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AIBU?

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Original poster

This new toilet duck has mugged me off. Where is the 99.9% germ kill claim?

58 replies

TranceNation · 05/04/2025 07:39

I picked up a new version of toilet duck a few weeks ago. Virtual Violet. Snazzy name and pretty bottle sucked me in. I was getting on fine with it up to now. Nice colour and smells nice but just put some down the toilet before I jumped in the shower when I noticed on the bottle there was no 99.9% germ kill tag as you usually get with a loo cleaner. Removes limescale blah blah blah but no germ kill. Looked at the back of the bottle in the list of ingredients and it doesn't even contain disinfectant. Feeling totally mugged off by toilet duck doing a half arsed job and probably left my loo with a two week backlog of germs no doubt mocking me.

[adds bleach to the weekly shopping list]

OP posts:
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DustyLee123 · 06/04/2025 06:52

TheDevilWearPrimarni · 05/04/2025 21:58

Bleach doesn’t remove limescale. This product does.

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Ah ok, we don’t get limescale so it’s not something I think about!

Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 22:03

JaneJeffer · 05/04/2025 21:57

Because I read the thread title in his accent Grin

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Love the randomness 😁 my mind is in the gutter now.

OP posts:
TheDevilWearPrimarni · 05/04/2025 21:58

DustyLee123 · 05/04/2025 07:40

I’ve gone YABU because I don’t understand why people don’t just use bleach, it’s cheaper too.

Bleach doesn’t remove limescale. This product does.

JaneJeffer · 05/04/2025 21:57

TranceNation · 05/04/2025 21:54

Wasn't expecting Danny Dyer to enter the toilet duck chat.

Because I read the thread title in his accent Grin

Dramatic · 05/04/2025 21:56

We don't get limescale where I live so I wouldn't even be bothered about the descaling element, I also don't really care if it kills germs, I just don't like it to have stains.

Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 21:54

Wasn't expecting Danny Dyer to enter the toilet duck chat.

OP posts:
JaneJeffer · 05/04/2025 21:43

.

Bbc One Gameshow GIF by BBC
Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 21:17

Katemax82 · 05/04/2025 20:54

Toilet duck acts as an air freshener

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The green pine one does smell nice.

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Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 21:17

GivingUpFinally · 05/04/2025 20:40

I'm off to Google this toilet duck business. Never heard of one. I just use bleach

Are you from the UK? Toilet Duck is quite a household name even among men.

OP posts:
Katemax82 · 05/04/2025 20:54

DustyLee123 · 05/04/2025 07:40

I’ve gone YABU because I don’t understand why people don’t just use bleach, it’s cheaper too.

Toilet duck acts as an air freshener

GivingUpFinally · 05/04/2025 20:40

I'm off to Google this toilet duck business. Never heard of one. I just use bleach

Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 20:07

Pippa12 · 05/04/2025 16:15

I noticed that it says ‘kills up to 99.9% of germs’. Which I decided was a daft claim as if it only killed ‘up to’ meant it could just be killing 10% of germs, but not 100%.

Yeah I totally agree. Up to 99.9% is such a cop out and flakey description. Never seen that description before. I am demanding full annihilation just for a power thing.

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Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 20:05

BoldBlueZebra · 05/04/2025 16:14

https://www.livescience.com/how-soap-kills-germs

That was actually quite interesting reading. Interesting to get a know how it all works.

Saying that, I've brought bleach today. Sorry.

OP posts:
Pippa12 · 05/04/2025 16:15

I noticed that it says ‘kills up to 99.9% of germs’. Which I decided was a daft claim as if it only killed ‘up to’ meant it could just be killing 10% of germs, but not 100%.

BoldBlueZebra · 05/04/2025 16:11

Any soap - you just need to break the lipid layer that coats them

Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 14:34

BoldBlueZebra · 05/04/2025 13:41

You do know that 99% of germs can be killed just with soap?

As in handwash soap or washing up liquid? Dunno I suppose so but I can't be doing with that faffing about with cleaning.

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Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 14:32

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 05/04/2025 13:38

I'm not saying they are lying. I'm saying they are selling you a product based on a number that's essentially meaningless and unnecessary, because judging how many germs are killed in your toilet (5 minutes before germs are put back in it again) is a totally and utterly pointless exercise!

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It is a bit like painting the forth bridge admittedly but doing nothing is just grim in my opinion.

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Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 14:30

Cara707 · 05/04/2025 13:16

What a weird product- who wants a toilet cleaner that doesn't disinfect?! I guess it physically removes the germs a bit but still!

Yeah I know. They usually have it in big letters on the bottle and have disinfectant listed in the ingredients.

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Original poster
TranceNation · 05/04/2025 14:29

Treadlightlyonmysoul · 05/04/2025 13:13

But what if the only germs in your toilet are the 0.1 % it doesn’t kill? Then it wouldn’t kill any in your toilet at all !

I imagine the laboratory tests are on the most common household germs.

OP posts:
BoldBlueZebra · 05/04/2025 13:41

You do know that 99% of germs can be killed just with soap?

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 05/04/2025 13:38

TranceNation · 05/04/2025 13:07

Well these sort of cleaners are tested to some sort laboratory certification test so if it claims to kill 99.9% then that's been certified. Like any consumer product they wouldn't be allowed to make false advertising claims.

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I'm not saying they are lying. I'm saying they are selling you a product based on a number that's essentially meaningless and unnecessary, because judging how many germs are killed in your toilet (5 minutes before germs are put back in it again) is a totally and utterly pointless exercise!

TheEyesOfLucyJordon · 05/04/2025 13:33

Bleach is an irritant, corrosive, and just generally nasty.

I only make pancakes in my toilet bowl once a year, so I'm not too fussed about the germs. If you're using it regularly for cakes, Yorkshire puds and the like, you may indeed need some sort of germ killer 🙂

Cara707 · 05/04/2025 13:16

What a weird product- who wants a toilet cleaner that doesn't disinfect?! I guess it physically removes the germs a bit but still!

Treadlightlyonmysoul · 05/04/2025 13:13

But what if the only germs in your toilet are the 0.1 % it doesn’t kill? Then it wouldn’t kill any in your toilet at all !