rooms. I find it more gross than germy.

I guess I am very naive, because, although I didn't think they cleaned the bedspreads and blankets each time they make it during my stay. I ASSUMED that they clean them BETWEEN guests and that it what is making me . I certainly do not know how disgusting the previous guests are, so I cannot understand why the hotel industry assumes that this is acceptable. It should be a health and safety issue.

But I'm glad I'm aware of it now, I will be taking my own bedding.

 

[CarolA]

Good analogy! The problem is that some of us have more compromised immune systems than others and those people have to adjust acordingly.

Yes, but 90% of the posters on this thread racing around doing all this to "protect" themselves do NOT have any immune system issues except the ones they create by not allowing thier immune system to develop.

 

[lllovell]

Really - people didn't know this? I thought it was pretty standard stuff for anyone that stays in a hotel.

We aren't too worried about it. I don't even wash all the dishes when we get there.

I have washed the blankets before because of a spill (errrr...well - lets call it a spill - I had an infant) but unfortunately, the spread from a king sized bed won't fit in the washing machine at SSR. For those of you that have full sized washers at OKW - stick the dang thing in the washer.

I understand that no one wants to do extra laundry on vacation and that many feel like it is something we should expect, but from a money standpoint, I think it would be horribly expensive. Even duvets (which many want) will take more housekeeping time and thus higher dues or we will all get in our rooms even later.

For the person wanting to know how Mousekeeping feels about requests....I really think this isn't something to be concerned over. Be nice and tip the person that delivers. It is part of their job to see to our comforts and you will be treated well and hopefully handled well (which is no guarantee just like no guarantee of being treated well in any CM interaction).

We all have to do what we can to enjoy life. I think tj is on target with the fact that nothing porous is cleaned in between anyway except for towels and sheets. I can live with that and have no worries. I do worry about making germs stronger but it isn't just antibacterial soaps and cleaners doing that so I dont think a few hundred people a year using lysol at DVC resorts will make any difference.

Laura

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, but 90% of the posters on this thread racing around doing all this to "protect" themselves do NOT have any immune system issues except the ones they create by not allowing thier immune system to develop.

I'll give you that!

 

[MBELSANTI]

Just wanted to make a comment about the glasses not being washed. I am sure most places do a quick rinse and wipe (I saw the 20/20 special too). But we just stayed at VB last month. I know the housekeepers switched out our used mugs with new clean ones. I saw the clean ones on their carts and I saw the dirty ones placed in a big bin and taken away. We stayed 8 days so we had a good amount of time to witness this. But I never saw clean comforters being brought into the rooms.

I wonder if what you saw were mugs from studio villa's? I just came back from a stay and in the 1 bedroom I had to go through almost all of the glasses ( water and small juice) to find one that wasn't dirty. They all had white lip prints on the rims. I promptly put all of them in the dishwasher.

 

[crisi]

Good analogy! The problem is that some of us have more compromised immune systems than others and those people have to adjust acordingly.

Not everyone gets to be the star of the action movie - you need the character who smashes a vase over the head of a Nazi or two, but couldn't take on swarms......

 

[DisneyFreaks]

It just seems to me that people weren't sick as often before the antibacterial hand gel craze and travel size Lysol became a must have.
As someone else said, you can't develop immunity to something until you experience it.

I used to think this way myself until my doctor enlightened me with some mighty horrific germ stories. She states that places such as WDW has guests from all over the world and these folks have different types of germs than we are used to. She says our bodies aren't equiped to fight them so it is extremely important to take protective measures. Especially with our children. It made sense to me so I do what I can. I don't consider myself obsessive just cautious.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I wonder if what you saw were mugs from studio villa's? I just came back from a stay and in the 1 bedroom I had to go through almost all of the glasses ( water and small juice) to find one that wasn't dirty.

Could be Marie ? Not sure....but I was staying in the Inn. So I'd think the villa mugs would not be carted around the Inn ? But who knows ? My mugs appeared clean and were replaced at the midweek cleaning.

 

[LORNA ANN]

I usually strip the beds when we leave and put the sheets (wadded up) in the tub under the pile of wet, dirty towels we've used. The next guest is fairly sure to get all new sheets.

DisFlan

Me too ! I always completely strip bed & put sheets in bathtub with towels etc.
I run a small B&B and we always change the bed completely between guests & worked in a few hotels in the UK & we never, ever left dirty sheets on the bed did not always change blankets & bed spreads but always sheets & towels !!

 

[LORNA ANN]

I never wake up with my face and mouth on the carpet or on the balcony railing. Well, okay, there was that one rough night.

 

[dvcdisney]

I used to think this way myself until my doctor enlightened me with some mighty horrific germ stories. She states that places such as WDW has guests from all over the world and these folks have different types of germs than we are used to. She says our bodies aren't equiped to fight them so it is extremely important to take protective measures. Especially with our children. It made sense to me so I do what I can. I don't consider myself obsessive just cautious.

I completely agree. This is my belief. I, too, had a physician mention this to me. It makes perfect sense. Young children are the ones who are at most risk because they have not fully developed their immune system and in some cases where a virus may make adult feel a little sick, it could have a much, much worse effect on a young child. I believe everyone is exposed to numerous "germs" every day. Most of the time, it doesn't make us ill. But for those "germs" that are prevalent in other areas/countries that make seem like a mere cold to those who live there, may in fact affect others very seriously.

I usually only use the antibacterial wash when we are on vacation, especially Disney where many people are from different parts of the world. As you mentioned, I too believe that I am just cautious.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Not everyone gets to be the star of the action movie - you need the character who smashes a vase over the head of a Nazi or two, but couldn't take on swarms......

