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Confessions of a hotel maid - read if you dare!
I'm pretty sure I won't have to tell any of you just how unsanitary many hotel rooms are. We've all heard about the exposés on TV where someone would shine a CSI style ultraviolet lamp around the bed, lighting up the kind of stains you really wish you had not known about.
MSNBC has posted an article from a former hotel housekeeping staff member - and the story may make you think twice about drinking out of the bathroom cup.
For starters, after several weeks on the job, she decided that using the vacuum was just too much work, and simply picked the worst of the crumbs off the floor by hand.
Once she learned the in's and out's of how the room inspector worked, she even stopped cleaning sinks and simply wiped them dry to make them appear clean. Sometimes she was not in a "scrub the tub" kind of mood, and simply did a quick spray and wipe.
Thankfully she informs us that she never skipped changing the sheets - apparently even a hotel maid has her limits as to how low she will go.
Of course, things are not just bad for the guests. The housekeeper describes an incident where someone had soiled their bed linens so badly that all the sheets had to be disposed of in a biohazard bag. Sleep well!
I wonder if the housekeeping is more attentive in any of these ultra-weird hotels:
Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 9)
meghann Jan 24th 2009 12:39PM
They housekeepers aren't even allowed to take the money until you check you.
Martin Jan 23rd 2009 11:28PM
That's why I always take my own pillows. Can you imagine the slime on those pillows? Ewwwwwww!!!
Lesley Jan 23rd 2009 11:34PM
I've been at both ends of this. I was, when younger, a hotel maid. I got paid to clean and by heaven, I cleaned. A very simple idea,"do unto others" About twenty years ago, my husband and I were staying at a very nice, very expensive hotel. I turned down the bed, and was horrified to discover a large "wet" spot in the middle of the bed, and several pubic hairs embedded in the mess!! I nearly fainted (I'm a nurse and don't faint) and my husband went to get the manager and the housekeeping supervisor on duty. Both came to the room, were properly horrified and we were moved to a lovely suite and our vacation stay was entirely complimentary. There are sheets that are sold at luggage stores that are reasonably priced and we now carry them with when traveling. Soap, water, good handwashing go a long way too.
John Jan 23rd 2009 11:31PM
man ya are just scared of germ i mean evething has germs the phone the car the tv noone person can get away from germs so suck it up you dang cry babys eve the used condom i am a biolgest and we must clean everthing but you can never clen germs off of eveything couse everthing has germs even grass has germs so suck it up or never leve yuo home and stop complaning about something that is natrual order of life
jocko Jan 23rd 2009 11:33PM
Can't be any such thing as a clean hotel room. My ex traveled for a living and the stories she told almost made me scared to touch her when she got home. EX: Denver LaQuinta - so much filth in the space between the wall and the bed you could just barely make out the TV remote in all the dust. She sent a complaint to the home office but no acknowledgement ever came here; Newark NJ - room had not been "cleaned" before she checked in; Bethel AK - Brown Slough B&B had bedbugs, way outdated food and an owner who was totally in denial (she brought back pix of that place!!(GROSS!!); Tukwila WA Homewood Suites had the largest spiders. Best place: Eau Claire WI - hotel across the street from the library; #2 - hotel in Juneau AK right across from the airport. Remember, her opinions of these hotels were based solely on cleanliness.
greg miller Jan 24th 2009 10:00AM
Relax folks; Mother nature took care of most of the bad stuff. It is good for you to be exposed to bacteria, so your body constantly builds up immunity. I once read the healthest people in America are the ones that clean septic tanks. So you health nuts, I have just given you an idea for for starting your own business.
terry Jan 24th 2009 12:19AM
Really there is nothing to worry about???? OK how about I ask you to have cancer and then tell everyone that there is nothing to worry about!!! I am lucky when I got to go to my doctor who is over 2 hours away for an early morning appointment I can book a room at the local faucility for those who are from out of the area and a long disance away. I know my room is cleaned cause the person before me cleaned it when they checked out and the staff checked it!!! I know the next person in the room I stayed in the last time I was there had a really clean room because I cleaned it with cleaners that are designed to kill bacteria and mopped the tiled floors and vaccumed the carpet and then stripped the bed and washed the bedding. And yes I used color safe bleach!!!!!
Maggie Jan 23rd 2009 11:40PM
I'm a housekeeper at a hotel..... and some people are nasty. If people would just clean up after themselfs it would make my job a hole lot easyer, like putting there trash in the trash can and not on the floor or flushing the toilet before they leave. but i love to clean, and most of all i love getting tips ($) and notes saying how nice and clean there rooms were
stripeyhat Jan 23rd 2009 11:51PM
I was a housekeeper in a hospital for 4 years when I was laid off due to budget cuts. I applied for jobs at numerous hotals. One place had me clean a room as part of my "interview". It took me about an hour for a single bed room. I was told that I took too long and that my standards were too high. I have told everyone I know not to stay there.
