Room/Airplane cleaning tips. Do you sanitize?

[AlexTina]

Okay so our May trip is coming up and the one thing I want most in this world right now is to avoid a repeat of last years trip. It was horrible .

Day 1: we arrive everyone's fine and happy.
Day 2: MK still doing great and having fun.
Day 3: AK still good.
Day 4: DS wakes in the middle of the night with 103 temp followed by DD#2
Day 5: Stay in room with DS and DD#2. They sleep all day with fever, DH takes DD#1 to MK.
Day 6: DS/DD#2 still have fever and now have cough and runny nose as well.
Day 7: no more fever cough/runny nose still present do Epcot for a short time.
Day 8: Everyones a bit better go to the beach.
Day 9: DD#2 comes down with stomach virus.
Day 10: DH comes down with stomach virus.
Day 11: On the mend try to get in MK one more time.
Day 12: go home, we are home for 2 hours and I'm bowing to the porcelin(?sp) god.

I really don't want a repeat. I was thinking of taking some clorox wipes with me and wiping down the tray tables and arm rests on the airplane and then wiping down things like door knobs, telephone, and remote once we get to the resort. Do any of you do this? Or have any other tips?

Tina

 

[tinkandpan]

I always wipe down the airline seats and such. The first time I did this my DH thought I had three heads and then i showed him the dirt i wiped away. EWWWW. In the hotel room, I usually wipe down the remote, and phone but that's about it because we really don't use or touch too many other things. I don't wipe down the showers - i am not that industrious

 

[Bete]

the most important part of it all has to be washing your hands as much as possible or if you are on the run then use a hand sanitizer. Think about all the rides, etc. that you are touching all day long.

I hate to say it, but it's also why we stay away from all public pools. I get grossed out thinking about public pools, spas, etc.

 

[luchamouse]

Thank you for this very timely reminder.

My dd picks up EVERYTHING going, and got really really sick during our 06 vacation, so last year I carried hand sanitizer everywhere, we washed our hands all the time and most importantly we never used the ice bucket.

I'll definitely pick up some wipes for the plane too and a spray for when we get there.

I'd be interested in any other tips you all might have

 

[AlexTina]

I'm definately anal about the hand sanitizer. The minute we all got on the plane last year every one of us used the sanitizer and again prior to getting off. I think we must have picked up the bugs from the rooms because once we got off the plane I wasn't as adamant about the sanitizer. I will definately be better this year.

 

[Disneemomee]

I bring lysol and spray any hotel we stay in even at disney. The remote the phone , the door handles, the faucets, the toiliet, you name i spray it. Usually we checkin i spraythe room while my husband and the girls check out the hotel.

 

[ultraviolet]

whenever we travel by air, we all take an airborne tablet in water while waiting to board. we also always carry hand sanitizer.

 

[ntsammy5]

Good grief!

 

[Rylee]

I travel with a can of Lysol, a can of Dow Bathroom Cleaner, wipes for hands and surfaces, and hand sanitizer.

Washing hands is the best defense... hubby is a singer, (singers can't sing if they're sick) and my Mom was a RN, so we are always washing our hands.

Upon checking into the room, I spray the tub and sink with the bathroom cleaner... I don't scrub it out, but I do spray it with the cleaner, give it a few minutes and rinse. Then, I spray everything with the lysol... door knobs, the remote, the flusher handle, etc., and because I've used about half a can, and we need to breathe, we leave the room for a little bit. We go check out the resort or get a bite to eat.

I continue to spray certain surfaces throughout our stay... no telling what housekeeping transfered on their hands or gloves.

Ever see a dateline special? ... I'm not going overboard.



*Bete... My DH doesn't do "public swimming" areas, either. He says it's like taking a giant bath with strangers. The kids and I will go in the water, but I try to insist they shouldn't go underwater. Of course, they don't listen, so my next suggestion is to "keep their eyes and mouth, shut!" But, as my DS9 pointed out... "Mom, with his eyes shut, Jake(6) might fall into the deep end, and with his mouth shut, how is he supposed to call for help? He could drown!" Kids!

