Hotel room cups and glasses -- you might not want to hear this
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:01 AM
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Hotel room cups and glasses -- you might not want to hear this
Not to add OCD concerns to the board, but I found out last year that some hotels (even a specific 3-4* chain) don't give their workers different sponges for cleaning the bathrooms. (and I can imagine that even if when they do, they might not always get used separately.) Apparently, this means that glasses can get wiped down with the same sponges used to clean the rest of the bathroom. Not sure how this works itself out in EU hotels, but I'm sure it's not a wholly uncommon occurance.
After hearing this, I try not to use any of the cups or glasses in the room. And I welcome seeing those wrapped plastic disposable cups in budget hotels...
Other people have reported seeing "wipe swirl" marks on the bottom of cups, meaning that the glasses aren't washed with water, but wiped with a sponge or cloth, not very sanitary. To add to the hysteria, I recently read something about how filthy the coffee makers are in hotel rooms... sigh. I always rinse the pot out with as hot of water as possible, I guess that's all I can do. I'd rather ingest some germs that aren't going to kill me vs. not getting my caffeine first thing in the morning.
After hearing this, I try not to use any of the cups or glasses in the room. And I welcome seeing those wrapped plastic disposable cups in budget hotels...
Other people have reported seeing "wipe swirl" marks on the bottom of cups, meaning that the glasses aren't washed with water, but wiped with a sponge or cloth, not very sanitary. To add to the hysteria, I recently read something about how filthy the coffee makers are in hotel rooms... sigh. I always rinse the pot out with as hot of water as possible, I guess that's all I can do. I'd rather ingest some germs that aren't going to kill me vs. not getting my caffeine first thing in the morning.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:09 AM
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IF I use a glass in the room, I first hold it up to the light to inspect it. (This comes after I immediately take the bedspread down, inspect that the sheets and pillowcases have been changed, then go and inspect the cleanliness of the bathroom).
If it looks clean, and the bathroom is very clean, I will then take the glass into the bathroom and wash it out with the boiling hot scalding water that you get in European hotels-I run it for over a minute, I'm sure.
If the bathroom is not clean, and the glass looks questionable as well (I realize this is non-scientific-but it works for me) then I don't use the glass.
As for coffeepots-I would never use one in Europe, same for those tea kettles. You don't know what or how people have used them, and I'm not overly enthused with European hotel room cleaning in general.
If it looks clean, and the bathroom is very clean, I will then take the glass into the bathroom and wash it out with the boiling hot scalding water that you get in European hotels-I run it for over a minute, I'm sure.
If the bathroom is not clean, and the glass looks questionable as well (I realize this is non-scientific-but it works for me) then I don't use the glass.
As for coffeepots-I would never use one in Europe, same for those tea kettles. You don't know what or how people have used them, and I'm not overly enthused with European hotel room cleaning in general.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:14 AM
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At some of the hotels I stay at, I notice fresh glasses being brought on a tray on the maid's trolley. I've seen them loaded onto her trolley/cart directly from the hotel kitchen, with the glasses still hot, I assume they've come straight from the dishwahser. So I feel pretty safe with those. Although I always rinse out the glasses anyway, a long time habit.
At home I keep two sets of gloves and two sets of cleaning sponges, etc. in the bathroom. I can't stand to clean the sink with the same gloves and sponge I use to clean the toilet (even if I cleaned the sink first, I would still have used them from a previous cleaning). Yuck. Pink gloves, toilet, yellow gloves, sink. And never the twain shall meet!
At home I keep two sets of gloves and two sets of cleaning sponges, etc. in the bathroom. I can't stand to clean the sink with the same gloves and sponge I use to clean the toilet (even if I cleaned the sink first, I would still have used them from a previous cleaning). Yuck. Pink gloves, toilet, yellow gloves, sink. And never the twain shall meet!
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:14 AM
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Once, I came home to find an elderly cleaning lady from Poland rinsing out the rags for washing the floor -- in the toilet. She gestured to show that the toilet had alreay been bleached out, I was totally repulsed. Took me days to bleach down all the floors afterwards.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:17 AM
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Its not just European hotel cleaning - standards have dropped everywhere.
We recently stayed in the Frontenac in Quebec City and the room was very dusty.
The television is the thing I usually notice - or the tops of the bedside lamps. If the tv is bad then I make a point of writing "dust me please" on the screen with my finger.
I know!
I'm silly!
We recently stayed in the Frontenac in Quebec City and the room was very dusty.
The television is the thing I usually notice - or the tops of the bedside lamps. If the tv is bad then I make a point of writing "dust me please" on the screen with my finger.
I know!
I'm silly!
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Jun 26th, 2006, 11:28 AM
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Caryl:
The entire hotel(Frontenac)is "tired" and "dusty"...that's why we changed to the fabulous Auberge St.Antoine in Lower Town...try it next time...Frontenac has become the old
dowager in every sense...last centuries news!
Stu T.
The entire hotel(Frontenac)is "tired" and "dusty"...that's why we changed to the fabulous Auberge St.Antoine in Lower Town...try it next time...Frontenac has become the old
dowager in every sense...last centuries news!
Stu T.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:33 AM
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Yes, the hotel chain I spoke of originally is actually a major U.S chain, not European.
Everyone I know in the U.S. who has insider knowledge of hotel working conditions has the same ritual -- throw off the bedspread, don't use the glasses, disinfectant wipes for the surfaces they will be in contact with the most.
