Linen and Towel Exchange

[FLYNZ4]

DW and I use timeshares a LOT (~3 trips/month). As far as I can remember... DVC is the only timeshare that does not do complimentary towel and linen exchanges. To be fair, we seldom request exchanges, so maybe others have the same policy... but still, it seems to be the industry norm.

In fact... most resorts specifically request that you do NOT use the in-room washer/dryer (usually a stackable) to do linens/towels because of the heavy load, and fairly light duty machines. The feeling is that there is less wear and tear by using the industrial strength machines already in use at the resort.

Also... doing lots of small loads all over the resorts is a waste of energy. Large industrial machines, running at full capacity/efficiency use less energy per item than lots of small inefficient machines. (think of mass transit, vs private autos).

So, it seems to me that we are paying extra maintenance, and energy to do our own towels and linens -- and additionally, we get less convenience. Personally, I think DVC members would be better served if we could perform linen exchanges like other condos.

/Jim

 

[jekjones1558]

I'm with you, Jim. In fact it would be fine with me if trash and towel service were eliminated and linen exchange stations were available throughout the resorts. I also think the savings in wear and tear on machines plus the savings in mousekeeping costs would more than balance out costs of getting extra linens. It is not a big deal for us because we rent 1 bedrooms for only 2 of us and there are often extra towels in the rooms. Still a linen exchange service just makes sense to me.

 

[n2mm]

It's never been an issue for us. We don't use our towels once at home, nor do we change our sheets daily, so we don't expect to do it during our DVC stays. Heck, I only wash towels once a week, so our towels last from weekend to weekend (except the washclothes). Changing out the linens twice during an 8 night stay is more than I get at home. When we need more because there is more of us in a room, we find paying the extra $6 for a second towel package reasonable. We are staying at Pop for a week in August because I got the 40% off code will be strange for us. We are not use to daily housekeeping, but we at least top that week off with a 4 day stay at the BCV. (Since there is a big group of us, I wasn't willing to book everyone a DVC room, so the Pop thing worked out better for us. I'm not going to pay 72 points a night for a 2 bedroom like I did last year.)

 

[FLYNZ4]

It's never been an issue for us. We don't use our towels once at home, nor do we change our sheets daily, so we don't expect to do it during our DVC stays.

Like you... we use our towels all week at home, and in our many condo experiences... we never do linen exchanges for ourselves. (but we often do if we have a change of guests mid-week).

HOWEVER, this is beside the point! We all are paying more in maintenance and energy because of DVC policies... regardless of our individual behavior. I do not base this statement on a personal audit of DVC's finanicals... instead, I do so by doing a comparison of DVC's policy against those of other condos... specifically how others discourage in room washing/drying of linens for maintenance and energy reasons. I can't see any significant reason on why DVC costs and/or energy use be different.

With the focus on saving the planet... one might think that DVC would develop policies that encourage (rather than discourage) responsible behavior.

/Jim

 

[Chuck S]

Actually part of the problem, even for those of us that do re-use towels is that they don't always dry well in the FL humidity just hanging in the bathrooms, even with the AC running.

I wonder if DVC has done a cost analysis of the estimated cost and number of towels washed in the rooms daily vs offering a towel swap? But really, inthe long run, I don't think $6 is too bad for fresh towels.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Like you... we use our towels all week at home, and in our many condo experiences... we never do linen exchanges for ourselves. (but we often do if we have a change of guests mid-week).

HOWEVER, this is beside the point! We all are paying more in maintenance and energy because of DVC policies... regardless of our individual behavior. I do not base this statement on a personal audit of DVC's finanicals... instead, I do so by doing a comparison of DVC's policy against those of other condos... specifically how others discourage in room washing/drying of linens for maintenance and energy reasons. I can't see any significant reason on why DVC costs and/or energy use be different.

With the focus on saving the planet... one might think that DVC would develop policies that encourage (rather than discourage) responsible behavior.

/Jim

Actually, our individual behavior is completely on point. If most DVC guests are not washing the linens in the in-unit machines, there is no energy waste.

I like the idea of a towel exchange, though. It would be nice to be able to bring a basket of dirties to trade for a basket of clean.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...With the focus on saving the planet... one might think that DVC would develop policies that encourage (rather than discourage) responsible behavior.