Sally Jan 24th 2009 10:33PM
I actually read the article, and this woman soundsl like a snivling complainer. Apperantly she would have given the people in her room a better/cleaner place if she was paid "more than minnimum wage, and got better tips," tips, when at minnimum wage are optional. Also, if she wanted a better job she should have gotten an education for herself, or worked harder. Nobody wants to be somebody elses maid, but if that is your job, then that is your job. She is rediculous, she was lazy, digusting, coniving, and sneaky in her job. She left her name and hotel, if I had ever stayed at that hotel, I would find out what rooms she cleaned and what room I stayed in and sue her. She claims she has gotten the flu twice, I don't know how long she worked there, but people get the flu from working at any job, or going to any school. I want to find out she's mentally disabled, becasue then this sort of stupidity and lack of compasion for others would be understandable. She didn't even use her gloves! If they were too big, the hotel would have to supply her with ones that fit her. She obviously has no work etheic, morals, or even an understanding of germs/bacteria.
Hotels would be better if they didn't employ people like her, actually if I was owner of that hotel I would sue her for some of the money I paid her, she obviously didn't do her job and endangerd the guests.
I usually am not one to sue, and I dislike "ambulance chasers," but in this case it was just too disgusting and she should be punished some how.
DISGUSTING! (her, the job she did, and who ever hires her after reading her self proclaimed lack of work ethics)
DIANE Feb 20th 2009 1:45AM
I live in NJ and go down the Jersey shore for vacation. One thing I do now and reccomend to everyone is that if you can fit it in your luggage, bring a set of double or queen size sheets with you; at least you know they're clean and that you will have a decent nights sleep. Also, I read: DON'T PUT YOUR LUGGAGE ON THE FLOOR, especially if your going to an Island because of the bugs there and then you bring your luggage home and put it right on your bed to unpack it........YUCK!!
Adam Jan 24th 2009 12:02AM
I used to work for Embassy Suites In Wisconsin, I worked in housekeeping and in the Two years at that job they Washed the Blankets and Comforters ONCE!! Ask any one who works in the Hotel Industry. Blankets and Comforters are the first thing to be peeled of the bed and tossed in a corner...Cruise Ships do the same thing they wash the room glasses out in the sink and dry them with your dirty towels talk about Gross...Well I guess when people do these types of jobs and feel like they aren't getting paid enough, something within them wants to get even.
TERRI Jan 24th 2009 12:03AM
I WAS HOUSE KEEPER (MAID) FOR A NICE HOTEL. IT WAS SOME OF THE HARDEST WORK I EVER DONE. (AND THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY.) THE THING WAS, I WAS ALWAYS ALWAYS BEHIND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN, AND I FINALLY REALIZED WHY. I WAS ACTUALLY CLEANING THE ROOMS THE WAY MY BOSS HAD SHOWED ME, ACTUALLY CLEANED EVERYTHING IN THE ROOM, THE RIGHT WAY. THE OTHER WOMEN CUT ALL KINDS OF CORNERS, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS, IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE, THE MANAGEMENT WAS CONSTANTLY YELLING..FASTER FASTER FASTER!! WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. THERE WAS A REASON FOR THAT. THEY DIDN'T WANT US TO WORK FULL TIME HOURS, BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO GIVE US MEDICAL. THEY OPENLY ADMITTED THIS. I REALIZED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD THROUGHLY CLEAN THE ROOMS THE RIGHT WAY AND MAKE MANAGEMENT HAPPY TOO. IT WAS VERY DEMEANING THAT JOB. IT REALLY WAS LIKE WE WERE NON-PEOPLE. I REMEMBER THE BIG BOSS (IN HIS FANCY CAR)WOULD SWAGGER IN, AND HE WOULD NEVER LOOK AT US, IT WAS LIKE WE WEREN'T EVEN THERE. AND THEN MANAGEMENT TOLD US FLAT OUT (WITH NOT ONE APOLOGY) THAT OUR CHRISTMAS BONUS HAD BEEN CANCELED. THAT WAS IT. NO EXPLANATION, JUST THE MAIDS WOULD NO LONGER BE RECEIVING CHRISTMAS BONUS. THE OLDER WOMEN REALLY HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO IT TOO. IT WAS A DEPRESSING JOB.
ally Jan 24th 2009 12:04AM
As a former room attendant or "hotel maid" and room inspector (at a Holiday Inn) and current guest services representative (at a Marriott property none the less), it makes me sad to read some of these comments. Although there are some room attendants who probably do indeed "cut corners", it is nearly impossible for the housekeeping inspectors to catch every neglected item or area, as hard as they try. Sometimes even, room attendants, dare i say it, forget or miss certian things!
