Followup housekeeping poll #5 Please participate!

[dianeschlicht]

I'm really bothered that only 63% of the respondants cleaned up spots and stains they caused!!! Why would you NOT do that???? If you left a spot and stain and home, it would turn nasty, and I'm sure you would clean it up to avoid that. Why would you not also do it at your "other" home?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We never used the pool, so we didn't have any pool towels in our room. If we would have had pool towels I would have taken them back to the pool.

The dishwasher is trickier for us. Our trip last month was the first time we stayed in a villa with a dishwasher - we usually have a studio. We only used a couple of dishes, and we kept up with them during our stay. I am pretty sure we left a few dishes in the sink when we checked out, but DH may have stuck them in the dishwasher. I am sure we didn't turn it ON before we left.

This year we left at exactly 11 AM, so we did not phone Housekeeping. If we had an earlier departure I probably would have called.

 

[twinklebug]

I never turn on a dishwasher when no one will be "home" - I knew two families who's homes burnt to the ground this way. They both set the DW to run and left - the fire departments determined it was the DW in both cases (that said, I have never heard of one catching fire with people home)

I'm very surprised so many of us will consolidate the towels into the tub but far less take the covers off the beds. I have to do this just to be sure we have everything packed back up! Whenever I haven't we've left shirts, toys and chargers behind.

I'm really bothered that only 63% of the respondants cleaned up spots and stains they caused!!! Why would you NOT do that???? If you left a spot and stain and home, it would turn nasty, and I'm sure you would clean it up to avoid that. Why would you not also do it at your "other" home?

I was also a bit surprised regarding the cleaning of spills/spots and stains that are 'self inflicted'. I was taught to clean spills and marks when they happen. It is assumed most of us were raised the same way. So why would it be any different for any of us when on vacation? I consider DVC to be part of my extended home whether I own there or not, I certainly wouldn't assume the stain will magically go away.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I'm really bothered that only 63% of the respondants cleaned up spots and stains they caused!!! Why would you NOT do that???? If you left a spot and stain and home, it would turn nasty, and I'm sure you would clean it up to avoid that. Why would you not also do it at your "other" home?

If nothing else, this increases our dues over time.

Glad the poll was posted! There are a couple of things that I haven't been doing, but will moving forward. We usually stay in a 1 or 2 bedroom unit, and can knock out everything on the list in less than 15 minutes with 4 or 6 of us. I would definitely do that so a fellow member can get in his/her room faster!

 

[DenLo]

We've only had one DVC stay in a studio so most of these polls are filling my head with more questions than answers.

Is the whole point of doing these items so the next person can get into the villa quicker? Has anyone asked mousekeeping if you call them to notify them the villa is vacate, do they really take any action or is it one of those phone calls they ignore?

I would never think of stripping the sheets as the maid would need to count the sheets to be sure she got them all anyway. I would leave the pull out couch or chair open to show those sheets have been used. I would clean a spot we caused with water and if that doesn't remove it call mousekeeping to clean it as using regular dish soap on furniture or carpet could ruin them. I would not bring cleaners along for this purpose. We do clean out everything we bring in and toss the things we don't want. If we emptied the refrigerator and threw a lot of those items away we'd take it to the trash room and replace the liner. However, if it was only a few items in the trash cans we probably wouldn't even think about emptying them.

I think I'm beginning to see why many DVCers do not tip the maids as they do many of their chores for them. We do believe in tipping the maids and I expect them to their assigned duties, isn't that what we are paying for in our dues? I'm of the opinion that many of the items listed in the poll are common sense solutions. And some of the others are what mousekeeping is paid to do.

 

[Vickis3js]

As far as the dishwasher goes they don't run all the dishes through it when they clean do they? Meaning everything in the cabinets? We always run it the night before check out and then put everything away ourselves. I figure I dirtied them and took them out I should be the one to put them away. I will strip the pull outs but not the beds. I also have all the towels from both bathrooms in the bathroom closest to the door. I will empty cabinets and fridge of our food, stuff that is trash goes in the trash stuff that housekeeping may want I leave on the wiped down counters for them to take.

