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AIBU?

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Original poster

To refuse to buy bleach?

420 replies

Eastie77Returns · 08/07/2025 11:41

First world problem alert.

Our cleaner has asked demanded that I add Domestos bleach to my cleaning products. There's been a bit of an ongoing issue for a while now as I have trialed various eco-friendly cleaning products over the last few months and she generally doesn't like them. I have changed a couple of times in the hope she will get on better with a new range but she has a preference for products that contain high levels of chemicals. I understand they are the go-too products that she trusts but I just don't want to use them.

At the moment she is begrudgingly using the Ecover products I most recently bought. Now she is insisting she needs bleach to clean properly because Ecover doesn't really cut it. I said no as I just can't have it in the house. The smell is one thing but it's so toxic and dangerous (I'm absolutely haunted by an acquaintance whose young child inhaled some). She is a really good cleaner and in high demand. I'm aware she's already given notice to two households on our street because they did not fall in line with her requests (not cleaning product related, something else).

Has anyone used any of the 'natural' bleach products currently out there and were they effective?

OP posts:
Morgenrot25 · 08/07/2025 20:08

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 08/07/2025 18:14

Is this a regional thing re hardness of water as ive never once had limescale in my toilet

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Probably - it's due to how hard or soft the water id we have so much more limescale where I live now (hard water) than where I grew up (very soft water). I've lived other places with varying levels.

SporadicMincePieMuncher · 08/07/2025 20:07

Praying4Peace · 08/07/2025 19:52

I truly hope that isn't expected of any cleaner

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I mean, if you're cleaning a toilet you're scrubbing poo, whether it's big enough enough particles to see or not.

Morgenrot25 · 08/07/2025 20:06

Eastie77Returns · 08/07/2025 17:15

Yes I know natural products contain chemicals. There’s an odd fixation from some on this thread to teach me the errors of my ways. Thanks to those who’ve actually answered my question:)

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Pointing out an error once isn't 'an odd fixation'.

Praying4Peace · 08/07/2025 19:52

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 08/07/2025 12:23

I do think I would want bleach if I was scrubbing someone else's poo.

I truly hope that isn't expected of any cleaner

CurlewCelia · 08/07/2025 19:50

Coffeeishot · 08/07/2025 18:18

Yes i don't get limescale either .

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I don’t either - soft water region.

CurlewCelia · 08/07/2025 19:49

I use hand sanitiser to wipe down surfaces and laundry detergent for stubborn toilet stains. I guess you might have to find a more eco-friendly cleaner if you can’t agree. I’m also very envious that you have a cleaner.

ArtTheClown · 08/07/2025 19:44

As an aside - if anybody has found a non-bleach way of removing stains under the water line in the loo, please do share it! I've been using a limescale loo cleaner, thinking it was limescale, but it's not working.

Put some bicarb in the bowl, leave for an hour then scrub it with a scourer, it'll be spotless.

TranceNation · 08/07/2025 19:06

It's your toilet so your rules I say. Could always say you have a septic tank.

Saying that I'm a bleach girl. I'm old skool from the domestos TV adverts generation so nothing leaves me feeling the germs are getting a proper good nuking like bleach - I rarely use domestos though. Bleach is bleach they all do the same job. I do use toilet duck or whatever once a week to keep on top of any limescale though.

mummybear35 · 08/07/2025 19:04

Just say no? You are the employer, she is the employer, if you don’t want toxic chemical cleaners used, that’s your prerogative. She may be a good cleaner but if I were employing her, she’d clean with the products I want not what she wants to use. If she decides to leave, find another cleaner, it’s not hard..

smallglassbottle · 08/07/2025 18:51

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 08/07/2025 15:53

The cleaning liquids were pointless, I may as well have sprayed plain water on the shower screen. Thankfully I'd only bought the trial packs as it all went in the bin.

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Their laundry pods are rubbish as well. My clothing wasn't clean and the machine ended up stinking. Everything was fine once I went back to Ariel Bio Powder.

EviesHat · 08/07/2025 18:49

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 08/07/2025 18:14

Is this a regional thing re hardness of water as ive never once had limescale in my toilet

Show quote history

The amount of limescale depends on the hardness of the local water, so yes, it varies throughout the country.

Thing is, you may not be aware if you’ve got limescale in the loo if you pour bleach down it daily. Stains cling to limescale, bleach removes the colour from the stained limescale. See the problem?

If you get limescale in your kettle then over time you’ll get limescale deposits in your loo too.

EviesHat · 08/07/2025 18:45

Gwenhwyfar · 08/07/2025 17:49

"The thing is, it’s the place you eliminate waste. It’s literally the place for faeces and urine. How clean does it need to be? Soap is enough."