Everyone I know in the U.S. who has insider knowledge of hotel working conditions has the same ritual -- throw off the bedspread, don't use the glasses, disinfectant wipes for the surfaces they will be in contact with the most.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:39 AM
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suze, my grandmother DID! A collapsible one at that! I'd prefer drinking out of the hotel glass than that communal "clean" cup.
She also thought that chowders, gumbos, etc. were made with recycled food (uneaten remains from customers' plates) and would NEVER allow anyone to order those soups.
Yes, I traveled with her yearly as a child.
Yes, she had other "problems" too.
Yes, I still love to travel.
I agree with 2Italy!
She also thought that chowders, gumbos, etc. were made with recycled food (uneaten remains from customers' plates) and would NEVER allow anyone to order those soups.
Yes, I traveled with her yearly as a child.
Yes, she had other "problems" too.
Yes, I still love to travel.
I agree with 2Italy!
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:39 AM
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Seriously now, do people actually use the same sponge to clean their toilet as they do their bathtub and sink? I don't THINK so!
But alas, having lived out of hotel rooms for most of my adult life, I know that, well, I don't like to watch how the maids clean hotel rooms anywhere in the world-I'd be too horrified and dispirited by seeing how little they really do-and I'd find it difficult to move around in the room at all.
Another good inspection is to look under the bed-do you see stuff underneath? If so, then that's not a good sign-and never bare feet anywhere in a hotel room or bathroom.
Likewise, I never put any of my personal toiletries directly on a sink-PARTICULARLY not the toothbrush-I take a hand towel, lay it down on the sink, and put my toiletries on top.
But alas, having lived out of hotel rooms for most of my adult life, I know that, well, I don't like to watch how the maids clean hotel rooms anywhere in the world-I'd be too horrified and dispirited by seeing how little they really do-and I'd find it difficult to move around in the room at all.
Another good inspection is to look under the bed-do you see stuff underneath? If so, then that's not a good sign-and never bare feet anywhere in a hotel room or bathroom.
Likewise, I never put any of my personal toiletries directly on a sink-PARTICULARLY not the toothbrush-I take a hand towel, lay it down on the sink, and put my toiletries on top.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:43 AM
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Hey! Dont knock it Suze!
I am NOT Mrs super-efficient-cleaner and know that everyone has to eat dirt to be immune to it BUT its not good when youre on holiday to become ill with sickness/diaorrhea. Let me tell you a story.........................
We were in Madrid 2 years ago staying in a nice hotel.Had to catch a flight to Barcelona the next day but almost never made it because of the dreaded
S&D. It was the worst experience ever. I remember walking through the airport walking like a jackknife to get to the toilet! We lost our first day in Barcelona and spent the next one feeling weak and "drained"
Enough detail though!
The point is we dont know what this was- bug,food poisoning...whatever. It COULD have been from the hotel glasses. We will never know. What I do know is that I will never take chances on holiday again as holiday time is far too precious.
I am NOT Mrs super-efficient-cleaner and know that everyone has to eat dirt to be immune to it BUT its not good when youre on holiday to become ill with sickness/diaorrhea. Let me tell you a story.........................
We were in Madrid 2 years ago staying in a nice hotel.Had to catch a flight to Barcelona the next day but almost never made it because of the dreaded
S&D. It was the worst experience ever. I remember walking through the airport walking like a jackknife to get to the toilet! We lost our first day in Barcelona and spent the next one feeling weak and "drained"
Enough detail though!
The point is we dont know what this was- bug,food poisoning...whatever. It COULD have been from the hotel glasses. We will never know. What I do know is that I will never take chances on holiday again as holiday time is far too precious.
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:51 AM
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"As for coffeepots-I would never use one in Europe, same for those tea kettles. You don't know what or how people have used them, and I'm not overly enthused with European hotel room cleaning in general."
Huh? I'm pretty sure that most people in Europe use coffee pots and tea kettles for... making coffee and tea!!! What's so disgusting about that? I don't think that they are being used as chamber pots if that's what you're worried about!
The above comment makes it sound like Europe is some kind of germ infested plague pit where all kinds of vile diseases are breeding on kitchen appliances just waiting for a hapless traveller unfortunate (or foolish) enough to make himself a cuppa...
Seriously though, I've stayed in clean hotel rooms in Europe and dirty ones in the US, and vice versa.
I think bad housekeeping is less of a geographical phenomenon, and more likely due to understaffed hotels trying to cut back on expenses by getting underpaid chambermaids to clean a multitude of rooms as quickly as possible (as impatient hotel guests demand to be allowed to check into their rooms early, check out late, etc.)
Huh? I'm pretty sure that most people in Europe use coffee pots and tea kettles for... making coffee and tea!!! What's so disgusting about that? I don't think that they are being used as chamber pots if that's what you're worried about!
The above comment makes it sound like Europe is some kind of germ infested plague pit where all kinds of vile diseases are breeding on kitchen appliances just waiting for a hapless traveller unfortunate (or foolish) enough to make himself a cuppa...
Seriously though, I've stayed in clean hotel rooms in Europe and dirty ones in the US, and vice versa.
I think bad housekeeping is less of a geographical phenomenon, and more likely due to understaffed hotels trying to cut back on expenses by getting underpaid chambermaids to clean a multitude of rooms as quickly as possible (as impatient hotel guests demand to be allowed to check into their rooms early, check out late, etc.)
Jun 26th, 2006, 11:57 AM
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Great point, I hope it's clear that this is not a tirade against hotel workers who work under extremely difficult conditions. As hanl suggests, management can be very punitive with workers who are generally required to clean a certain # of rooms within a given period, and are given limited supplies to do this work.
