To refuse to buy bleach?

Yeah, I also love bleach for specific things requiring disinfecting. I use the type with limescale in for the toilets. And just plain for soaking dish clothes etc and cleaning the sinks. As a rule, I just wipe my counters down, but will sometimes use the cloth that's been soaking in soe bleach just to be sure I'm getting rid of any bacteria (or use a kitchen cleaner to add the "fat melting" properties).

I am sure I could do all of these things without bleach. But my god, the effort. No thanks.

I only use bleach down the toilet and not all over the house. Is she wanting to clean the whole house with it?!
I think realistically you need to assess whether this will work as you are at total opposite ends. Maybe find a new cleaner.

We don't use bleach, because we have a septic tank system and three cats.

I have a handheld steam cleaner for grouting and I've yet to find the dirt that white vinegar, bicarb and elbow grease can't remove.

Re: sinks. We have a ceramic sink in the kitchen which can get a bit stained, but I read an excellent tip on here - fill with very hot water, pop in a dishwasher tab (we use the Smol ones) and leave overnight. Squeaky clean by morning and zero effort!

After a sickness bug I use a steam cleaner. Astonishing what a visible difference a steam clean makes anyway tbh.

And yet, I've never had a dirty or stained toilet. Despite no bleach.

i also almost never use bleach, but i always notice whever the Great MN Toilet Brush Discussion happens, many people who don't have one just chuck bleach down the toilet. (I have always wondered about that because as far as i knew it just hid the colour, but pp mentioned it does dissolve dirt too)

I have a toilet brush, and about every other month i bleach it to be sure it's ok. But then i buy a new one quite often too so i could probably knock that on the head.

I was a self employed cleaner until I retired recently
All the insurance companies myself and other cleaners use in the UK will not insure use of bleach

What is she bleaching ? I use bleach for my.bath it has jets so occasionally I clean them out with bleach , but I've never used bleach for general cleaning, my mum loves bleach though her house can really smell on her "cleaning day"

Maybe time for a new cleaner.

.

Use white vinegar or citric acid, both safe products that will do the job. Get a new cleaner, she should know this.

I have to bleach my sink once a week or it gets dingy and streaked even though I clean it daily.

There's nothing that does what bleach does that isn't bleach, so if she feels she can't do her job properly without bleach you either buy bleach or she moves on.

tbh (and i use eco products) the chemical products are way better and require far less effort.

So i would check with your cleaner what the actual problem is. It could be that they, like me, just don't rate the eco bathroom cleaners because you have to scrub too hard and they don't slow down the build up of limescale the way the chemical ones do.

If she feels she can't deliver a good job, maybe she will agree with you on the standard you require? or if it takes longer, you just agree on more time and pay her the extra.

But, get ready to find a new cleaner.

She’s being silly, plenty of people clean without bleach. I only have it to use if I’m cleaning up after a sickness bug.
If she’s cleaning weekly I don’t see how anything could be so dirty that it cannot be cleaned without bleach.

This ^

You could offer to pay her more if the job is harder because of the products you are insisting on

Yes agree Bar Keepers Friend is great. They do a cream one too.

As for bleaching a sink overnight....why? White vinegar does a great job on tea stains, etc, and removes limescale.

When we moved into our home it was immaculate except for the dirty brown stain at the bottom of the toilet bowl.......
Daily cleaning with bleach has made the toilet look brand new! I can only imagine the previous owners living with the stain because they wouldn't buy bleach......
Personally I think it's brilliant stuff!

Surely this is a simple decision. Which is most important to you? An excellent sought after cleaner or your feelings about bleach?

She's self employed, she takes a pride in her work, and she feels she needs bleach to achieve her high standards.
You refuse to have bleach.
You are not compatible.

Our cleaner wanted bleach. I refused as it's toxic for cats (I use it to clean grouting and after seeing the cat after inhaling some we said never again!). 6 montls later, I found a bleach spray amongst the cleaning products and sacked the cleaner.

Magic sponges are excellent for tannin stains. Just water needed.

I dont get the bleach love. The best way to clean and sterilise the toilet area is with a steamer. The ultimate clean smell and no chemicals at all.

Bleach is for extremely lazy people who want the illusion of clean smell IMO. Give your grouting a good clean regularly and it doesn't stain in the first place. It's all just a time thing.

yanbu
bleach is a disinfectant and just not needed in most households.
ecover and other eco products are good (and don't smell of chlorine)

What do you use in your toilets then - i don’t use much bleach but it is put into the toilets and the limescale cleaner contains it too

I've had my own house for 36 years. Not only have I never bought bleach (because it's unnecessary), but I've never had a cleaner who requested it.
You are the employer, OP - she either uses the products of your choice, or she looks for another job.

Bleach is toxic regardless and shouldn’t be used. She shouldn’t want to use it, as cleaners who do have a higher risk of serious lung disease.https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/11/regularly-using-bleach-linked-to-higher-risk-of-fatal-lung-disease?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

She sounds difficult? 😂

Well that's not true is it? Clearly OP is concerned about what happens when the bleach goes down the drain - it's clearly not the nicest of stuff to have in the water course. So if she wants to use products that are not as caustic that's understandable. Lots of people are allergic to bleach - and can feel very unwell even from the smell of it.

Not unreasonable to expect a cleaner - who is paid - to use whatever products they are given. If they don't like the products they can resign, or OP can fire them.