Aibu re cleaning products

[Superstar90]

We live in London where it's fairly common to have a cleaner. Luckily for me we have kept this whilst I'm on maternity leave coming once a week. I've noticed a trend - the last 2 cleaners we've had have complained about having to use chemicals and moaned about the chemical 'smell' opening windows and doors as they clean. The last one asked if I could buy baking soda do she could use that - I didn't as I wanted her to use normal products but I did supply gloves and even a mask for her instead and sAid open as many windows as she wanted. She's quit today as she says the smell of chemicals just make her sick. Fair enough - it's up to her whether she does the job or not but I am being unreasonable expecting a cleaner to use cleaning products?! We're only talking viakal, cif, dettol etc! Like I said this isn't the first cleaner that's pushed this. I appreciate alternative products can work as well and ecoover/method etc are good but I've two young children and I want the germs gone and feel 'normal' products do this best. Are their any cleaners who do a good bleach down anymore?! I'm not hypocritical when I clean (which I still do too!) I'm up to my arms in bleach and Viakal!
Appreciate this is first world problems but thanks in advance!

[Bluecarrot]

What makes you think that natural products aren't as good? They are certainly better for you and your children's health. And a certain level of germs is good news ( unless you have a compromised immune system of course).

[popthisoneout]

I have the opposite problem. I use natural cleaning products in our home and only bleach if anyone has been ill.
My cleaner is constantly bleaching the entire house which drives me flipping potty. The place reeks of it.

[TaggySits]

I'm having a similar issue with my personal chef, he doesn't like the smell of onions cooking.

[Babasaclover]

I love you the smell of cleaning products and agree that normal brands do the best jobs.

Maybe you've just been unlucky in picking cleaners that had this problem? Try another and asking in interview if it bothers them before employing.

[iwishiwish]

I'm lost for words. I clean, and cleaning products are just part of the job, surely. I have used baking soda and vinegar when clients request it, but otherwise I go with whatever product they provide. Its your home after all.

[minniespot]

I a cleaner and I supply and bring my own cleaning materials, I occasionally use the odd thing from the house I'm cleaning (one lady had granite worktop so I use her special cleaner on that) and I also have one lady who does not like bleach down the toilet as she dislikes the smell so again I use her tesco own brand blue toilet duck stuff, I don't buy this for my supplies as it's pretty crap and bleach is better but I happy to use if if she likes.

I use a total mix of stuff expensive limescale removers down to cheap white vinegar and because I supply my own cleaning materials and do a good job my price reflects this £15 per hour generally

Your cleaner sounds like she is in the wrong job chemical smells come with cleaning and you just open windows etc

[minniespot]

I a cleaner and I supply and bring my own cleaning materials, I occasionally use the odd thing from the house I'm cleaning (one lady had granite worktop so I use her special cleaner on that) and I also have one lady who does not like bleach down the toilet as she dislikes the smell so again I use her tesco own brand blue toilet duck stuff, I don't buy this for my supplies as it's pretty crap and bleach is better but I happy to use if if she likes.

I use a total mix of stuff expensive limescale removers down to cheap white vinegar and because I supply my own cleaning materials and do a good job my price reflects this £15 per hour generally

Your cleaner sounds like she is in the wrong job chemical smells come with cleaning and you just open windows etc

[Ldnmum2015]

I am a recently qualified cleaner. We don't use bleach any more, as it doesn't actually remove dirt it just bleaches it. Instead we use antibacterial cleaners and elbow grease. Also for health and safety reasons we do not use viakal, limerick, drain cleaners or bleach due to the fumes, which can lead on to lung problems.

[Ldnmum2015]

Minnispot, before you give such advice as the cleaner is in the wrong job if she refuses to subject herself to chemical fumes that could damage her lungs, do a workplace health and safety course ffs. Cleaners are classed as workers and therefore the employers have to respect their rights. No one professionally trained uses bleach anymore.

[Ldnmum2015]

Sorry should say lime rock, not limerick which is a very overwhelming concentrated limescale remover. We can use dettox, toilet cleaners, baking soda, vinegar and citric, which is a natural gratefruit cleaner. Your cleaners were right to simply refuse to work for you, their insurance wouldn't cover you for bleach due to transferal damage along with the possibility of a law suit further down the line anyway.

[Ldnmum2015]

Op, please, if you don't believe me about the bleach look it up. Incidentally to be registered as self employed, which it sound like both these cleaners are, you have to provide the tax office with your insurance details, which won't cover you if you are not following health & safety procedures.

[NickyEds]

I use bleach in the toilet but I put it in, leave it for 10 minutes then give it a quick scrub with the brush and flush so it's not hanging about for too long. I use washing up liquid and hot water for most kitchen stuff, occasionally I'll spray the work tops with antibacterial spray. The rest of the house is done with white vinegar and hot water. I have young s children too and that's why I'd rather use vinegar and soapy water for stuff. I'm quite clean and tidy at home and vinegar is just the best thing i've found for cleaning down paintwork etc. Maybe your cleaner was just right?

[StillRabbit]

I live in London and do my own cleaning, same my friends.

I use environmentally friendly products (mostly method) and never use bleach. Ordinary hygiene is perfectly adequate to keep your home clean and healthy for small children. In fact, my HV (years ago now) told me that overuse of things like bleach, dettol etc. leads to a weaker immune system.

IF I had a cleaner then I would ask him/her to only use environmentally friendly products. Cleaners where I work aren't allowed to use bleach for health and safety reasons...