Anyone noticing increased mildew in showers?

[TravelTime]

I just stayed at 2 Marriotts this summer in Newport Beach and Miami Doral. Both had a lot of mildew in the showers and bathrooms. There was so much mildew in the showers that it was slippery. Prior to Covid, I think Marriott had a mid week cleaning. Now there is no cleaning unless you stay more than a week. Have other people noticed the mildew problem? I would think if mildew is increasing due to fewer cleanings it will require more remodeling of showers and increased cost over time that might not offset the cleaning savings. The grout is all different colors. It truly is disgusting. Maybe I just had bad luck with two in a row.

 

[dougp26364]

Firstly, we’ve owned Marriott since 2001 and there has never been a mid-week cleaning unless we paid extra for it. Second, no, we haven’t noticed any mildew in the showers at the MVC timeshare resorts as of yet. I wish I could say the same for the hotels.
If it was so bad it made the shower slippery I’d have been demanding the unit be re-cleaned or be moved to another unit. With the fees paid to Marriott annually mildew to the point the shower is dangerous would be completely unacceptable. There would also be video and picture evidence enough to back up the claim that would go direct to corporate. That’s a property manager that likely needs to be let go.

 

[davidvel]

Firstly, we’ve owned Marriott since 2001 and there has never been a mid-week cleaning unless we paid extra for it. Second, no, we haven’t noticed any mildew in the showers at the MVC timeshare resorts as of yet. I wish I could say the same for the hotels.
If it was so bad it made the shower slippery I’d have been demanding the unit be re-cleaned or be moved to another unit. With the fees paid to Marriott annually mildew to the point the shower is dangerous would be completely unacceptable. There would also be video and picture evidence enough to back up the claim that would gov direct to corporate. That’s a property manager that likely needs to be let go.

The Hawaii resorts had mid-week cleanings, and I think they still do. I agree with the rest of your post.

 

[dougp26364]

The Hawaii resorts had mid-week cleanings, and I think they still do. I agree with the rest of your post.

Interesting. We’ve been to a couple of the Hawaiian resorts and I didn’t recall a midweek cleaning. One of the reasons we like Marriott is they stay out of our rooms.

 

[Hindsite]

Many of the truly nasty chemicals that effectively deal with mildew are no longer allowed to be used in commercial environments and increasingly so in domestic life too.

That's going to make potential instances of this more likely.

As said above, if you encounter it, immediately let them know and ask for it to be re-cleaned or moved if necessary. It will happen and they need to know when it does so they can work out if there is a root cause or not.

 

[TravelTime]

I should have asked for the showers to be re-cleaned. It did not occur to me actually. It is odd that I experienced it at 2 MVCs in a row. The amount of mildew was identical in both resorts. I just assumed the entire resort was like this. It did not look or feel like something that could be cleaned Actually. It was ground into the grout and tile. It looked to me like the showers were in need of remodeling. The tile needs to be ripped out and replaced because it would be impossible to simply clean it. Maybe I am just picky.

 

[pedro47]

IMHO, you should had call front desk and reported this issue and asked housekeeping to return to your unit and clean your shower or to be move to another unit.

Your MF are paying for a clean shower at both resorts.

 

[VacationForever]

In one of our stays at NCV some 3 to 5 years ago, there was a terrible sewer smell emitting from the master bathroom sinks. I called front desk and they sent out housekeeping a couple of times while we were out. The terrible sewer smell never went away. It was pretty gross. My guess is that there was blockage below the piping and stuff were just sitting down there.

 

[clifffaith]

There was so much mildew in the showers that it was slippery.

My theory is that the “slipperiness” is actually from a cleaning agent that was sprayed and left to “do its work”. Back in the day before I could call and say “send the cleaning lady back” (and I do if I start to see black on the top edge of the shower dam), I would notice the shower was very slippery after Tilex/Scrubbing Bubbles was used even after carefully rinsing. It was slippery enough I tried to make sure I was the next one to use the shower.

 

[Superchief]

When I worked at Clorox in the 80's, a new formulation for Tilex was developed that minimized the fumes (primarily chlorine bleach) but still eliminated the mildew. When we tested it with consumers, they didn't think it worked as well because it didn't have the fumes. We stuck with the old formula.

I think my wife is using bathroom cleaner to try to get rid of me. She never tells me when she sprays the shower/tub and I almost kill myself when I first step in.

 

[pedro47]

Slipperiness in the shower is just another reason the guest should have called the front desk for their family safety. IMHO

 

[billymach4]

Bleach based cleaner will knock out mildew instantly. I use it in my shower to prevent those black stains in the caulk and grout.

Also takes out balsamic vinegar stains on a white tee shirt. Ask me how I know.

 

[Hindsite]

Also takes out balsamic vinegar stains on a white tee shirt. Ask me how I know.

That's a tip that makes TUG membership worth it! Summer salads here we come.....

 

[daviator]

Bleach based cleaner will knock out mildew instantly. I use it in my shower to prevent those black stains in the caulk and grout.

Also takes out balsamic vinegar stains on a white tee shirt. Ask me how I know.

Just be careful about where you use them at home. Many modern tubs are made from materials like acrylic which can be damaged by cleaners like Tilex, sadly. It’s an expensive mistake to make.

With mildew/mold, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. Squeegee the walls and door after the last shower of the day and don’t leave any standing water around the edges where the black stuff can grow.

This is officially the most off-topic post I’ve ever made, lol.

 

[dougp26364]

I should have asked for the showers to be re-cleaned. It did not occur to me actually. It is odd that I experienced it at 2 MVCs in a row. The amount of mildew was identical in both resorts. I just assumed the entire resort was like this. It did not look or feel like something that could be cleaned Actually. It was ground into the grout and tile. It looked to me like the showers were in need of remodeling. The tile needs to be ripped out and replaced because it would be impossible to simply clean it. Maybe I am just picky.

Almost sounds as if those units were close to their refurbishment dates. We use to go to Ocean Pointe every year. I always hated getting the building that was due for the refurbishment the next year. Without fail there would be things that were worn out and questionable at best.