Yes, and even those of us with immune issues don't do half the stuff we hear of by people here. I wash hands often and stay away from coughing folks where possible. I don't put the blanket or spread anywhere near my face, but I do keep them on the bed, and I do know that they change the sheets and mattress pads between guests, so I'm fine with the spreads not being changed every guest.

Oh, and those who think the places with the white douvet covers and double sheets are better....I have stayed in plenty of hotels where I KNOW those were not changed between guests! They wouldn't have been as wrinkled and dirty as they were if they had been changed. The difference is that it makes people THINK they have.

 

[manning]

Good thing I have the pratice of pulling the top covers back before getting into bed. One time the bottom sheet had poop on it. And it was one of the top chains who cater to business travellers.

Had them change both beds and got the room free that night.

 

[jfelcie]

We always bring flat sheets to place over the bedspreads. That way the kids can lay on the bed without worry. When we go to Disney, we bring Disney character sheets.

 

[Mulan2]

Good thing I have the pratice of pulling the top covers back before getting into bed. One time the bottom sheet had poop on it. And it was one of the top chains who cater to business travellers.

Had them change both beds and got the room free that night.

POOP??!!!! What a nghtmare!!! I would have left the hotel!!!!

 

[manning]

Problem was we got in at 11:00 pm. It may have been difficult to find something else. After having them change everything and watching them do it, I was satisfied everything was clean.

What surprised me the most was that it was a major chain that caters to business travel.

By the way we are looking to go east. Exactly where is Hampton NY??

 

[SnowWhite2]

Please forgive me, but I find this hard to believe. Were the glasses not sealed in a plastic wrap? And just to be clear... If you wanted to use any cleaning supplies to clean the room YOU had to buy them? Were you an employee of Sheraton or a contractor? Did you have to buy the supplies from Sheraton?

Not being snarky, just having a hard time grasping this.

Yes, I was an employee of the Sheraton. This was in the age before out-sourcing. The ladies I worked with had been there for years and they did bring in cleaning supplies with them. I was a broke college student who had no money and was not about to purchase my own supplies. The economy was very bad and this was the best job I could find. The year before I was in the maintenance department at the mall across from the hotel. I had to know a president of a large bank to get me that job. I was about to graduate with an electrical engineering degree and this was the best job I could find. But it was too gross and I quit.

After this experience, I always look at the maid's cart to see if there is a "dishwasher tray" of clean glasses. If there are none, there is no way for the maid to replenish with clean glasses.

BTW - this hotel is no longer a Sheraton and has changed brands quite frequently lately.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

While it still grosses me out - I have gotten lack about it.

My kids are 7 and 9 now and I let them walk around in bare feet now.

I still always fold up the comforter and put it on the top shelf of the closet never to be seen again until after check-out.

Usually there are extra sheets in the closet or I request them from housekeeping. I fashion my own duvet cover with them on all beds. The extra sheet helps keep us warmer too - I get cold at night.

I use to hold the "duvet" in place with safety pins so that the blanket would never touch our faces. Again, I've gotten lacks after xxx trips. Now I just make sure there is a generous overlap on the top - fold the top of the sheet on TOP of the blanket over and under the blanket and then fold the sheet on the bottom of the blanket over both of them. Kwim? If it gets loosened overnight, I fix it in the morning. It helps that it seems that the blankets on the last few trips seem newer and cleaner? I guess if I got a gross looking one, I'd call housekeeping to get a new one...

I think that if I went on vacation once a year or less, I would "sanitize" the room more for my own comfort. Or if my DH went with us to share the work load... But we have gone multiple trips a year for the past few years - just me and my kids (DH stayed home to work to pay for the trips ) - and I fell exhausted into bed each night within 30 minutes of the kids sleeping and seemed to have gotten more and more lack each trip (within reason). I still won't actually use or lounge on the comforter though.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

I do all three things. I don't consider myself a germaphobe because I am sure I get enough everyday. However, it doesn't hurt to spray things in hotel rooms. I find it more gross than germy.

I guess I am very naive, because, although I didn't think they cleaned the bedspreads and blankets each time they make it during my stay. I ASSUMED that they clean them BETWEEN guests and that it what is making me . I certainly do not know how disgusting the previous guests are, so I cannot understand why the hotel industry assumes that this is acceptable. It should be a health and safety issue.

But I'm glad I'm aware of it now, I will be taking my own bedding.

Yes, I thought they cleaned the spreads between guests. I will now be bringing my own duvet covers for the blankets and spreads....I don't carry lysol with me or antibacterial wipes but sleeping in or under something that has not been washed grosses me out! I also do not walk barefoot in the rooms. Airplane seats give great concern for bugs, etc....YUCK!!! Have you ever looked at a doctor's waiting room..the wall above the chairs is gross from people's heads!

I have also gotten sick on at least one trip per year to disney...the last time was in April and I had to miss the Pirate and Princess party that we had tickets for.(my husband and daughter had a wonderful time and I missed her Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experience)...gee wonder where the germs came from considering I got sick after being in our room for 72 hours! I tend to be a very natural person but I draw the line at unclean bedding!!

 

[AnimalPrincess]

I guess we are not the norm here but we are not freaked out by this stuff at all. I think about it a little but really I just don't think that it will get me sick (granted I don't have any kids). someone posted that they don't even sit on the bedspreads...do you go to the movies? Do you sit in those chairs because I bet those are NEVER cleaned. I guess my point is that sometimes you stay healthy by having a bit of germs in your life. Just my two cents.