Do you "sanitize" your room when you first get there?

[mommykds]

I never did this when I was younger, but for some reason now I can't rest until I do a little cleaning upon arriving at a hotel. First, I go straight to the bathroom and use a Lysol or Clorox wipe on the flush handle of the toilet. Sorry, but it is so gross to think what might be on there!! I also wipe the faucet handles at the sink, the light switch, and the door knob inside the bathroom. I then spray Lysol into the tub, and then remove the comforters from the beds.

I also can't stand walking around a hotel room barefoot! I have seen too many things in hotel rooms (including blood on doors and walls on two separate occasions) to not do a little "sprucing up" upon arrival. I will say the Disney hotels are, for the most part, cleaner than most, but still we have found lots of interesting stuff on the carpet right next to the bed! I guess no one thinks to vacuum there.

Other than the things I've mentioned, I pretty much leave it as is, hoping that housekeeping has done their best to get rid of any icky stuff! So, am I the only "nut"?

I do everything you mentioned. My family knows my routine. Clorox wipes & lysol spray for the bathroom doorknobs, & light switches, comforters off the bed, & remote in a zip lock. I also bring my own pillowcases for the kids. I don't like their little faces on the resorts pillowcases & ds has asthma so he uses a hypoallergenic pillow covering anyway. Takes less than 10 minutes & it's no big deal.

 

[CDoobee]

Okay, now my body itches from the bedbug stories, my head itches from the lice stories and I can't seem to keep my hands away from my face from the "keep hands away from face" stories!

I've never done any of the cleaning mentioned and don't know anyone who does, except for my sister who does immediately remove the bedspread, but that's all.

For my upcoming trip, I'm now thinking I might bring the Clorox wipes (already have some, or I probably wouldn't) and just wipe down the toilet at least!

I can't stand shoes though, so I know I'll be barefoot asap!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Can someone explain to me what's the big deal about not sitting on the bedspread?

You're clothed, (right?) so what could happen that couldn't happen sitting on a ride, in a restaurant, on a deck chair, etc. ?

Thanks!

 

[DebbieB]

Can someone explain to me what's the big deal about not sitting on the bedspread?

You're clothed, (right?) so what could happen that couldn't happen sitting on a ride, in a restaurant, on a deck chair, etc. ?

Thanks!

I think there can be "activities" on top of the bedspread that probably do not happen on a ride, in a restaurant or on a deck chair..... Plus the fact that they do not change them between occupants like they do the sheets.

 

[kimatigger]

I am a clean freak and wash my hands a thousand times a day. I never worried but now that I have kids I will probably ask for clean comforters and wipe down the bathroom. The comforter thing really grosses me out.

 

[sherry8253]

I am proud to say I don't take the comforter off the bed. I even sit on it (fully clothed of course). I walk around in my bare feet. I never take a ziplock bag for the clicker. And I have never lysoled a thing at Disney.

 

[tkldisney]

I'm a clean freak to, but, I do have my limits. I'm supposed to be on Vacation! I don't walk barefoot on carpet and don't lay on beds until I've pulled comforter down. That's about it. I even put my clothes in the dresser (if there for more than 3 days) otherwise live out of suitcase. I have done lots of travelling in many places & countries and I'm still alive with no strange diseases.

 

[pandora174]

I take my large Lysol can & spray everything. Specially the entire bathroom, door knobs, remote control, the rug, the bed (comforter & the sheets) & the AC vents. I also take clorox wipes for the phone & surfaces. I have a 3 year old who touches everything. & I try to avoid anyone getting sick on our trip & this gives me some peace of mind. I also take antibacteral sanitizer in my diaper bag. Just my opinion & my paranoia .

 

[k_k_100]

For everybody who won’t walk barefoot in the room – what do you do at the beach? Just think of what is on/in the sand. Animals run free and do their business on the beach. Even wearing flip-flops you still get sand all over you. If you spend an full day at the beach you are wearing sand for many hours. Of course you shower before bed... but still, hours of wearing whatever is in the sand!

