Disinfecting your room?

[Hlitner]

Some folks are simply gemophobic and telling them to "get over it" really does not change their minds. We have friends that insist on changing their sheets every day and if they are on a cruise ship with a public laundry room they will take the time to wash their own sheets daily! We know others that get into this thing about wiping down their cabin even though once they leave the cabin they still are going to contract germs that are everywhere. And with 1 or stewards, bar staff (to restock beverages), maintenance, etc. there is no way to really keep one's cabin sterile. I guess one could get wear an expensive medical facemask and constantly wear and toss out sterile disposable gloves. But even this will be no guarantee. The best thing is to simply wash your hands (often) with warm soapy water, avoid elevators (stairs are better for you anyway), and also avoid most buffets. And then one should spend their time in a lonely part of the ship isolated from just about everyone (the less people to people contact the better). What a way to live and we do feel a little sorry for folks that go through life constantly fretting about everything.

 

As to the usual anecdotal arguments often used by folks we have our own. DW and I have spent more then 3 1/2 years on cruise ships (as passengers) and never had noro! How do we avoid it. Other then just regularly washing our hands (when practicle) and avoiding touching our faces there is nothing special we do. On those same cruises we have contracted our share of common colds and respiratory bugs (often called "cabin cough" by cruisers). We have now found that by avoiding elevators we can drastically reduce our incidences of colds and coughs. The theory is that an elevator is a very closed space where a single cough or sneeze might well transmit a virus to everyone aboard. Ask yourself would you knowingly go into some type of tight chamber with a person who has a cold or respiratory infection?

 

Hank

Edited June 7, 2015 by Hlitner

[kelkel2]

We have cruise 4 and 5 planned and have never done it yet.

Honestly it just never crossed my mind. But, I do bring a little travel pack of chlorox wipes that you can buy in the travel section at the grocery store, not necessarily to clean things, but to have them in case I spill on something of my own that I want to not have ruined. They come in a little package like baby wipes. Now, if I got to the cabin and I noticed something looked really gross, I would first address it with the steward and then I may just have to use one...

But I may or may not be a neat freak and I may just not be wanting to admit that :D

[fairygirl1]

I bring lysol wipes and most definetly wipe hard surfaces in our cabin.... those employees work long, hard hours and Im not taking any chances on thouroughness of cleaning. Say what you will, but I do use hand sanitizer and never put hands near my face. Im a nurse, and see 1st hand how easily things spread. Paranoid? Probably, but not taking chances I dont have too. And no, I do not shake hands.

[dsrdsrdsr]

How do you avoid touching your face? Does repeating to yourself "Yes I know my nose is itching, but if I concentrate hard it will stop" work for you?

[kelkel2]

How do you avoid touching your face? Does repeating to yourself "Yes I know my nose is itching, but if I concentrate hard it will stop" work for you?

 

Actually, yes. It does work. My nose always seems to itch as soon as I dress for an isolation room at the hospital at work. It's a running joke at work, really. As soon at you can't touch anything that's when you start to itch.

Just kidding really, but seriously...I have never cleaned down my cabin before and I've been fine, but if you feel like you need to then do it. I think if I had a reason to, I would.

[Markanddonna]

We bring Lysol wipes and wipe down the remote, handles and any buttons in the cabin and hotel room. I press the elevator buttons with my wrist or elbow, never my fingers. We realize that all germs aren't preventable, but our practice doesn't hurt anyone and we stay healthy. I have (knock on wood) never picked up a virus or illness on a cruise.

[zqvol]

What are you thoughts on wiping down your room in an effort to not get sick?

 

Thanks,

 

Gertieginsc

 

 

If I didn't think you were serious this would be one of the funniest posts that I have seen in a long time. But I think that you are serious.

 

My thoughts? Why would you bother? You are exposed to germs everywhere. That is why we have immune systems. Trying to avoid all germs is not healthy.

Edited June 7, 2015 by zqvol

[buchhalm]

Hmmm. Reading all this makes me kinda think that I surely am not the first guy sitting naked on that couch....

[Hlitner]

We bring Lysol wipes and wipe down the remote, handles and any buttons in the cabin and hotel room. I press the elevator buttons with my wrist or elbow, never my fingers. We realize that all germs aren't preventable, but our practice doesn't hurt anyone and we stay healthy. I have (knock on wood) never picked up a virus or illness on a cruise.

 

We assume you are aware that regular Lysol wipes do not kill norovirus. But they do a great job cleaning up coffee spills on my home bar :). There is a reason why cruise ship staff wear gloves when using special chemical cleaners. They use powerful products (not the kind you get in Lysol or hand sanitizer) which often contain pretty high concentrations of bleach (which does kill noro). I once made the mistake of rubbing a still wet hand railing that had just been sanitized on a cruise ship. A few hours later I had a few blisters on the sensitive skin between my fingers (and it took a week to heal).