It needs to not smell and not have stains.

It won’t have stains if you remove the limescale. 🤦‍♀️

Coffeeishot · 08/07/2025 18:18

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 08/07/2025 18:14

Is this a regional thing re hardness of water as ive never once had limescale in my toilet

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Yes i don't get limescale either .

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 08/07/2025 18:14

EviesHat · 08/07/2025 16:01

Bleach isn’t removing the limescale, it just removes the colour so you can’t see the limescale. You need to use something acidic or physically scrape the limescale off the porcelain.

Bleach fools you into thinking the loo is clean. It’s disinfected, but not limescale-free.

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Is this a regional thing re hardness of water as ive never once had limescale in my toilet

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 08/07/2025 18:13

Brefugee · 08/07/2025 15:25

white vinegar. For all of them.

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Ugh no the smell is awful i only use vinegar on windows and stainless steel

Katemax82 · 08/07/2025 18:07

OnlyHerefortheBiscuits · 08/07/2025 12:12

Meanwhile I'm over here bleaching my sink each night before I head up to bed 🫣

Ditto me bleaching my bog after every shite

Daisychain88 · 08/07/2025 18:05

I use bleach to clean toilets and my kitchen sink after I wash meat ( I wash my meat) it kills all germs and leaves it clean white and fresh. Don't use it for anything else. Ask your cleaner what she needs it for? If its for the bathroom it's normal in my opinion to keep it sanitary. All my family uses it?

ThorsRaven · 08/07/2025 17:58

myplace · 08/07/2025 17:22

Have you got a link? It’s the one thing I haven’t tried.

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Not OP but I use this one (since wilko is no more):

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/317765462

Bloody brilliant stuff for de-scaling kettles and shower heads.

PopstarPoppy · 08/07/2025 17:58

You may already have tried them, but I find these products a lot better than Ecover:

https://www.muck-munchers.co.uk/product/oxy-gen-eco-bleach-triple-pack/

https://www.muck-munchers.co.uk/product/bio-gen-eco-toilet-triple-pack/

Gwenhwyfar · 08/07/2025 17:50

BoredZelda · 08/07/2025 16:31

I’ve tried vinegar on loads of stuff and so many people swear by it. Same with steam cleaners. I never find them effective. I can only assume that my level of “clean” is much cleaner than those who think vinegar is a magic potion. I can’t help but wonder if vinegar was a miracle potion, why are so few cleaning products vinegar based?

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Vinegar is good for limescale. However, we had eco cleaners in my office at one time and the whole place smelt like a chip shop afterwards.

Gwenhwyfar · 08/07/2025 17:49

"The thing is, it’s the place you eliminate waste. It’s literally the place for faeces and urine. How clean does it need to be? Soap is enough."

It needs to not smell and not have stains.

Gwenhwyfar · 08/07/2025 17:48

ButtSurgery · 08/07/2025 12:15

I haven't bought bleach in over 20 years. What is everyone using it for?!

Toilet and sink mainly. There are some stains that other cleaning products don't make go away. Also, in the past to get rid of completely tea-stained mugs, a drop in water - they get washed afterwards of course.

Gwenhwyfar · 08/07/2025 17:44

Mandarinaduck · 08/07/2025 11:49

I have bleach in my house for once-in-a-blue-moon use but I prefer to use only eco-friendly products for normal use and my excellent and in high demand cleaner respects it.

I wouldn't employ someone who insists on using products I'm not happy with.

She sounds difficult.

She's no more difficult than the OP!

tigger1001 · 08/07/2025 17:38

bleach triggers my asthma so I really try to avoid it. Not a problem for me as I don't have a cleaner, but if I did, I'd be wanting bleach free products to be useful for that reason.

LilacWineIsSweetAndHeady · 08/07/2025 17:33

EviesHat · 08/07/2025 15:38

Unless you’ve got a really old toilet bowl with surface damage the bleach alone isn’t actually getting it as clean as you think.

Stains need something to stick to. Most of the time that’s limescale. Putting bleach down the loo removes the colour but not the stuff itself. Over time, if you stop using bleach, the stains will return and always in the same pattern/place. That’s because the limescale is still present.

Stop using the bleach for a bit and concentrate on getting rid of the limescale. That’s not easy, but once you’ve done it you can keep the bowl clear by throwing some citric acid or strong vinegar down there every week.

Whatever you do don’t mix bleach and acid cleaner together.

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The toilet looks relatively modern. I have no intention of scrubbing around at the bottom of the bowl when a squirt of bleach keeps it sparkling!