I’m a barefoot type of gal aw: . I even walk down the street on my sidewalk barefoot sometimes. I never… repeat NEVER lick the bottom of my feet

I get the Lysol/ wiping handles/ bedspread thing more then the wearing shoes in the room. Seriously, am I missing something?

 

[pampam]

dcgrumpy, I roared when I read your response. I'm still laughing. If you could see my house you'd agree with me. You made my day. Still, it's living with other peoples grime that bothers me. My own dirt I can live with. And bugs. I can't stand bugs, and knowing I'm sharing a room with cockroaches would drive me nuts. If we had them where we live, I supposed I'd get used to them, however. Thanks so much for posting.

 

[phillybeth]

Bed bugs are interesting. They are about the only things that put me off. If you find them, immediately move all your stuff out in the hall and get another room! Anything we do about them as guests won't help.

And I hear you about the ick at work. A Disney bathroom is a sterile surface in comparison. They just don't worry me.


DisFlan

It takes MAJOR insecticides to kill bedbugs. All the lysol and clorox in the world isn't going to work against them. And someplace like Disney that attacts world travellers, well, I'm suprised there hasn't been a problem before now.
For those of you that don't know, bedbugs hide during the day and come out at night to feed (on your blood!). They hide in the cracks in the bed and in the baseboards. Check the bedding for traces of blood or dried rust-colored to black particles (bedbug crap). Check the bare mattress too. And if you wake up at night with itchy bites, don't assume it's mosquito bites. Turn on the lights and you just might see one- they are flat, reddish-brown, and about the size of a watermelon seed.

 

[Kimkimba]

I'm probably not as fanatical as some of you. But we bring the wipes and the spray. And I do a quickover. But for anything I miss, I'm sure my dh gets it. He has made us all Germaphobs.

We also put our toothbrushes in the safe when we leave the room.

 

[k_k_100]

It takes MAJOR insecticides to kill bedbugs. All the lysol and clorox in the world isn't going to work against them. And someplace like Disney that attacts world travellers, well, I'm suprised there hasn't been a problem before now.
For those of you that don't know, bedbugs hide during the day and come out at night to feed (on your blood!). They hide in the cracks in the bed and in the baseboards. Check the bedding for traces of blood or dried rust-colored to black particles (bedbug crap). Check the bare mattress too. And if you wake up at night with itchy bites, don't assume it's mosquito bites. Turn on the lights and you just might see one- they are flat, reddish-brown, and about the size of a watermelon seed.

OK - This does totally freak me out!

Any other tips on what to look for? Any fool-proof plan? Is there anything we can bring w/ us to spray before going to bed? It sounds like fresh sheets won't make a bit of difference

 

[fitzperry]

I’m a barefoot type of gal aw: . I even walk down the street on my sidewalk barefoot sometimes. I never… repeat NEVER lick the bottom of my feet

I get the Lysol/ wiping handles/ bedspread thing more then the wearing shoes in the room. Seriously, am I missing something?

My 2.5yo is a barefoot kind of gal too, and she does occasionally lick the bottoms of her feet. Thinks it's absolutely hilarious.

Will the airlines let you check a steam cleaner? And will DME deliver it to your room?

 

[Threehearts]

My husband arrived home from the best hotel in Tokyo after 10 days there on a business trip. Interestingly enough, he only felt itchy bites around his ankles after about day 3. These bite marks became intensely itchy and looked like nickel size welts when he arrived home. He had about 20 bites. He was absolutely miserable and went to the dermatologist down here in DC the next day. The MD said they were defintely bug bites and probably spiders. The nurse in me thiought they looked like the bedbugs I had seen in a text book(red, inflamed, and kind of crusty looking bites that tend to line up in a row). Well, the second opinion agreed and gave him antibiotics and oral and topical steroids. It's been a month and the bite marks have faded but I think he will have scarring. I guess the point is- this can happen anywhere, especially where there are frequent travelers. As a previous poster said, DO NOT stay in a room where you are being bitten in the night. Bedbugs live in mattresses NOT in sheets so changing sheets won't help. My husband always checks the sheets are his were fresh. If you do get bedbug bites, remember they can easily travel to your belongings so treat everything as if you were infested with lice or fleas. Good God, it's a wonder I let him back in the house! Threehearts

 

[DisFlan]

I have a few questions for all you clean-o-holics.