Our room attendants are given a target time to finish their rooms, but would never leave a room uncleaned in order to hit their time.
So yes, there are some room attendants who will, unfortunately, try to skip out on important things but most of the time it is an accident. Its unfortunate when terrible stories come out about condoms in the beds or unchanged sheets becuase most room attendants work very VERY hard to keep the rooms clean.
So next time you're in a hotel and your room looks as great as ours do, please remember to tip your housekeepers becuase they do work very hard and these horror stories are truly unfortunate and not very common.
Christian Jan 24th 2009 12:11AM
This type of situation is pretty common. Any hotel that still uses glassware is just crazy. A guest should ask the hotel if they have dishwashers on each floor. If they do not then they are probably allowing the housekeepers to clean the glassware in violation of local and state health regulations. If each TV station in each city did undercover reporting they would find enought stories to last an entire year. Hotels will NOT change until exposed.
Chris Jan 24th 2009 12:13AM
My friend worked at the Garden City Hotel in NY, I believe its 4 stars. She told me that in all the years she worked there no matter what happened to it they would not launder a comforter or blanket. The owners live in the presidential suite so it will never be available although they advertise and brag about their suite. She said she cant stay anywhere now because if they clean so little there she cant imagine in someplace not as fancy.
M Fields Jan 24th 2009 12:11AM
My mother worked as a head housekeeper at a hotel in Belle Vernon Pa for years. Once I got older she told me of some of the things she saw when she worked there. This was in the early 80's. She found COUNTLESS sexual toys. This one time she went in to clean a room and found BLOOD on walls,Ceiling, Bed and bedding. They of course called the police and later it was relieved that some guy was performing illegal abortions in that room. Of course they did an outside hire to clean that room but I think she said it was turned into a storage room. My mom took pride in her job, that hotel was clean. I dont know how many people she fired due to there lack of cleaning abilities.
I just wanted to share!
Goldie Jan 24th 2009 12:14AM
I attended a wedding in Columbus in December of last year for my niece. My job was to take care of last minute floral seat markers, so I had to take my florist tape and cutters, etc. I made a quite a mess, with all the price stickers and tags I had to remove, but you know, I kept a plastic trash can liner inside the can so I would not leave a TRACE of my work there that night. When I left, I made sure I had made my bed (not too neatly so that they knew which one had been slept in...even if they did make up both beds again), wiped the counters off, wiped down the faucets, left the towels I used on the floor (as the sign specified for guests to do so that there was no mistake that those towels were used), washed the coffeepot and basket and left it next to the coffeemaker, gathered the used glassware and left it conspicuously next to the coffeepot, and lastly, I put the lovely Gerbera daisy corsage from one of the groomsmen in a glass on the counter. Next to that, I put a nice thank you note for the maid, thanking her for the WONDERFUL, CLEAN HOTEL ROOM. It was such a treat to stay in such a nice place and I did not want to make the maids' job any harder that day. Oh, and as far as the doctor's misspelling in his email, is it really that important to the person who commented about it? At what point do we stop attacking other humans at every opportunity? Mind your manners. The world is a better place with him in it, and it is a better place with less people like you.
Robin Ophelia Jan 24th 2009 12:17AM
I'm curious...The hotel room with the soiled sheets; that wasn't by any chance Artie Lange's room?
Melinda Jan 24th 2009 12:51AM
My husband and I travel alot. Sometimes it's just a simple weekend getaway twenty minutes from home, other times it is weeklong vacations, and we only have one horror story. We stayed at a local Motel Six that appeared clean, but was not. We got a horrible rash that itched for days before I finally went to the doctor and found out that we had...body lice! Yikes! It took us three months to get rid of it completely, our skin to clear up, and for the sores to heal. I find it rather unfortante that these things happen. A housekeeper has a very disgusting and hard job; only to be made worse by the people who don't care about the mess they make because they don't have to clean it up. *This is the same in a restraunt when parents allow their children to make a complete mess with the crayons and food.*
It isn't impossible to clean a hotel room in under fifteen minutes; we had to clean our dorms at BMT for the Air Force to very high standards and in very little time. All it takes is a proper training program. I know that when housekeepers cut corners that it may not be they're fault. A lot of people are trained incorrectly in various jobs, not just housekeeping.
So, let's be practical folks. Remember that just because someone is cleaning up after us, doesn't mean to trash a place. Let's try to throw trash away, instead of on the floor, recycle things that can be recycled and leave a note. You never know how a simple 'Thank You' will affect someone's day/life.