poll results DID WE LEARN ANYTHING?

[dianeschlicht]

I clean my bathroom toilet daily 16 6.02%
I clean my bathroom toilet weekly 212 79.70%
I use a clean bath towel each time I bathe 32 12.03%
I hang my towel and change it once or twice a week 221 83.08%
I change my sheets daily 0 0%
I change my sheets weekly 147 55.26%
I change my sheets twice a month 108 40.60%
I clean my kitchen daily 166 62.41%
I clean my kitchen weekly 93 34.96%
I don't use my kitchen at home 4 1.50%
I vacuum daily 37 13.91%
I vacuumn weekly 207 77.82%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 266.
________________________________________________________
I want the bathroom/toilet cleaned daily 15 5.05%
I want the bathroom toilet cleaned once or twice a week 231 77.78%
I expect a clean towel each time I bathe 35 11.78%
I can hang my towel and use it several times 253 85.19%
I expect clean linens on my bed daily 3 1.01%
I can live with bed linens being replaced weekly 213 71.72%
Linens don't need to be changed during my stay 98 33.00%
I want the kitchen cleaned for me daily 14 4.71%
I want the kitchen cleaned for me weekly 174 58.59%
I don't use the kitchen on vacation 53 17.85%
I want the room vacuumed daily 20 6.73%
I want the villa vacuumed at leas once during my stay 185 62.29%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 297.
*************************************************
Bathroom should be as clean as I keep my home bathroom 109 35.62%
Bathroom should be CLEANER than my home bathroom 196 64.05%
No "little hairs" please! 263 85.95%
I expect at least one towel for each accupant up to occupancy 175 57.19%
I think we should have MORE towels than occupancy 147 48.04%
ALL bedding should be clean when I arrive (including spread) 259 84.64%
I can live with understanding that the spread is changed weekly 89 29.08%
I expect there to be no evidence in the kitchen of previous guests 295 96.41%
I want the floors scrubbed before I arrive 191 62.42%
I expect ALL the dishes to have been rewashed before I arrive 188 61.44%
I expect all carpets to be vacuumed 302 98.69%
I expect spots to be cleaned from furniture 236 77.12%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 306.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bathroom has always been satisfactorily clean 124 45.09%
Bathroom is USUALLY cleaned to satisfaction 140 50.91%
Bathroom is NEVER to my expectations 8 2.91%
Bedding is usually in satisfactory condition 236 85.82%
I've found gross blankets or spread 22 8.00%
Kitchen has always been cleaned to satisfaction 169 61.45%
I've found dirty dishes when I arrive 59 21.45%
I've found a gross oven or stove on arrival 21 7.64%
Carpets or floors were stained or dirty on arrival 92 33.45%
Furniture was stained enough to bother me 51 18.55%
There were missing items from the unit 108 39.27%
I found evidence of the previous occupant (items or food) 97 35.27%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 275.

Okay, so here are all the results in one place. Now let's discuss how we feel about it and if we learned anything or not.

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS NOT SCIENTIFIC!!! I don't want to hear any complaints about that, because that was never the intent....just something interesting to look at.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The dirty carpets and floors were kind of surprising to me. Do people not clean up after themselves if they spill something on the carpet? At least call Housekeeping as a minimum so the spill can be cleaned up before there is a stain.

And for all the talk about clean sheets and towels, no one changes sheets at home daily and only a smaller percentage use a clean towel every day. From the various threads I've read in the past, it seemed like a lot more members would have voted for clean towels every day.