I will also sweep and vaccum as needed while we are there and I like to leave it as close to the way I entered as I possibly can. I do that even if I am staying at a hotel though.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As far as the dishwasher goes they don't run all the dishes through it when they clean do they? Meaning everything in the cabinets? We always run it the night before check out and then put everything away ourselves. I figure I dirtied them and took them out I should be the one to put them away. I will strip the pull outs but not the beds. I also have all the towels from both bathrooms in the bathroom closest to the door. I will empty cabinets and fridge of our food, stuff that is trash goes in the trash stuff that housekeeping may want I leave on the wiped down counters for them to take.

I will also sweep and vaccum as needed while we are there and I like to leave it as close to the way I entered as I possibly can. I do that even if I am staying at a hotel though.

No, they don't and I wouldn't really expect them to either. We usually have breakfast dishes the morning we check out, so I put those in the dishwasher and start it when we leave.

Good for you on the last part too! We do the same, except that I don't make the beds on check out day at a hotel.

 

[twinklebug]

I'm curious about leaving a note for housekeeping for missing items. When I first check-in I review the list and verify that our unit has everything and seemingly in good condition. If not, I call Housekeeping right away and let them know what is off so it's on record as the condition I checked in with.

When leaving, if anything is off it's assumed the current guest caused the item to go missing (providing the housekeeper takes count after each guest departs). Why would anyone do this the other way around unless it's to say "Hey, I broke a glass.. " or "Wow, I really liked the toaster and had to have it"

 

[Vickis3js]

No, they don't and I wouldn't really expect them to either. We usually have breakfast dishes the morning we check out, so I put those in the dishwasher and start it when we leave.

Good for you on the last part too! We do the same, except that I don't make the beds on check out day at a hotel.

I don't either I was just a little confused at some of the comments about the dishwasher and dishes so I thought I would ask to clarify.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm curious about leaving a note for housekeeping for missing items. When I first check-in I review the list and verify that our unit has everything and seemingly in good condition. If not, I call Housekeeping right away and let them know what is off so it's on record as the condition I checked in with.

When leaving, if anything is off it's assumed the current guest caused the item to go missing (providing the housekeeper takes count after each guest departs). Why would anyone do this the other way around unless it's to say "Hey, I broke a glass.. " or "Wow, I really liked the toaster and had to have it"

Yeah, I could have worded that part a bit better. I also notify housekeeping right away. I mostly do that because once I was all ready to make pancakes, and no spatula! When I called housekeeping for one (AKV), they came with yet another fat skimmer, which they obviously called a pancake turner. It was curved...NOT going to work for turning anything! I ended up throwing out the batter and picking up a spatula at the grocery store on our next trip. It's now living in our Owner's Locker for those AKV trips!

 

[Brian Noble]

I don't do most of these things on checkout. But, we do make sure the remotes don't stray from their locations and keep the dishes clean throughout our stay, and report any broken/missing items early in the week. We never take pool towels from the pool, so I would check that one, though it doesn't really apply. We also stop by the front desk on check out to get a final copy of our bill and turn off resort charging, so that counts as a call. We do run the dishwasher on our way out, provided we still have detergent (usually, but not always, we do), but that's about it.

At my home resorts, I personally prefer to pay a little extra in fees in exchange for having the cleaning staff take care of these things, and when asked by the HOA board, express that as my preference. If a resort has in their check-out policies requests to do any these things, I do them even if on an exchange. But, in general, resorts seem to be asking their guests/owners to do less over time, rather than more, and I appreciate that. For example, Wyndham used to ask their guests/owners to remove all trash, strip beds, etc. but they have stopped making that request at most Wyndham-managed resorts.

 

[Tinkerbellcrafter]

One of the things we do instead of leaving items "for the housekeeper" is to take unopened items out to the parking lot and find people just arriving. We have been told by the housekeeping staff that they are not allowed to remove things like that for their own use. Now, if you see a housekeeper and GIVE it to her, she can accept it, but not if it's left in the room.

One thing with just a simple phone call when you leave is that they can possibly get to that unit sooner. If the housekeeper has already been around and checked the rooms where people are checking out and yours had a DND sign on it, she might not get back there for a long time to recheck. However, if you call to say the room is vacant, they might be able to get that room turned around a lot faster.

