To be shocked by hygiene in a luxury resort

[smoocakes6]

Hi. First time poster, so please go easy on me.

My 16 DD recently got a job housekeeping at a luxury golf hotel . She's 4 weekends in and has really had baptism of fire. Mostly vomit. , used condoms left on the side, dirty nappies left on the side, urine in the sink and bath. Friday night there was a wedding and 7 out of 50 rooms had vomit. What is wrong with people ? She doesn't have to clear it up because she's a minor . But she's a little traumatised by the state and smells she's had to deal with . On discussion, but they are told to use the old (used) pillowcase to dust the sides and the mirrors & to rinse the coffee cups with their hands in the sink, no fairy liquid , no sterilisation. 🤷‍♀️ no bleach is used in the bathroom and no anti viral spray around the room . Today she tested posted on lateral flow and awaiting PCR . I'm really shocked by these standards , from both management and guests ! Ffs dirty fxxkers !

There was a whole thread a few months ago about pissing in hotel kettles

This sounds like a place in the north east ! They use the same basic hand wash to fill the shampoo containers etc

This thread is making me feel so much better about not having had enough money for a holiday for 7 years. Before that it was always holiday lets which by the sound of it might stand a better chance of having had a clean. (Now waiting for the reports of grim standards in holiday let posts to flood in)

Very rare that we stay in a hotel / b&b etc, but when we do I always take our own towels , and I lay our own pillowcase / or even take a tea towel to put over the pillow. I hate the thought of laying my head on a previously dribbled on pillow that has had 100s of people's faces on.

@Clymene

Having worked in a hotel I strip the cover and cushions off and chuck them in the corner as soon as I go into the room.

I never walk around in them barefoot either. We never washed the floors, just wiped them with dirty towels.

And I always wash all the cups and glasses with soap before using them. Having a little plastic bag over them doesn't mean they're clean.

And I tear off that folded into a triangle sheet of loo paper/tissue and put them in the bin too.

The sheets and towels are clean but that's about it.

I do much the same having worked in hospitality as a student/backpacker and seen DC do similar as students. I also wash/boil the kettle and chuck the first lot of water away and have my own pillow case with me.

Pre pandemic I spent a lot of nights every year in hotels for work and as a routine it only takes me ten mins when arriving.

Its shocking how little time and cleaning materials staff are given to clean rooms, even at the 5* types . The mess left by some guests is also pretty shocking.

I worked as a chambermaid when I was still at school in a small family hotel and we didn’t cut corners like that but it was almost 40 years ago.

With covid people have become a lot more aware about issues with high contact items and fittings like light switches. I have always felt this way. It’s why I have always avoided touching my face when out and about.

@Geography101

To balance this thread- I work in a budget chain hotel as a housekeeper. Firstly most companies don't allow bleach even on the premises so bleach is a no no. All of our products are Covid approved and as a team we all work damn hard to ensure toilets, handles and main touch points are thoroughly disinfected. All linen is laundered fresh and we wouldn't dream of using the dirty linen to clean cups or baths.

We all work extremely hard on very little pay, imagine cleaning the exact same room 10 times over every day, but we do it and do it well. We aren't respected in the slightest and it can be very demoralising, especially having to clean up peoples vomit and used condoms.

I believe 100% a lot of other hotels may have these below standards but many don't, including ours! Please don't believe that all housekeepers are doing the bare minimum!

Ironically the budget chains are generally much better for cleanliness. There is a better staff to room ratio so more time to clean each room (10 rooms isn't that many compared to most other places) and procedures are more strictly enforced. I almost always stay in Premier Inns when I need to use hotels in the UK.

The more expensive/boutique the hotel, the worse the cleaning is, as a general rule. Rooms are bigger, housekeeping teams are smaller, there's far more to do, rooms are all different so a greater chance of missing or forgetting something. There tend to be things like Nespresso machines and other high touch surfaces which never get disinfected.

As a former housekeeper, I never go anywhere without at least wiping down all handles, light switches, taps (sink and shower) with Dettol wipes and washing the glasses/cups in the sink with soap if I'm planning to use them.

I agree with Sally O and Clymene - I have worked in some of the top hotels in the world and now stay in them. I have NEVER used a "sanitised for your protection" glass ! Using old pillowcases and towels to polish and wipe down is standard, bed spreads are never washed ...I remove them as soon as i walk in a room. Remotes are totally gross ...I sanitise them. Never ever use the electric jug ....I also take my own pillow. Everyone should be a chambermaid, it is a life changing experience!

My DD worked as Housekeper, at a very well known chain of Airport Hotels. They DID use bleach in a spray, over everthing in the bathroom, she is astmatic, no protective wear, gloves, etc.cups etc wiped out She had no choice the DWP said take the job, or loose your benefits. Few mintues to clean rooms, she had family rooms, bunk beds attached to the wall she had to clamber up.

