Housekeeping poll#4

[dianeschlicht]

This one deals with the condition of the CLEANING of the unit when we arrive

 

[dianeschlicht]

This is the important one folks. Let's hear how you feel about the conditions of your units on your DVC stays. We hear so much about it on the boards here, that I thought this thread would get more response than the other polls

 

[dianeschlicht]

As far as I'm concerned ANY evidence of a previous occupant is too much. That part is inexcusable from a housekeeping standpoint.

 

[Chuck S]

I've found a few stains, but there is a difference, to me, between permanent stains and something not being well cleaned. I think something can be cleaned pretty well, and still leave a visible stain.

So in that respect, I've been satisfied, though I have occasionally found evidence of a previous occupant, like "walmart" type clothes hangars and tags in a drawer. But I simply threw them away, and I did find some left over ice cream in the freezer once, which I also threw away...nothing drastically wrong, though.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree with you Chuck. I've only had one instance where there was something left behind from the previous occupant where I felt the cleaning had been substandard. That time there was used soap in the shower and leftover ice cream and "leftovers" in the fridge. As I recall, we also found a dirty oven that time. Since all those things happened in the same unit at the same visit, I'm going to say that was substandard housekeeing in that unit.

 

[Jump4Joy8390]

On our very first stay at a DVC resort in 2007, the dirty linens and towels from the previous guests had been left in a pile and the clean ones were there but the room was not made up. Seven hours and 2 or 3 calls later, someone came to make up our room around 10:00 p.m. That was tough after a long day of travelling with our daughter who was 5 at the time. They rectified that by crediting us for half the cost of that night. This was before we were DVC members so we paid OOP.

More recently in March of this year, we found leftover food in the fridge, very few dishes, and an iPod in the safe. We just threw away the food, turned in the iPod and requested more glasses and plates, etc.

On other visits, we've had a technical/wear and tear issues, like a stuck balcony door, rattling ceiling fan, broken drawers, and a noisy A/C unit. All were repaired within a few hours.

Having been through all that, we do LOVE DVC and fell like real owners when we do our part to help keep it up to par!

 

[crisi]

I'm one who has found a "gross stove or oven" - but it wasn't something that could be easily cleaned around. Someone had managed to drip pancake batter down the vents on the oven door - which meant that the window of the oven had baked pancake batter in it. "Cleaning" it would have involved taking apart the oven door - and I don't expect Mousekeeping to come with screwdrivers for something like that.

So while it was kind of gross, it wasn't something that made me call and demand it be fixed.

 

[FindTheMickeys]

Twice the evidence of previous occupants was actually trash left under the sink in the kitchen. Once it was smelly food (YUCK!!) and once it was like coffee grounds and paper towels... Once I walked in and the dishwasher was still running but that was okay because I KNEW that those dishes were clean

 

[LisaS]

We haven't had many issues. On one visit the kitchen floor was sticky. On another there were a few dirty dishes in the cupboard. Twice we've had issues with something (melted crayon?) stuck all over the inside of the dryer. The first time this happened, I noticed it as I was about to move the laundry from the washer to the dryer at 10PM one night. We didn't want to deal with calling maintenance at that time of night so my DH cleaned it himself. He warmed up the dryer a bit and scraped off all of the bits of softened wax very carefully with the edge of a credit card. After that stay I always check the inside of the dryer BEFORE I do my first load of laundry. When it happened the second time, my DH cleaned it himself again because he has the technique down pat now.

 

[ransom]

The only problems we've had were mild maintenance issues such as light bulbs that needed replacing and once a refrigerator that made a repeated knocking sound every time it turned on or off. In each case, maintenance was there within minutes to resolve the problem.

As far as housekeeping, we've had no issues. We're happy with what they do, and happy with not having them in every day. Over our usual 2-week vacations, it work out just right for us.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I guess my priority for arrival is the bathroom. Though I would like for every dish, utensil, glass, mug, pan, etc to be re-washed, I don't see how that would be possible. We always take the spread off the bed and set it aside (no matter where we stay).

Occasionally, we find stains that are of the more permanent nature and would require steam cleaning.

It is a tight wire the MKeeping walks to get the unit cleaned and ready in a reasonable amount of time.

We've been very fortunate with what we find (cleanliness) on arrival so far. I am more irritated by minor mechanical issues... Shades not working, leaky faucet, loose door knobs, sticky doors, hard to close shower doors. Much of this is due to the occupants not reporting the problem during their stay or upon departure.

 

[JimC]

Missing items have been the most common problem. But housekeeping has always brought a replacement right up to us.

Occasionally there have been burned out lights, but again a quick call and it was corrected.

Wear and tear in the villas sometimes is noticeable, but never has it been objectionable.

Cleaning has not been a problem. It has not always been perfect, but it has never been dirty.

 

[jarestel]

Cleaning has not been a problem. It has not always been perfect, but it has never been dirty.

That's the problem with a poll like this. We all have differing standards of "cleanliness". What one person might be willing to accept, another might find totally unacceptable. Lacking any real standards by DVC itself, I'm afraid this topic will be debated forever.

 

[JimC]

That's the problem with a poll like this. We all have differing standards of "cleanliness". What one person might be willing to accept, another might find totally unacceptable. Lacking any real standards by DVC itself, I'm afraid this topic will be debated forever.

My comment about it not always being perfect should not be interpreted as a lower standard of cleanliness. Not perfect simply means not perfect. Disney and DVC have room cleaning standards.

 

[jarestel]

My comment about it not always being perfect should not be interpreted as a lower standard of cleanliness. Not perfect simply means not perfect. Disney and DVC have room cleaning standards.

If that were true, then all rooms would be cleaned to the same level. That is obviously not the case. IMO... YMMV

 

[PoohNFriends]

Haven't had a DVC stay yet so couldn't vote in this poll. But, I am wondering when guests find dirty dishes in the cabinets do you think it was from: ~previous guest not washing thouroughly/thought it was clean so it was put away OR
~the previous guest didn't bother to wash dishes and put them away OR
~is housekeeping putting the dishes away thinking it was clean?
I realize the guest finding the dirty dishes wasn't there at check-out or cleaning, but just wondering if you have an idea on why you think this happens. Sorry for the hijack of the poll, but it got me wondering if this seems to be more of a guest or housekeeping issue (of putting dirty dishes away).

 

[vacationbug]

Only once have we noted items left behind.
It was a bottom drawer in the second bedroom of a 2-bedroom unit. Kids clothes.

Probably peeps late in getting checked out, and in their rush, they left the clothes behind. I didn't touch them, but called front desk, who came and retrieved them. We really didn't make a fuss.

We don't generally use the drawers for our clothes (gotta love our OLs), and I am not sure that mousekeeping checks them?

 

[50 years Too!]

Have had underwear left on side of washing machine in BLT.

ALWAYS seem to have hair on floor in every bathroom. Also, the drawers in the master bath always seem to be gross.

Have had dirty kleenex and food under the pull out sofa bed in BCV. The sofa bed has also had dirty linens left on. Also, jam all over the table and cushions of the banquet.

The only DVC units that have been satisfactory for me are at Hilton Head.

I think people who are happy are ones usually staying in a studio. The larger units have more to clean and more opportunity for sloppy work.

Don't know why housekeeping can't learn to "clean with their eyes". It should at least look clean.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've never had a problem with the room when we checked in. Other than the guest not checking out on time and the housekeepers were still trying to clean up the mess at 5:30PM.

 

[franandaj]

So are you going to do an analysis of the polls and give us some sort of conclusion? Being a data geek, I'd love to hear the results of your findings even though they can't be totally conclusive due to the nature of our having different levels of cleanliness.