How can 2 threads that I've been on just be deleted?

[1ris]

One about cleaning wood floors and the other about hot kitchen taps?

The mind boggles.

[AnthonyPandy]

Well to be fair they are extremely controversial topics and could easily lead to shouting and unpleasantness as posters fight to be correct on things like what cloths to use for the floors - blue jaycloths? Sponges? Crocheted string cloths? And as for taps - that's obvious really. These things cannot be allowed to pollute Mumsnet.

[thenightsky]

I was reading the hot tap one. Now its gone.

[elQuintoConyo]

One turned into a bunfight- definitely not good on a thread about cleaning wood floors!

[EnidButton]

Wtf? The mind boggles. I really want to see what a bunfight over wood floors looks like.

Was coming on to read the boiling tap one.

[RJnomore1]

Really?

Newbie at the controls tonight?

[EnidButton]

I'm eyeing all the housekeeping threads with suspicion now. I reckon that Aga one could take a turn.

[empirerecordsrocked]

In housekeeping? There were a few a month ago or so where there had been some promotion going on.

[Gunpowder]

Housekeeping is normally a safe haven I come here to relax and talk about cleaning washing machines when life gets too much.

[elephantoverthehill]

Don't mention the polish. It could be mistaken for ............

[EnidButton]

Me too Gun I just want to read about junk drawers and whitening powders. Is no place safe?

Seriously though, how did an argument start over wooden floors?

[elQuintoConyo]

It is carnival season in some places, maybe a MNHQer is dressed as Carmen Miranda, slightly squiffy and bashing the 'delete threads' button with falling fruit?

[EnidButton]

🍌🍒🍍🍊

[OnHold]

I rarely click the Housekeeping threads being such a slattern But now I find out it's all going on in here.

[DramaAlpaca]

In a word, spammers. There's been a rash of them recently and MNHQ are on the case.

The way it works is a spammer starts a thread as if they are looking for a solution to a housekeeping problem, then they name change a few posts in and recommend a product that magically solves the problem, with a link to it.

They are quite easy to spot because you'll see the same names starting threads and then replying to others with links. Although thanks to the new hyper links thing that MNHQ have started doing they aren't quite as obvious.

I managed to catch one out a while back in a sock-puppeting fail when they forgot to name change to post the link to the product they were promoting

There was a thread in Site Stuff about it a while back, I think.

[tallwivglasses]

Me too. This is more invigorating than AIBU

[DramaAlpaca]

Here's the Site Stuff thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/2837790-Spammers-on-Housekeeping

[MumOfTwoMasterOfNone]

Ahhh maybe that explains the handheld vacuum recommendation thread disappearance

[EnidButton]

Ah right. Yes I can usually spot those. Like over enthusiastic Amazon reviews.

[DramaAlpaca]

Have a look at the 'my carpet smells' one - I'm pretty sure the OP and the third post are spammers.

[EnidButton]

Bicarb seems innocent though.

[Deux]

I replied to one about steam generator irons and it's disappeared too.

[mortificado]

The boiling tap one got deleted?! someone's had too much with it being Friday and all

[PickAChew]

Most likely our regular Spammy McSpammerson - one Sock starts thread, a few people reply, another sock recommends an Amazon link which includes their own reference, to they make money if people buy that product using that link. Been doing it in Housekeeping for months. TBH I think MNHQ need to scrap the topic to put them off the scent.

[DramaAlpaca]

Enid I know! It's the oddest things they are promoting. They've usually been links to Amazon too, as is that one.

[HemanOrSheRa]

Dirty besoms here. Filthy.