Yanbu

When I was a teen I worked in an independent restaurant upper end of the spectrum, silver service etc, my parents loved going there until I told them about how if the trays of veg looked untouched they'd send them out again on the next order!

DM was really shocked 🤢

I worked in a luxury resort for ten years. I also did housekeeping in various different hotels all 4 star and above for about another ten years. I never saw anything like what you are describing. If any guest had left that kind of mess, they would be asked not to return.

I thought that’s what happened at weddings , everyone gets bladdered and is sick everywhere 😀. More so if it’s free booze.......... think I’ve done all of those things you mention at one time of another in my youth...........🤮🤢🥴

@Zimbomama

I agree with Sally O and Clymene - I have worked in some of the top hotels in the world and now stay in them. I have NEVER used a "sanitised for your protection" glass ! Using old pillowcases and towels to polish and wipe down is standard, bed spreads are never washed ...I remove them as soon as i walk in a room. Remotes are totally gross ...I sanitise them. Never ever use the electric jug ....I also take my own pillow. Everyone should be a chambermaid, it is a life changing experience!

It absolutely is, isn't it? I never, ever took a job for granted after that and have always ensured that I leave hotel rooms in perfect or near perfect condition when I check out so I don't give the staff more work than necessary.

Many years ago my mum worked in an expensive 5 star hotel. She used to tell me stories from the kitchen - if something got dropped on the floor from a plate as the waiter carried it from the kitchen it got picked up, wiped and put back on the plate. If someone sent food back the chef would often gob on it before it was served back to them, etc. It's ruthless.

I learned long ago it's best not to think too much about things and just go with the flow. I've stayed in hotels all over the world, used glasses, cups and kettles and it's not made me ill so far.

Many years ago my mum worked in an expensive 5 star hotel. She used to tell me stories from the kitchen - if something got dropped on the floor from a plate as the waiter carried it from the kitchen it got picked up, wiped and put back on the plate. If someone sent food back the chef would often gob on it before it was served back to them, etc. It's ruthless.

I learned long ago it's best not to think too much about things and just go with the flow. I've stayed in hotels all over the world, used glasses, cups and kettles and it's not made me ill so far.

I was a chambermaid as a teenager at a posh hotel 20+ years ago and this is how we were told to clean as well. Even using used towels to dry the glasses and cups in the rooms VOM!

I briefly worked in a hotel 25 years ago and they made use the used towels to dry out the bath sink etc once you had cleaned them. The mugs were washed with water only. When i stay in hotels i bring wipes and i re wash any mugs.....

Me too @Rozziie! I always leave a tip too

www.dailymotion.com/video/x2rp8a6
It's all here! I also chambermaided in a luxury hotel as a student. Nothing different nowadays, obviously.

@ladybrunton

Many years ago my mum worked in an expensive 5 star hotel. She used to tell me stories from the kitchen - if something got dropped on the floor from a plate as the waiter carried it from the kitchen it got picked up, wiped and put back on the plate. If someone sent food back the chef would often gob on it before it was served back to them, etc. It's ruthless.

I learned long ago it's best not to think too much about things and just go with the flow. I've stayed in hotels all over the world, used glasses, cups and kettles and it's not made me ill so far.

Yep, all true.

It always amazes me how people send stuff back to the kitchen for petty reasons. I would never, ever eat anything I'd sent back. Complain after the meal if you absolutely have to; otherwise you absolutely are risking God knows what. People somehow think it doesn't happen...it definitely does happen.

I'm not surprised about the guests' behaviour (I've read too many thread on here from people working in hospitality and have learned that people are basically pigs, apologies to pigs). But that's shit about staff using used pillowcases to dust and not washing coffee cups properly or using proper cleaning fluids.

I hope your DD is OK.

I like a Premier Inn if I have to stay anywhere. The rooms being minimal and all the same make them easier to clean and the less stuff is there to gather dust the better. They are designed for easy cleaning unlike the listed building I used to chambermaid in which was very hard to clean.
I never get the attraction of 4 poster beds
Horrible dust traps those are and we had them in all the 'best' rooms.

Yep I worked as a hotel cleaner once and we were told to rinse the cups and mugs and clean with the same sponge we were using on everything else. I always wash them very carefully now in hotels. You have to clean at speed so no time to change fresh cups etc. People are also absolutely disgusting in how they leave hotel rooms for cleaners.

The last hotel I stayed in was July, newly opened, and despite the newness, I came equipped with anti-bacterial wipes. I always boil water in the kettle first and then rinse out the cups before using. I did wipe down the surfaces and can I add I also did this before leaving.

I have never gone barefoot in hotel rooms and would never use the luxury robes! I had an Australian housemate back in 1990 who worked in a high end hotel as a summer getaway - Scotland - and she gave me this tip.