Finally, the number of members on the DIS who want all the dishes rewashed was surprising. Seems like a waste to me. But that's just my opinion.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Deb, I pretty much agree with everything you pointed out. I too was surprised at the number who wanted all the dishes washed. Frankly, if I felt that way, I'd just do that when I arrived to make sure it had been done. I do know some timeshares require the departing guests to place all dishes used in the dishwasher and run the dishwasher as they vacate the unit. That way when housekeeping comes in, the dishes are ready to be put away. It always surprises me that not everyone does that anyway. I always do it, because I know the housekeepers tend to only let the dishes go through a partial cycle. That's what results in the dishes not being cleaned. I know this, because at OKW, we usually find the dishwasher stopped half way through the cycle. The first time we go to use it, it doesn't start right away until you turn the dial half way around.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Plus, I think we all realize that many of us are worse housekeepers than the ones at the resorts. So many people expected the bathroom to be cleaner than the one at home.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Plus, I think we all realize that many of us are worse housekeepers than the ones at the resorts. So many people expected the bathroom to be cleaner than the one at home.

I noticed that too.

Rewashing ALL the dishes also seems like a waste.

 

[culli]

I noticed that too.

Rewashing ALL the dishes also seems like a waste.

I guess I wasn't sure what was meant by this, but I rewash the dishes myself. I would like to TRUST that everything is actually clean and I don't. I have seen dishes with stuff on them etc, so first thing I do is rewash everything.

I would just like to trust that the place has been cleaned. For example when I go to Wyndham resorts I always was all couch/chair pillow cases and any blankets/throws in the room. I once found what looked like a huge drool stain on a couch pillow. While we unpack we do the dishes, check the place over and launder things I don't trust being clean.

 

[ToddyLu]

For example when I go to Wyndham resorts I always was all couch/chair pillow cases and any blankets/throws in the room. I once found what looked like a huge drool stain on a couch pillow. While we unpack we do the dishes, check the place over and launder things I don't trust being clean.

Really?!? Now I feel like I am lazy and just accept things the way they are when I arrive. I have a clean and tidy house for the most part at home and even have the luxury of a house keeper...but I have never even thought of looking over things like that...hmmm...I would love to be a fly on the wall when the mousekeepers come in to find a room left in a mess.

DH is a fireman and we do always have a little fire exit briefing when we stay at a hotel, motel or DVC,.....

 

[culli]

Really?!? Now I feel like I am lazy and just accept things the way they are when I arrive. I have a clean and tidy house for the most part at home and even have the luxury of a house keeper...but I have never even thought of looking over things like that...hmmm...I would love to be a fly on the wall when the mousekeepers come in to find a room left in a mess.

DH is a fireman and we do always have a little fire exit briefing when we stay at a hotel, motel or DVC,.....

I never worried too much about it either until I started to read the forums on TUG and DIS then experienced a few nasty things myself. I'm pretty laid back about things and realize they won't be perfect so I just do this stuff right away while unpacking then don't think twice about it again.

I have to admit we have never done a fire exit plan!!!

 

[dvc_john]

Diane, maybe you should do one more poll. The condition of my unit when I leave. eg I wash and put away all dishes, I bag/remove all trash, I return furniture to it's original position if I moved it, I return all pool towels to the pool area if I took any to the room, I wipe counter tops and tables, I clean up all spots/spills caused by my people, etc.

 

[castleri]

I for one misread the reply about the dishes being rewashed. I read it to mean that I expected all the dishes in the cabinets to be clean - that any that had been used would have been washed and that the mousekeepers would at least check to see that the ones in the cabinets were clean. I missed the re part of rewashed somehow. So no I don't expect the dishes to be rewashed just for the sake of washing them.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane, maybe you should do one more poll. The condition of my unit when I leave. eg I wash and put away all dishes, I bag/remove all trash, I return furniture to it's original position if I moved it, I return all pool towels to the pool area if I took any to the room, I wipe counter tops and tables, I clean up all spots/spills caused by my people, etc.

Excellent idea, John!!! Frankly, if we all did the things I do when I leave, I'm quite sure there would be very few complaints and I know the housekeepers would be done cleaning the units faster.

I always load the dishwasher and start it, take the sheets and pillow cases off and pile them in the middle of the bed, fold the blankets and spreads, tie up the garbage and recycle bags, dispose of all left over food, and make sure all the towels are in the tub (including the kitchen ones). I also make sure all the remotes are back where we found them. Housekeepers should only have to come in and really CLEAN the pace and replace the items that need replacing.