 

There has been a lot written about Noro which is one of the tougher bugs to kill with chemicals. The virus has a natural shell that protects it from most chemicals. What is fascinating is that the most effective way to get Noro off your hands is with ordinary soap and water. Using alcohol based hand santizers (like Purell) are not very helpful and often make the situation much worse. Here is a favorite little blurb which we find interesting:

 

"From a New York Times article dated January 14, 2013 :

 

In 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied 91 long-term care facilities. During the winter of 2006-07, they identified 73 outbreaks, 29 of which were confirmed to be norovirus. The facilities where staff members used alcohol-based sanitizers were six times more likely to have an outbreak of norovirus than the facilities where the staff preferred using soap and water!

 

We would add that some cruise lines (not all) have started using special hand sanitizing products although their effectiveness against Noro is still open to debate. HAL has actually installed some automatic hand washing machines (you insert your hands in two holes which them wash them with a soap chemical and warm water) but not sure if this has become the norm.

 

Hank

Edited June 7, 2015 by Hlitner

[ProfessorandtheGeek]

My husband I and disinfect every hotel room, cabin, etc... when we travel. It is the very first thing we do after check-in. Happy to say we have never become ill during or after a trip.

Edited June 7, 2015 by ProfessorandtheGeek

[donaldsc]

What are you thoughts on wiping down your room in an effort to not get sick?

 

Thanks,

 

Gertieginsc

 

I would suggest that you bring one of these whole room disinfection systems -

 

http://www.mrsa-uv.com/uploads/8/9/7/2/8972491/helix_450xl_brochure.pdf

 

It is portable. Weighs only 32 pounds so that you could bring it on a plane. Looks like it even comes in a bag. Costs only $4000. Just leave it on and put one of the warning signs outside of your door so that nobody enters and gets their eyes damaged. Even has a motion detector so that if the steward ignores your do not enter sign, it will shut off automatically.

 

There are smaller and much cheaper units that will disinfect surfaces but this will take easily take care of your entire room.

 

 

DON

Edited June 7, 2015 by donaldsc

[Krispie5]

As a microbiologist let me tell you:

 

Any cleaner/disinfectant YOU can buy at the grocery, drug or mass market stores will do SQUAT.

 

To do any kind of decernt job against bacteria or viruses you need to use specialized commercial disinfectants or specailly prepared bleach solutions.

 

 

Actually, companies are not allowed to make claims about disinfection/sanitization unless first tested by the EPA. Just be sure to check the labels to see what solutions will kill what pathogens, and make sure the surface stays WET for the appropriate length of time.

 

I started buying the 1oz. travel size lysol spray bottles. Perfect to throw in your bag and do a quick spray down of high traffic surfaces in your stateroom. Hey, it can't hurt. Who knows what went on in there before you called it home:eek:

[Harry and Lucille]

Can't be any worse than playing the slots in the casino or handling chips. Plenty of hand washing with soap and hot water.

 

I do bring a small flashlight (black light) to check hotel rooms and cruise rooms. Carpet, bedding etc. Was not expensive and it works. Called the Hotel Inspector. Never know what was left behind or missed cleanup.

 

More worried about body fluids than Noro.

 

Harry

[lbjen]

Let me add the European POV here (dual nationality). We have never done this, I also don't carry hand sanitizer as a rule and someone had to explain Lysol spray to me one day when the bird flu craziness started in my US office. As Americans we are conditioned to fear germs by the chemical companies that sell all of this. I have no statistics to back up my assumption but I would hazard a guess that Europeans are generally healthier than Americans, despite the lower levels of bleach in our bloodstreams.

 

Let me also add that it is almost always the kids who have not been in daycare or pre-K that end up missing the first few weeks of kindergarten at our school, the ones who are used to being around other kids' germs are usually fine.

Edited June 7, 2015 by lbjen

[cruisemom42]

My husband I and disinfect every hotel room, cabin, etc... when we travel. It is the very first thing we do after check-in. Happy to say we have never become ill during or after a trip.

 

The problem with this sort of association is that there is no way to prove causality. If I painted my face yellow on every cruise and I never became ill, that doesn't mean the yellow face paint caused me to stay well.

[comefromaway1999]

Wow, I didn't realize I was a germaphobe. I thought everybody took a minute to wipe down their cabin. I also wipe down the surfaces that surround me on the airplane too. I noticed the last time I flew that they no longer clean the plane between flights but they "groom" it. The trays are pretty grimy and so are the touch screen tvs.

So yes I'm the weirdo who checks for bedbugs, never uses hotel room glasses, and wipe down commonly touched surfaces.

I realize that I'm probably not killing Noro if it's there, but hopefully eliminating some fecal bacteria and common cold viruses.

The cabin is my home for 7 days and I wipe it down daily like I wipe my own home down. As far as the stuff outside my cabin- well like commented on: elevator buttons, handrails, buffet utensils etc. are avoided if possible.

BEST protection of all is wash hands as often as possible whether out and about or in the cabin.