1. What is it you think you might catch if you don't wipe down or "sanitize" your hotel rooms? I'm serious here. Exactly what?

2. Did you learn about what you "might" catch in a hotel room by viewing/reading a media source, or did you get it from a reputable source like a physician or a professional in the fields of public health, epidemiology or microbiology?

3. Which of the above would you trust or believe most about what harmful germs might be in a hotel room?

4. Name two people you know who actually caught something harmful in a hotel room. I mean from bacteria, viruses or fungi, not bedbugs. And I mean actual people that you have met and know, not from articles, TV spots, anecdotes or "Aunt Minnie's third cousin said she did".

Thank you,

DisFlan

 

[weluvdizknee]

I don't know what it is I'll catch, I just know I will definitely catch it if I don't spray and wipe down first! LOL!

 

[fairytalehaven]

Okay after I type this I'm going to go take a hot shower.

I never thought of it until a few years ago. Then I started bringing my own pillow and blanket. Both me and dh never walk around in our bare feet. It wasn't until we got a sticky remote that I started cleaning them. The last time we were somewhere I couldn't get to sleep because I kept thinking about the sheets I was sleeping on. I took a shower and thought about all the germs in there. I think it is because you want to relax and feel comfortable at a hotel that these urges come up. Next time I will be taking wipes.

I am a bit of a neat freak. I'm getting worse as I get older. But to each his own.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

It's official...

You all have me totally creeped out! UGH!

I am soooooo concerned about staying at Howard Johnson next week as it is and now I have to go buy clorox wipes and lysol for some immediate cleaning!

I still though have more faith and trust in Disney mousekeeping; not sure why!

 

[ANTSS2001]

I have a few questions for all you clean-o-holics.

1. What is it you think you might catch if you don't wipe down or "sanitize" your hotel rooms? I'm serious here. Exactly what?

-would you touch someone's spit, nose boogie, ear wax, blood spill, fecal matter? maybe it is not there.. maybe it is but atleast I feel a little peace in my heart knowing if that if just in case someone had to go in that toilet bowl with LVM.. who know's maybe he/she was in a hurry wipe his behind but forgot to watch and something got caught in his/her hand plush the toilet opened the bathroom grab the remote control and the day after he left and you checked in...

-some hotels even 5 stars let you keep a pet with you, dos was sick and was dropping all over.. granted they wiped it off.. what if they got worm ? so I think I am keeping my sleeper on plus it is good for your heel spurs if you have a few like me.

-should I go on with my paranoia

2. Did you learn about what you "might" catch in a hotel room by viewing/reading a media source, or did you get it from a reputable source like a physician or a professional in the fields of public health, epidemiology or microbiology?

-through work and experiences and stuff I had to complain about after checking in and browsing the room.

3. Which of the above would you trust or believe most about what harmful germs might be in a hotel room? [/QOUTE}

- I do it to satisfy myself

4. Name two people you know who actually caught something harmful in a hotel room. I mean from bacteria, viruses or fungi, not bedbugs. And I mean actual people that you have met and know, not from articles, TV spots, anecdotes or "Aunt Minnie's third cousin said she did".

-person I worked it, got scraped at corner of a hotel room, took a shower, went to bed, scraping was sore but ignored.. wake up in the morning scraping was still red did not bother went on with his bussiness... convention was in the same hotel so basically from ground floor and back to room... end of the week came home went straight to work.. we cultured it it was strep.. why did we checked it since he was experiencing High fever

-healthy as a cow sister, checked in tired and did not bother to sight see changed clothes went to the bathroom wash face brush teeth... mind you she drove straight from house to hotel.... woke up clammy feeling experiencing cramping and LVM... cut the trip short came back home went to hosp.. positive with e coli

-one more ???