Lysol

[P'colaBeachBum]

I have a small spray bottle of Thieves from Young Living. It has been shown to be more effective than bleach or Lysol. home

 

[Tractortom]

Here's another tip for the germ conscious travelers out there. BRING YOUR OWN PEN! Every time you buy anything on the ship, especially any drink, the server hands you a receipt and a PEN. You don't know who last used the pen, and where their hands have been, when they last sneezed into their hands, and what they have been touching. I ALWAYS carry a pen. Even here at home I always carry my own pen, and will not touch the pen handed to me in a restaurant or bar. I know this sounds like a small thing, and servers on the ship have told me that they "wipe down" their pens a couple times a day, but I just can't stand to handle a pen on board.

Tom in Okeechobee, FL

 

[elvispursley]

I confess to being somewhat of a germaphobe (have worked in a trauma center for 15 years) and I tend to agree with most of the points listed, especially wiping down the airplane surfaces (have you seen how dirty the rags are that they use to "wipe" down areas??)! But I also think that using stronger and stronger chemicals could be contributing to increase in "super bugs" that are becoming more and more antibiotic-resistant. Do what you can within reason--using your own pen, although if it's not cleaned regularly, could be just as dirty as other pens. I always use my own pen when checking in to the Dr's office and after signing, I use a squirt of hand sanitizer, rubbing it in to my pen as well. But how many of us "germaphobes" think to wipe down our luggage handles?? Do you we wipe down the taxi door handles?? Our credit cards are probably quite gross. And cell phones are reportedly full of all kinds of germs. My point is, germs are everywhere and a healthy person needs exposure for a healthy immune system (obviously, if you're immunosuppressed/compromised, that is completely different). Washing hands frequently and avoiding your face is probably the best thing we can do. As much as I'm tempted to have a portable black light, I'd creep myself out to see what's in hotel rooms (I tend to keep the bedspreads/comforters OFF the bed and wipe down the phone and remote). Now...if we could only travel with a portable UV light system that kills all the "super bugs" that we have our hospital

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

Handling money, paper bills or coins, are probably the dirtiest, germiest of them all!

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I think the moral to most of these stories is that you still need good handwashing practices! No matter what you spray, wipe down, etc, if you don't wash your hands properly, especially before eating and after using the restroom, chances for transmission skyrocket. I also agree there is much too much overuse of antibacterial and antimicrobial products, and those in spray form have their own inherent dangers. In short, wash your hands, it's a simple yet effective public health safety practice.

 

[nycdisneygal]

We use lysol wipes for the plane and CLorox peroxide to wipe down the hotel rooms.
And carry wet ones for hands. ETA: Hand Wipes only if we cant wash hands!

 

[xlxo]

Handling money, paper bills or coins, are probably the dirtiest, germiest of them all!

That's why I like plastic.

 

[MunFam]

I used to be a housekeeping manager at a AAA 5 Diamond resort...let me just say that unless you are cleaning your room every.single.time housekeeping leaves, you are opening yourself up to "germs". Housekeepers do not switch rags between staterooms when they dust or wipe down surfaces. They do not use a new toilet bowl brush for each room. Essentially, housekeepers "cross-contaminate" bacteria from room to room. Yes, they are "sanitizing" but how are they doing it and with what materials? I stopped having a home housekeeper after I saw her wipe down my kitchen counter and then use the same rag to wipe other surfaces. Hello e-coli? Anyways...the best way to stay healthy is not touch your nose or face with unwashed hands and always wash hands with soap and water. There is no other sure fire way to prevent the spread of illness.

Any germaphobes freaked out now? Hahaha! (I used to be one until I worked in housekeeping and FWIW, I still wipe down surfaces with clorox wipes in hotels and on planes)

 

[ashley0139]

That's why I like plastic.

Except for the machine you have to use to press in your pin/accept the amount/sign with the plastic pen/etc.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

That's why I like plastic.

Do you Lysol your card every time you use it, before it gets handed back to you, or after you've swiped it through the (previously used) machine? Plastic isn't necessarily any "cleaner" than actual cash.

 

[lorimay]

BLECH...... Germs are everywhere we can't avoid them. I do lysol a room when we arrive mostly the bathroom and light switches and the TV remote.
We are going to Universal on Thursday for my grandsons birthday, between him and his sister, I don't know which one will gross me out more by hanging all over the metal bars in the lines and touching everything that they see, no matter how many times we say "there's germs all over that........ Thank God they are healthy and will be able to fight the germs off, hopefully. I carry wet ones wipes and make them wash their hands as much as possible and we hope for the best.......

 

[cmwade77]

There is an issue that you should be aware of if you are wiping down areas that others may touch, some people are allergic to certain cleaners, they may know they are safe with what Disney uses, but might be allergic to whatever you are using. Obviously this wouldn't matter so much in your own stateroom, unless what you use interacts negatively with what Disney uses of course, but in public areas it could make a hugely negative impact for others behind you.

