I've learned that Members should not complain about Mousekeeping...

[DebbieB]

Can someone tell me where the rules are posted that I have to clean before I leave my room? I'm on vacation- I'm not vaccuming and I'm not wiping down the counters before I leave. It's Disney's responsibility to make sure the room is clean for the next guest, not mine. If they can't do it, it's a failure in their service, not in my manners.

There are no posted rules. It's just common courtesy to clean up a little. I'm not saying you should vaccum (I wouldn't) but at least make sure all the trash is in the can, not laying everywhere.

 

[crisi]

Can someone tell me where the rules are posted that I have to clean before I leave my room? I'm on vacation- I'm not vaccuming and I'm not wiping down the counters before I leave. It's Disney's responsibility to make sure the room is clean for the next guest, not mine. If they can't do it, it's a failure in their service, not in my manners.

You don't need to do anything....but do keep in mind this is a timeshare, not a hotel. We members have a vested interest in keeping maintenance and housekeeping fees reasonable - as we pay for them directly! Timeshare vacations are a little different than hotel vacations - many timeshares do have rules where you have to clean up after yourself to keep maintenance low.

We don't vaccuum (spilled pototo chips, yes - before we leave, no), and we just run a paper towel over the counter each day to clean up spilled coffee. Most of us aren't interested in counters and sinks that have been coffee stained because someone couldn't be bothered to wipe a counter for seven days. I learned a trick from my mother and always make hotel beds before I leave - its the only way to make sure the teddy bears (and small children) don't get left behind in the covers. I know housekeeping should strip that bed the moment I walk out the door - so I'm not doing it for the next guest.

 

[lllovell]

It's done at my house every week, 2 people, 1 hour (maybe 1.5 hr on a slow day). My house is more than double the size of a 2 bdrm villa. Every room in the house dusted and vacuumed along with the stairs, other floors mopped, cabinets and counters wiped down in 4 bathrooms and kitchen, stove top burner parts cleaned along with any dishes in the sink, they usually only have to strip and make one bed unless we've had guests, I don't see how it could take too much longer than 30 - 45 minutes to clean a 2 bdrm villa. Are they suppose to sit and wait for the dish washer to be done? Oh, I see now, that's why the TV's are on. How about do the kitchen first then move onto the rest, if the dishes are still running go to the next villa and come back to put the dishes away. Like I said, "the biggest problem with the cleaning staff, is the cleaning staff". They're just not very efficient.

I would be willing to be that you clean your house before your housekeeper comes. That you dont leave toys laying all over the floor, clothes everywhere, trash sitting on top of the kitchen cabinets or on the end tables in the living room. If you did, it would take them WAY longer to clean your house or else they would spend the same amount of time cleaning and not do as good of a job. (My experience with housekeepers is that I spend a good bit of time cleaning BEFORE they come....perhaps straightening is a better word - and others I have talked to do the same because if they don't, they don't get a good cleaning).

 

[crisi]

We used to have a housekeeper. No picking up before she came, two small children, lots of dishes, three bathrooms, four bedrooms - three hours.

But when you are checking out there should be a lot of "picking up" for a housekeeper to do. There won't be legos spread all over the floor or laundry scattered throughout the bedroom. I can't imagine what you could leave behind - a mess in the kitchen I suppose. Maybe some left behind bathroom stuff (which the housekeeper just clears into the trash), a few shopping bags, the park brochures. Really, the "picking up" should be the "standabouts", the resort binder, the TV guide, and the Disney magazine (if you left it behind), everything else goes into the trash. Unless you were a complete slob, a five minute FlyLady style toss fest should have all the picking up done.

I don't mind "motivational music" when I pay someone to clean. I wouldn't mind the TV as background. I do mind paying someone to clean during commericials - and I have walked by rooms at Disney where the cleaning staff is sitting on the bed with the TV on.

 

[Jamesbyr]

Wow.

There seem to be 3 separate issues competing for our attention on this thread.

One, that the OP was at 11 AM incorrectly sent to a room that had not yet been cleaned. This was an administrative error involving housekeeping and/or front desk communications. (BTW I was twice sent to rooms that were already occupied on our first trip to POLY. We were finally straightened out, and got a nice fruit basket the next morning.)

Two, that some guests leave the room a mess when they leave. OP got a glimpse into the dark underside of hotel management. I don't know if this behavior is limited to DVC guests or is across the board. We always start the dishwasher when we are leaving, but I remember reading here once that the cleaning staff washes ALL the dishes after a check-out. I don't know if that is really true.

Three, that someone saw cleaning staff watching TV. Knowing how Disney watches its costs, I am sure that less efficient staff will be the first to let go. Again, that's an issue for supervision.

Maybe we could split these issues into separate discussions.

A related piece of gossip: maintenance/cleaning people we spoke to at OKY last February were eager to transfer to the new SSR. I think they get preference for seniority. So SSR should, logically, now have the most experienced staff.