/Jim

The best way to do that is remove the washer and dryer from the one bedroom and larger. And the dishwasher as well.

If they try to make us all go to the laundry room to do free laundry, lots of people won't do it. But I'd sure sell my DVC points if they took out the washer and dryer.

 

[eva]

I've been a memeber for 11 years and have stayed in everything from studios to GV's anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks and have never washed towels or sheets during any of our stays. So I guess they are saving a ton of energy on me. Now I wonder who is stripping the bed and washing the sheets during their stay. Maybe I am not normal. But even at home I only change my linens once a week. And of course they do that for you during a full cleaning in stays over a week anyway. If I have more guests, I pay for a few extra sets of towels. Hmmm, maybe that is what they expect you to do. I don't believe that DVC expects you to wash your own towels or linens. I have a feeling if you wash your linens and towels yourself, you are in the minority.

 

[TinkrLiz]

We're staying at SSR for the first time in Nov/Dec. I did plan on washing the towels but not the sheets. Now that I know I can get extras for only $6 I may just do that instead of washing them. My Husband and I are staying in a 1 bedroom which does sleep more than only two people - how many towels will we get? I normally wash my bed linens once a week but I only use a bath towel once. We're a family of four so I wash a load of towels every other day at home. I figured at DVC I was just going to toss them in in the morning and put them in the dryer when we got back to the room.

 

[crisi]

We aren't towel washers either. I use the washer and dryer in the room, but a new towel after four days is more than adequate.

 

[brack]

We aren't towel washers either. I use the washer and dryer in the room, but a new towel after four days is more than adequate.

me too

 

[jenelope]

I have friends who have washed sheets in their villa. But it was after their daughter was sick on them.

 

[Dean]

I've seen about every variation possible from no exchange (even no pool towels) to daily maid service. I'd say on average MOST timeshares in the US don't do any type of midweek service though a number do and the majority don't have a free exchange option of any type. Of the ones I know that have some type of exchange, most are for pool towels only. As many times as I've been in timeshares I don't recall any formally putting in writing in any way suggesting you not wash the regular towels though I have seen it for the pool towels. Even within a given system, the variation can be huge. I'd say most of our trips within a given system are either Bluegreen or Marriott and every single one has been different than the others. Most don't have a formal sheet exchange but will exchange on an as needed basis if asked.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're staying at SSR for the first time in Nov/Dec. I did plan on washing the towels but not the sheets. Now that I know I can get extras for only $6 I may just do that instead of washing them. My Husband and I are staying in a 1 bedroom which does sleep more than only two people - how many towels will we get? ....

A one bedroom will have four bath towels, two hand towels and four face cloths.

 

[FLYNZ4]

Actually, our individual behavior is completely on point. If most DVC guests are not washing the linens in the in-unit machines, there is no energy waste.

True that individuals can (and do) make a difference... but the macro issue is that DVC is driving a set of policies that encourage wasteful behavior. It is poor management when any set of policies drive behavior in the unintended direction.

I think it is safe to assume that regardless of the level of education and communication provided.. some people are going to wash their own towels. In fact, if you look throughout this forum, there are many posts where the recommendation is to do exactly that. I think this behavior is driven largely on part because the washer is free... and the towel exchange is not.

Because of DVC's policy... they drive a behavior of waste... and I believe that it is completely unnecessary.

I really like the suggestion (I think from Jean)... that she would even be willing to give up T&T day. That would certainly drive savings. My family would only use ~1/2 the towels in a week compared to what we currently use because of T&T.

/Jim

 

[dianeschlicht]

We aren't towel washers either. I use the washer and dryer in the room, but a new towel after four days is more than adequate.

That's us too. We have occationally thrown a towel in the dryer though if it didn't dry during the day.

 

[Dean]

True that individuals can (and do) make a difference... but the macro issue is that DVC is driving a set of policies that encourage wasteful behavior. It is poor management when any set of policies drive behavior in the unintended direction.

I think it is safe to assume that regardless of the level of education and communication provided.. some people are going to wash their own towels. In fact, if you look throughout this forum, there are many posts where the recommendation is to do exactly that. I think this behavior is driven largely on part because the washer is free... and the towel exchange is not.

