For All the Germaphobs Out There

[Alysa]

Oooohhhh - I didn't know ou could get a VIP cleaning. This would make me feel so much better with my anaphylactic daughter! How do you request this?

As it is, after getting really sick with head colds on all of my earlier trips I always bring my own pillow from home. It really helped. Maybe I just have a low immune system or something.

 

[proteus]

"I think not being germaphobes has really helped us. The reason I say this is because we are allowing our immune system to do what it should. I know my immune system can't defend everything or I wouldn't get a cold every year. It's actually funny because I get a cold 2x's a year at about the same time (Spring & Fall). I just deal. Our DS is 4 and he's never had the flu, had a cold or 2 and 2 ear infections. My friends ask me how he's never sick. I just say I let his immune system work instead of using every antibacterial device known to man. You hear all the time that viruses and bacteria are mutating to become resistant to anti-bacterial stuff."

You hit it right on the head. I NEVER spray down rooms and have stayed in hotels all over the world including many third world places. Incidentally in over 50 years I have never been sick due to a hotel stay. I don't take medicine for anything and can count on my hands the number of times I had a cold or the flu. My parents were the same and lived to a very old age, they never needed medication.

Sprays like Lysol contain Dioxin which causes cancer. Clorox is extremely toxic, I knew this one lady who used it religiously. She complained of constant headaches and fatigue, when I told her to switch to Bon Ami, her symptoms went away.

Why do you think all these kids today have allergies? Because we have over sterilized our homes their immune systems are very weak and they are constantly sick. You also kill good bacteria by spraying everywhere. Anti-bacterial soap was thought to be a good idea, not anymore. Overuse of antibiotics has caused new and deadly strains to emerge that are close to untreatable.

If you are a germophobe consider that your body is full of germs and actually is a host to them, would you spray yourself and your insides?

 

[Teacher510]

So, everyone who thinks they are sanitizing their rooms, have you ever gotten sick from a hotel room? Not likely. More likely from being around people. I have NEVER gotten sick on a trip, ever. My DH travels at least once per month and stays in hotels and also never gets sick. We have, however, caught things from our kids (when they were in school) and at work-which is where most people get exposed to illnesses. Also, most illness you have absolutely no control over because they are spread by just being around other people. I agree with the poster who said they let their kids immune systems work. It's what we did also. You build an immune system by being exposed to germs, not trying to kill them all. My kids were rarely sick growing up and when they were it was something that everyone caught or an occasional ear infection before age 5. They are now adults and if they miss one day a year of work or school due to illness it's a lot. I'm the same way, as is DH. I have over 7 weeks of sick leave saved up and I have taken one day in the last year and I wasn't really sick, I just needed to take a day off. I never wiped down hotel rooms, restaurant tables or anything else and we are all very healthy. Your immune system works best when you allow some germs in. There's a lot of paranoia. Show me where wiping down a hotel room makes any difference at all.

I also feel kind of sorry for people who waste vacation time wiping down door knobs, phones, etc.

For me it isn't so much the fear of getting sick as much as the thought of all of the previous guests in the room who are "letting their immune systems work" by not washing properly. As for sick days, I have 200 saved up and DD wasn't absent from school from 6th grade through high school and we both wash our hands after using the bathroom and before eating whenever possible. Perhaps the condescending attitude of those who feel the need to criticize and "feel sorry for people" who spend a few minutes spraying the room is a reflection of their insecurities about their own behavior.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Originally Posted by bdcp
Your immune system works best when you allow some germs in. There's a lot of paranoia. Show me where wiping down a hotel room makes any difference at all.

I also feel kind of sorry for people who waste vacation time wiping down door knobs, phones, etc

In fact, many guests do get sick. Hotels rooms are one of the dirtest places on earth. It's pretty disgusting, but unfortunately true that too many guests use the bathroom and do not wash thier hands, then touch everything all over the room...it is a hub of bacteria.

If you choose not to protect your family, that's fine, but please do not "feel sorry" for those who do.

Please stop preaching! It's guests like you who put those of us who do have a lowered immuned sytem at risk and there is nothing light or funny about that. I have MS ~ so shall I not take any precautions? Think that will keep me healthier? Not a chance, my friend, not a chance.

For those of us who have an immune issue there is no option but to be cautious. Hopefully, no one in your family will ever develope an immune disease - but if so, you will not be so quick to make fun of others.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Oooohhhh - I didn't know ou could get a VIP cleaning. This would make me feel so much better with my anaphylactic daughter! How do you request this?
.

As with your daughter, a guest must have a medical reason to request this special cleaning. Just call CRO and explain that you would like to request an extra clean room due to your daughter's medical issue - they will send this to special needs who will take care of it. It cannot be guaranteed otherwise.

Hope this helps! If Disney cleaned rooms they way they used to 20 yrs ago, there would not be a need for so many special cleaning requests.

 

[ilisao]

In fact, many guests do get sick. Hotels rooms are one of the dirtest places on earth. It's pretty disgusting, but unfortunately true that too many guests use the bathroom and do not wash thier hands, then touch everything all over the room...it is a hub of bacteria.

If you choose not to protect your family, that's fine, but please do not "feel sorry" for those who do.

Please stop preaching! It's guests like you who put those of us who do have a lowered immuned sytem at risk and there is nothing light or funny about that. I have MS ~ so shall I not take any precautions? Think that will keep me healthier? Not a chance, my friend, not a chance.

For those of us who have an immune issue there is no option but to be cautious. Hopefully, no one in your family will ever develope an immune disease - but if so, you will not be so quick to make fun of others.

There's a difference between someone with a compromised immune system and someone who just is a worry-wart. I would bet that most people that are obsessive about cleaning their rooms to the point of using disinfectant bombs and bringing their own linens aren't compromised.

 

[Alysa]

I hardly think

bringing their own linens

is going to create a super virus that will wipe out humanity. My husband is a medical researcher in molecular biology and he and I agree that some people are just born with lower immune systems. It's great that you weren't and I wish you many more years of good health.

 

[itchin2go]

Oprah did a show about germs some years back. I don't recall all the particulars, but I DO recall that hotels were a major topic, so I have no doubt that the average hotel room is a pretty dirty place.

That said, the only precaution I take is to remove the comforter, because I've heard horror stories about the things researchers have found on them. I also bring my own pillow, but that's more a comfort thing... This topic has given me plenty of food for thought.

I also agree with the person who said that the theme parks are probably WAY dirtier.