 

[ultraviolet]

*Bete... My DH doesn't do "public swimming" areas, either. He says it's like taking a giant bath with strangers. The kids and I will go in the water, but I try to insist they shouldn't go underwater. Of course, they don't listen, so my next suggestion is to "keep their eyes and mouth, shut!" But, as my DS9 pointed out... "Mom, with his eyes shut, Jake(6) might fall into the deep end, and with his mouth shut, how is he supposed to call for help? He could drown!" Kids!

we go to busch gardens williamsburg every year and last summer was the first time we ever went to water country. two days later, my daughter & husband ended up with severe ear infections and i had an infection in my naval piercing... we spent the last day of our vacation at an immediate medical care clinic in ocean city, md, and left early the next morning because my daughter ended up with a fever and was nauseous. waterparks are nasty.

 

[alidelargy]

My husband used to think I was crazy but know he respects my disinfecting ritual.
I quarentine my children almost 2 weeks before each trip from places where they can pick up extra germs (i.e. birthday parties, Chucke Cheese etc..). I use alcohol swabs on the tray tables in the airplane and we all use hand sanitizer during the trip. When I get to our room I clean the phone, remote, bathroom surface areas and any door knobs. Sounds crazy....but knock on wood, it has worked for us. Everyone also gets a lecture about swallowing pool water (gross!)
When you think about all of the time and money that you've put into planning your Disney Vacation nothing would be worse than everyone getting a stupid virus.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Just something to keep in mind -- any spray or wipes you bring may be harmful to other airline passengers. Both my mother and daughter have asthma and, depending how strongly the smell of the spray or wipes is, this could cause an attack, because it's such an enclosed area.

 

[DisneyDreamnDeb]

Here's a good tip I read somewhere on this board. Bring extra ziplock bags wipe down T.V. remote and put it in a bag. You can still use remote without the worry of germs. Deb.

 

[OKW Lover]

Nope, never do the disinfectant thing. Never had a problem at Disney either.

Funny thing is that we were on a cruise last year where they insisted you use a disinfectant to clean your hands before entering any of the dining rooms. You guessed it, my wife got sick.

 

[ptlycloudy]

I don't really go overboard. I just do a quick spray or wipe down in the room and we are big handwashers. Most importantly no one unpacks anything until I check for signs of bed bugs. If I see signs we ask for a new room! Even very nice hotels are susceptible to bedbugs.

 

[bavaria]

I travel 300+ days a year. I live in hotel rooms. I travel all over the world. I am on airplanes (not to mention trains, subways, taxis) several times a week.

I have NEVER ever ever 'sanitized' my hotel room or airplane seat.

The overuse of antibacterial products in America is having a negative impact on immune systems.

Wash hands regularly and you will be fine.

 

[semo233]

As I was reviewing my airline's packing restrictions, I noticed it said no disinfectants in carry on or checked luggage. I have the wipes, but wanted to use the Lysol spray on the hotel room carpeting. Think of all of the bare feet... !!!! I'm going to see if I can pick up a can when I get there!

 

[disneyfan61]

We order through Garden Grocer & on my list is a can of Lysol. I know it is expensive & cannot bring it home but I don't care. I got pnemonia (sp)? on our trip in 2006 & will NOT get sick again!! I bring the wipes & wipe down the room, remote faucets, toilet, everything!!! Also wash hands often & hand sanitizer.

 

[Kanga+2Roos]

I don't really go overboard. I just do a quick spray or wipe down in the room and we are big handwashers. Most importantly no one unpacks anything until I check for signs of bed bugs. If I see signs we ask for a new room! Even very nice hotels are susceptible to bedbugs.

I am as diligent as everyone else in this thread about sanitizing but never thought about checking for bedbugs. What signs do you look for & where?

Thanks!

 

[ptlycloudy]

The best place for bed bug info is to google them . There is alot of information about them. They are nasty. I pull back the bottom sheet or bed skirt and inspect the mattress, box spring, head board and wall around bed, looking for dark brown or reddish spots. This isn't a foolproof way but it will tell you if they have been present and only takes a few minutes. Of course if you see actually egg cases or bugs LEAVE! They quickly get into luggage, on clothes and travel with you! If seen tell the desk what you suspect and ask for a different room. A good hotel will mark the room down and have an expert inspect it to see if that is what it is and take care of it. This doesn't mean the whole hotel is infected. There have been several hotels at Disneyland with this problem in the last couple of years.

I used to work for an upscale hotel company and they are becoming a huge problem all across the country. Travelers bring them with them from all over the world. Most people associate them with cheap motels but that isn't the case.I would take an illness anyday over having to burn all my mattresses and fumigate my home because I brought them home! Plus the idea of them on my dds' makes me ill.