These are good tips...I always wondered if they could take it if left in the room. We tend to be those that leave the DND sign up until we are out and then we take it down when we leave. I strip the pull out but don't leave it pulled out. We typically stay only studios so we clean up the kitchen area by hand and have all garbage to the outside bin before mousekeeping arrives.

 

[dianeschlicht]

FYI, we have never had to throw away unopened items. We've always found someone (either an arriving guest or housekeeper) to take them. Sometimes we've had to pack items in our bag, but not for a long time. One time I had to pack about 6 potatos in my suitcase!

 

[Brian Noble]

Some resorts have a collection point for non-perishables that haven't been opened, and will distribute them to a local food bank. For example, Wyndham Bonnet Creek does this. It's a shame that the DVC resorts don't do this as well.

 

[Anal Annie]

The dishwasher thing does not apply to us bcuz we use studios but if we DID stay in a unit with a dishwasher I would certainly turn it on right before we left so everything would be clean. To those who posted that they wash things by hand, I'd rather that you DO use the dishwasher...isn't the lack of dishwashers in the studios what caused the stink with the real glassware in the studios being removed a couple of years ago? Isn't that why they removed them until they had a solution for making sure the dishes were clean? Not everybody may wash them properly with warm soapy water. The dishwashers are there for that reason - even if you run it on the short load IMO it's better for sanitzing than the handwashing route.

I DO consolidate the towels together in a pile in the bathroom floor and I DO leave the sofa bed OPEN so they can see it was used but I do NOT strip the beds.

We DO consolidate all of the trash & recyling in one spot but I do not pull it out & replace the liners as part of my departure routine. I only do that if it's full & we need the cans emptied. Since we are in a studio and not using a full kitchen I think that probably cuts down on the amount of trash.

IF we had a spill or stain I would do my best to clean it up but so far we haven't had too much of a problem with that. I did not answer that on the poll for that reason but then I remembered that my DS got a spot of chocolate from a doughnut or something on a sofa cushion once - but I DID clean it off with the kitchen sponge & some dish liquid.

I do not call mousekeeping to say we're leaving. I usually put the hang tag out that says DND on our last nite & then remove it as we leave. If I forget to do that they usually come knocking early & I tell them what time we anticipate leaving. They're usually in the hallway & see us leave anyway.

When I find something is missing or broken I call mousekeeping to report it - I do not leave a note for them. I'd rather it be on record with a phone call. (For all I know the person doing the cleaning may not read English or they may just toss it without bothering to read it.)

I DO clean out the frig. before we leave & I try to give any unopened, non-refrigerated items like water or soda to bell services or something.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Some resorts have a collection point for non-perishables that haven't been opened, and will distribute them to a local food bank. For example, Wyndham Bonnet Creek does this. It's a shame that the DVC resorts don't do this as well.

For resorts the size of Disney's with all the guests, I think it might be difficult, but I think if an outside group (like a DVC member group) wanted to organize something and arrange for a drop off/pick up spot and provide the service for a fee to distribute to the needy, that would be a good idea.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We have been told by the housekeeping staff that they are not allowed to remove things like that for their own use. Now, if you see a housekeeper and GIVE it to her, she can accept it, but not if it's left in the room.

This is contrary to what a housekeeper told us when we asked at BWV.

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is contrary to what a housekeeper told us when we asked at BWV.

Well I've always known that if you ask a housekeeper if they would like them, they will accept. Perhaps the housekeeper was telling her wishes, not the official WDW line.

 

[BigEeyore]

I have always felt like we were pretty considerate villa guests, but I only checked 2 things!
Checkout/leaving day is always kind of stressful for us to be honest. All the packing, last minute laundry, getting the car loaded, juggling two little ones, being tired from a fun vacation, and the heavy heart of leaving WDW and heading back into the real world don't motivate me to add helping out with housekeeping on top of everything else.
We keep the place pretty clean during our stay, but come check-out day I've lost the desire to tidy up just before I walk out the door!

 

[kerickson]

I hadn't thought of many of these things given we are new to staying in a villa. I'll definitely try to check them all off my next stay if it will help keep dues down and help the next guest check in quicker. Also helps me ensure I haven't left anything behind!