 

[disgirl]

I agree with those that say they are on vacation and do not want to be doing a lot of cleaning. However, when I have stayed in hotel rooms, I have always done a little straightening up before housekeeping comes. I do not understand leaving things all over the floor or spills on countertops or floors. I could never do that in my own home, so I could never do that while at DVC. I think as many have said here, some common courtesy when leaving your room would go a long way.

I do disagree that a thorough cleaning in a 2 bedroom would take only 30 minutes. I used to clean, not thoroughly, but what I would call "spot" clean my father's house, 1 bathroom, 1 bedroom ( not even making his bed, he did that), small kitchen, dining room, and living room , when my mom died, and it took me atleast 2-3 hours. It takes me more than that to clean our 3 bath, 4 bedroom house with three people living in it, that is for sure. But, as others said, the housekeepers at DVC know what is required of them when they take the job. Good housekeeping, IMHO is hard work and I do feel if each of us did some simple, not very time consuming things, picking up papers, making sure all trash is atleast in room garbage cans, cleaning any spills off counters or floors, etc., the chances of seeing cleaner rooms when we enter, may increase. JMHO.

 

[MickeyCrazed]

Wow...I am surprised at how negative this thread turned out.
I was simply trying to say that if we take an extra 5 minutes to clean our room before we leave, the Housekeepers would have more time to spend making sure that the showers are free of mold and the furniture is moved to ensure the floors are completely clean. After all, there have been countless posts about this within the last year, and that doesn't include the comments I overheard when I was waiting in line for check-in.
I definately did not mean to imply that we should fully clean the room before check-out.
By the way, the room that I was first assigned did look like an "exploded suitcase." I guess I should have been more descriptive in the beginning to avoid all the speculation that occurred.

 

[Stitch 03]

Let me start by saying that I do not clean my room before I leave and never intend to. That being said I do constantly tidy up during my stay for two reasons:

1) I, personally, am not a slob and do not want to stay in a mess.
2) I tidy a bit before I leave because it reduces the chances of me leaving posessions behind.

As far as things said in this thread, here are my 2 cents.

1) You could probably clean a 2 bdrm in 30 minutes, but that is one room I would choose not to have.
2) Never expect a housekeeper or anyone to take leftover food, unless it is still sealed in its original packaging. Think about it. You are asking someone to take food from a stranger. Not that I would question the motives of anyone leaving food behind.

I have had the pleasure of working in housekeeping, though not by choice. I was an accountant in a four star hotel who was pushed into duty during a prolonged strike. Here are some of my observations.

1) When a room was cleaned the computer system was updated through the phone. I would pick up the phone punch in a code and room#. Voila! When the front desk looks up the room it will show as now being cleaned and released inot inventory. Punch the wrong room # and a guest receives a dirty room.
2) I do feel for housekeeping staff as it is not a pleasent job. You would be suprised of some of the meeses. A couple of examples:
A) One room I entered had dozens of beer cans strewn around and a couple packs worth of cigarette butts. The room stank of cigarette smoke like you wouldn't believe. BTW, the room was non-smoking.
B) Another room, I needed some help moving some of the furniture off the balcony and back into the room.
3) Messes aside, they are not that much of a problem. It just takes a bit longer. The only thing that should cause an issue is anything related to damage to the room. Therfore, it is not unreasonable to expect a clean room upon check-in. Regardless of the previous occupants.

Yes, everyonce in awhile you will get a bad room. When you do complain. Not in an unreasonable fashion, but let the front desk staff know. The hotel knows who cleans each room. This info could then be used to spot trends (i.e. issues with specific mousekeepers.)

 

[dianeschlicht]

Common sense should be the rule in this situation. If you make a mess, clean it up immediately, just like you would at home, unless you are a slob. If you have kept things picked up and tidy and clean during your stay, all that is necessary is to make sure trash is in the cans, towels are in the tubs, and dishes are in the dishwasher. I wouldn't start the dishwasher until I actually left the room though. That way housekeeping will see it is still running when they arrive. I also do NOT tip housekeeping unless they have done something above and beyond what is expected of them. Knowing they are likely to get a tip for NOT doing a good job, might actually be encouraging them to do half a job. You will notice that cards are left by cleaning staff saying So and SO cleaned your room prior to your arrival. If you really want to reward the person for doing a good job, be sure you leave a tip at the front desk in an envelope with THAT INDIVIDUAL'S name on it. That would be encouraging the proper person, not the nere-do-well that might be cleaning after you leave.

 

[janner]

One time I checked with the front desk about giving away our leftovers. I was told that the cast members are not permitted to take anything unless the guest leaves a note giving permission. We leave food and beverages only if unopened. We also leave laundry detergent (I like to buy my favorite unscented brand at Publix). In my permission note, I say that these items are for cast members and/or a local charity.

Also, as some others have posted already, we leave a nice tip in lieu of doing much tidying or cleaning. However, we do load the dishwasher and start it before we go.

Janet