Because of DVC's policy... they drive a behavior of waste... and I believe that it is completely unnecessary.

I really like the suggestion (I think from Jean)... that she would even be willing to give up T&T day. That would certainly drive savings. My family would only use ~1/2 the towels in a week compared to what we currently use because of T&T.

/Jim

Jim I would question the premise that a towel exchange would be cheaper to the resort or even better for the environment. From a cost standpoint you'd have to add commercial units to handle the extra capacity, more staff to perform ALL the tasks involved from collection to transportation to the washing/folding. The extra wear and tear on the machines and towels is a miniscule portion of the overall costs. And given the standards set and chemicals for commercial washing, I doubt it's any better on the environment. The only given, is that it might take more water and electricity and even that assumes that a certain percentage of towels are washed.

 

[crisi]

True that individuals can (and do) make a difference... but the macro issue is that DVC is driving a set of policies that encourage wasteful behavior. It is poor management when any set of policies drive behavior in the unintended direction.

I think it is safe to assume that regardless of the level of education and communication provided.. some people are going to wash their own towels. In fact, if you look throughout this forum, there are many posts where the recommendation is to do exactly that. I think this behavior is driven largely on part because the washer is free... and the towel exchange is not.

Because of DVC's policy... they drive a behavior of waste... and I believe that it is completely unnecessary.

I really like the suggestion (I think from Jean)... that she would even be willing to give up T&T day. That would certainly drive savings. My family would only use ~1/2 the towels in a week compared to what we currently use because of T&T.

/Jim

I don't think that is the behavior they are driving, though. Yes, some people will wash their towels in their room - the question is, would some of the "non-towel washers" participate in a towel exchange, if it were free and easy, costing more in hot water and laundry soap. Plus, unless they remove the W&D from the room, some people still will wash towels in the room because its pretty easy to throw a load in in the morning when leaving for the parks, and put the load in the dryer when you return - and a towel exchange at a large resort may be a bigger hassle than doing your own towels. Also there will be people who wash the towels because they prefer the "home washed" feel to the "industrial washed" feel (I do, but I'm too lazy to wash my towels). They can't remove the W&D as its part of the contracts and they can't significantly change what is in those rooms. They'd also need to provide places to do a towel exchange, a space not designed into any of the DVC resorts. So, would the net gain of a towel exchange - in terms of environmental impact AND cost, be positive? Personally, I doubt it.

 

[Chuck S]

There is also another possible problem with a free towel exchange, though. Employee time. For instance, if there is one location to do an exchange at OKW, will people be boarding the busses with their dirty towels to ride up to the exchange location daily? Should there be exchange locations at all the pools, manned by an employee at each? Should the towel exchange be limited to a specific hour or two, so folks would have to plan around it?

I think even if it were free, unless they were delivered to the room by housekeeping (again, employee time) many people that currently wash towels would still find it more convenient to throw them in the washer.

Even with 4 locations at OKW, with limited hours, there would probably be a line of people with dirty towels. Not a picturesque view on a DIsney vacation.

 

[FLYNZ4]

As many times as I've been in timeshares I don't recall any formally putting in writing in any way suggesting you not wash the regular towels though I have seen it for the pool towels.

Dean,

I am on the BOD of good sized vacation condo with 288 units. In fact, I am president of the Residence Club portion of resort. We are also part of a much larger condo association with about 270,000 owners. I also attend many of the corporate BOD meetings.

While I have never seen it in writting... the management provides very clear direction to every resort management team that linen and towel exchange is complimentary... and that they do NOT want to encourage guests to wash in their individual units. Of course, guests always have that choice... but the vast majority of folks who need (or want) new linens/towels simply exchange them.

DW and I use timeshares a lot. We tend to use them about 3 times/month... mostly on weekends, but also full weeks (or more). Many of our visits are within our own system... but we also use II, RCI, TPI etc exchanges... and I have never been told that they would not exchange linens... but at the same time, we certainly do not ask each time.

Most of the times we exchange linens is when we have a different guest during the course of our stay. We don't like to offer guest a bedroom with linens used by someone else.

/Jim