[LHT28]

Wow, I didn't realize I was a germaphobe. I thought everybody took a minute to wipe down their cabin. I also wipe down the surfaces that surround me on the airplane too. I noticed the last time I flew that they no longer clean the plane between flights but they "groom" it. The trays are pretty grimy and so are the touch screen tvs.

So yes I'm the weirdo who checks for bedbugs, never uses hotel room glasses, and wipe down commonly touched surfaces.

I realize that I'm probably not killing Noro if it's there, but hopefully eliminating some fecal bacteria and common cold viruses.

The cabin is my home for 7 days and I wipe it down daily like I wipe my own home down. As far as the stuff outside my cabin- well like commented on: elevator buttons, handrails, buffet utensils etc. are avoided if possible.

BEST protection of all is wash hands as often as possible whether out and about or in the cabin.

 

+1

Guess I am a germaphobe also

 

wonder what the person before me touched before they changed the channel ;)

[PTMary]

My husband I and disinfect every hotel room, cabin, etc... when we travel. It is the very first thing we do after check-in. Happy to say we have never become ill during or after a trip.

 

My husband and I NEVER disinfect any hotel room, cabin, etc....when we travel. It would be the very last thing we would think of after check-in. Happy to say we have never become ill during or after a trip.

 

Which proves what? All four of us have never been sick, even though we take very different actions when we travel. So which is actually the better approach?

 

I say relax, don't worry about it. The chances of you catching something will be in the public areas of the ship, hotel, taxi, bus, train, plane, subway, restaurants, and from doors, tables, chairs, railings, counter tops, etc.

 

I prefer to enjoy my vacations, not obsess about catching something while on them. But if taking all those precautions makes you feel better, nothing wrong with doing them - as long as you realize that it is a waste of time and trouble.

 

FYI: I work in a hospital, so know quite a bit about the things to be aware of and what to do to avoid them. Disinfecting my room is pretty low on that list.

Edited June 7, 2015 by PTMary

[jocap]

I watched a video on the internet which showed housekeeping on a cruise ship- I think it was Carnival Line. One thing it explained was that the man carrying a bucket of what looked like dirty water was the person who was going through the cabins with disinfectant to wipe just the very things that have been mentioned in this post, especially remote controls.

I did notice someone with a similar bucket on my last cruise, not Carnival.

[cbr663]

We take the time to disinfect our cabin. It takes just minutes to do and it makes us feel better. Here is an after picture of a white face cloth that we used on one cruise. I have crudely removed the background pictures so as not to identify the cruise line.

Edited June 7, 2015 by cbr663

[SantaFeFan]

I watched a video on the internet which showed housekeeping on a cruise ship- I think it was Carnival Line. One thing it explained was that the man carrying a bucket of what looked like dirty water was the person who was going through the cabins with disinfectant to wipe just the very things that have been mentioned in this post, especially remote controls.

I did notice someone with a similar bucket on my last cruise, not Carnival.

 

Not sure what you are pointing out. Is it a bucket of dirty water? Or is it disinfectant? Your post leaves it unclear if dirty water is being used.

 

I have never seen anyone with a bucket of water, clean or dirty, wiping down any stateroom with it. Instead, I have only seen them use a spray and a new set of cleaning cloths for every stateroom.

[jocap]

Not sure what you are pointing out. Is it a bucket of dirty water? Or is it disinfectant? Your post leaves it unclear if dirty water is being used.

 

I have never seen anyone with a bucket of water, clean or dirty, wiping down any stateroom with it. Instead, I have only seen them use a spray and a new set of cleaning cloths for every stateroom.

 

Sorry...I was repeating something I heard on the video, ie, it might look like dirty water, but was in fact a strong disinfectant. The man appeared to be extra to the cabin stewards. He was on a special mission to each cabin before passengers arrived on board, and so wouldn't be noticed by oncoming people.

[SantaFeFan]

Sorry...I was repeating something I heard on the video, ie, it might look like dirty water, but was in fact a strong disinfectant. The man appeared to be extra to the cabin stewards. He was on a special mission to each cabin before passengers arrived on board, and so wouldn't be noticed by oncoming people.

 

OK, thanks! I should have figured that out. I must have had yet another in a long string of senior moments. :p

Edited June 8, 2015 by SantaFeFan

[CanadianDee]

We take the time to disinfect our cabin. It takes just minutes to do and it makes us feel better. Here is an after picture of a white face cloth that we used on one cruise. I have crudely removed the background pictures so as not to identify the cruise line.

 

LOL. That picture. Dammit, now I'm going to hafta wipe down our cabin!:D

[GUT2407]

Wouldn't bother.

 

I don't disinfect my hotel room, or the bathroom at the theatre or anything anywhere else I go for that matter, why would I on a ship where things get cleaned twice a day or more.

 

The biggest risk are diseases that are air borne or spread by contact, I can't disinfect the elevator buttons or the cutlery in the buffet or the handrail on the stairs.