 

[El&Asmom]

Excellent idea, John!!! Frankly, if we all did the things I do when I leave, I'm quite sure there would be very few complaints and I know the housekeepers would be done cleaning the units faster.

I always load the dishwasher and start it, take the sheets and pillow cases off and pile them in the middle of the bed, fold the blankets and spreads, tie up the garbage and recycle bags, dispose of all left over food, and make sure all the towels are in the tub (including the kitchen ones). I also make sure all the remotes are back where we found them. Housekeepers should only have to come in and really CLEAN the pace and replace the items that need replacing.

We do the same thing. Darn mom making me feel guilty. When I was a kid, we had to clean up our hotel rooms every morning before housekeeping came.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We do the same thing. Darn mom making me feel guilty. When I was a kid, we had to clean up our hotel rooms every morning before housekeeping came.

I keep my DVC room cleaned and picked up and beds made every day, just like I keep my house at home. I don't really care if people want to live in a mess while they are on vacation, but I do expect them to clean it up before they leave!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

1st and foremost, Diane thank you for taking the time to do these poles and then further analysing and giving us the reults.

For me, I pretty much fit in with the general average. Three things from your results really bother me though:

There were missing items from the unit 108 39.27% I think 40% is high and luckily, other than my vacuum incident I haven't had this problem at all. For those of have had these issues, I would hope that mousekeeping was called and the missing items replaced immediately.

Carpets or floors were stained or dirty on arrival 92 33.45%/I found evidence of the previous occupant (items or food) 97 35.27%
These are very high as well and it's indicative that housekeeping needs to step it up but also that people aren't picking up and cleaning up after themselves and their families and that's just plain nasty. (which is why I remove the bed spread and tuck it away in the closet right away) Reminds me of an episode of Monk, when he takes a blue light into his hotel room, sometimes it's better not to know what or who's been lurking.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I keep my DVC room cleaned and picked up and beds made every day, just like I keep my house at home. !

Which is why thankfully I always book a 2br. Our very dear friends who travel with us , are say, less than tidy and it's a blessing that they are in a room of their very own! Other than OKW, the villas are rather compact and having stuff everywhere makes me nuts!

 

[dallastxcpa]

While I want things to be clean I also try to think about the impact on the environment. So we do what is necessary on vacation and try not to over do to much. I bring lysol wipes and we do run the jacuzzi tub with dishwasher detergent. But I am not rewashing all the dishes and we use our towels for the week unless something out of the ordinary happens.

 

[Deb & Bill]

1st and foremost, Diane thank you for taking the time to do these poles and then further analysing and giving us the reults.

For me, I pretty much fit in with the general average. Three things from your results really bother me though:

There were missing items from the unit 108 39.27% I think 40% is high and luckily, other than my vacuum incident I haven't had this problem at all. For those of have had these issues, I would hope that mousekeeping was called and the missing items replaced immediately.....

I think this number is high because there are so many items that could be missing from the villa. Did people report YES on this question because they were missing a fork or a glass or a plate? Or did they report YES on this question because they were missing all their towels or most of the forks were missing?

 

[50 years Too!]

That only 60 some percent of people expect the floors to be mopped surprised me. Really? You don't care if they don't mop the kitchen and bathroom floors between guests?
Also, I too, try to leave things very picked up when I leave. I clean the frig, throw away the soap in the shower, strip the beds, empty the garbage, etc.
I also used to wipe down the counters but now I try to leave them a little smudgy. Why? Because I don't think they'll disinfect them if they look clean.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yeah, the floor thing surprised me too.

 

[Tigger1]

Great poll.
I do not think clean dishes need to be rewashed. They should be checked though.
The wear on washing the bed covers would result to increased dues, but i want them clean. I think hotels could advertise that they are cleaned before each new guest, to gain business.