Really, the ships are very clean, just wash your hands often and barring any immune issues as some have posted about, you should be fine.

 

[xlxo]

Do you Lysol your card every time you use it, before it gets handed back to you, or after you've swiped it through the (previously used) machine? Plastic isn't necessarily any "cleaner" than actual cash.

Most retailers in my area have me "tapping" my card. A half inch away from the sensor does the job.

 

[JsMom2]

Think about purchasing some Norwex cloths. They will remove 99% of bacteria using nothing but water, and will last for years.

 

[Msmit002]

Think about purchasing some Norwex cloths. They will remove 99% of bacteria using nothing but water, and will last for years.

This is the only time I jump in to refute things like this. But as a research scientist in the medical field you should know those Norwex cloths do not remove bacteria any more than a standard paper towel and water (which is to say, no it doesn't.)

Norwex's site even says: Contains BacLock™, an antibacterial agent for self-cleansing purposes only. The agent is solely designed to inhibit odor from bacteria, mold and/or mildew growth within the product.

Sorry. The last thing I want is for folks to believe that they can wipe away pathogens like say, Norovirus without any sort of antimicrobial agent. Not on a cruise ship.

 

[JsMom2]

This is the only time I jump in to refute things like this. But as a research scientist in the medical field you should know those Norwex cloths do not remove bacteria any more than a standard paper towel and water (which is to say, no it doesn't.)

Norwex's site even says: Contains BacLock™, an antibacterial agent for self-cleansing purposes only. The agent is solely designed to inhibit odor from bacteria, mold and/or mildew growth within the product.

Sorry. The last thing I want is for folks to believe that they can wipe away pathogens like say, Norovirus without any sort of antimicrobial agent. Not on a cruise ship.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Msmit002]

Thanks for the info!

No problem!

 

[lilozz_6]

This is the only time I jump in to refute things like this. But as a research scientist in the medical field you should know those Norwex cloths do not remove bacteria any more than a standard paper towel and water (which is to say, no it doesn't.)

Norwex's site even says: Contains BacLock™, an antibacterial agent for self-cleansing purposes only. The agent is solely designed to inhibit odor from bacteria, mold and/or mildew growth within the product.

Sorry. The last thing I want is for folks to believe that they can wipe away pathogens like say, Norovirus without any sort of antimicrobial agent. Not on a cruise ship.

If you go to that stop the stomach flu webpage that was posted on this thread, you will see that Norwex does in fact remove 99% of bacteria from a surface. It doesn't become bacteria free after hanging to dry, but the silver in it helps inhibit growth within the towel. This is why it doesn't stink like a reg wash cloth.

 

[Msmit002]

If you go to that stop the stomach flu webpage that was posted on this thread, you will see that Norwex does in fact remove 99% of bacteria from a surface. It doesn't become bacteria free after hanging to dry, but the silver in it helps inhibit growth within the towel. This is why it doesn't stink like a reg wash cloth.

And that former scientist, through her own independent testing, determined that boiling the cloths between use was the way to keep transferring pathogens to other surfaces after the cloth had been used:

"From all of these experiments, I conclude that a Norwex cloth CAN transfer germs, but germ transfer from a Norwex cloth seems to be very small and insignificant as long as the cloth is not too germy. A dirty Norwex cloth balled up with food debris in a laundry basket for a day is too germy to use again without boiling. So, keep those cloths boiled! It is still never a good idea to wipe up raw meat and then continue using that cloth. Also, I do not trust any cloth to clean up after someone with a stomach virus. 10% chlorine bleach water, Clorox® Hydrogen Peroxide Spray

, paper towel, and disposable gloves are your safest choices in that situation. However, if you want to use Norwex or e-cloth for your everyday cleaning, you have my blessings I love using them! I always wipe up my floors with a Norwex or e-cloth."

Look, I'm not here to start a holy war on the DIS but when we are talking about cruise lines doing their best to keep their ships from becoming floating petri dishes, there is a reason why the CDC, etc. has the sanitation cast members/staff cleaning with the agents they use. If you, personally, would like to avoid using them in your home etc. that is perfectly fine. But if someone is going to promote a product that is only acquired through multi-level marketing consultants, then the company claims for their product had better be backed up with evidence.

 

[lilozz_6]

Definitely not starting a war I 100% agree I wouldn't use a Norwex cloth to clean up puke, raw meat or pee and then rinse and reuse it. Definitely boil it. I use it for every day cleaning. I also bring one to hotels to wipe down counter tops or other common surfaces. We have had way less sickness in our home since using Norwex. PS I'm not a Norwex rep haha. Just a happy customer who did a bunch of research before buying.