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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that you don't really need to use bleach for everything all the time?

242 replies

SusanMichelson · 09/08/2015 20:12

I keep seeing people commenting on how often they use bleach in their cleaning routine and I'm really surprised by how much it seems to be used.

I never use bleach unless someone is ill and usually not even then - just a disinfectant spray.

My kitchen and bathroom are lovely and clean. I usually just use a damp sponge or cloth with a bit of washing up liquid or whatever.

I don't get why people think bleach is necessary - and it is so poisonous, not just to us but to fish and so on. It makes me really Sad to think there's so much of it being washed down the plug hole.

AIBU to think it doesn't really make things any cleaner than just soapy water or maybe another less harsh chemical for really tough stuff?

I promise I'm not an eco warrior or hippy. It just never really occurred to me to use the stuff except when we had a superbug and then it was necessary for a few months. Nasty stuff!

OP posts:
Icimoi · 10/08/2015 15:10

SlagBol, which do you think is better - that your house feels clean though it isn't, or that it is clean but doesn't feel it because it doesn't smell of bleach?

SlagBol · 10/08/2015 15:18

It is clean, I don't just use bleach.

coconutpie · 10/08/2015 15:19

Could somebody pleeeeease tell me what concoction they use in their toilet bowl if they don't use bleach?

Sparklingbrook · 10/08/2015 15:20

I am baffled by the cleaning followed by bleaching malarkey.

DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 15:26

Our loos get a very small squirt of toilet cleaner and cleaned with a brush about once a month (and in between if needed).

VulcanWoman · 10/08/2015 15:30

SlagBol, Ecover, if you want a good All Purpose Cleaner, it smells of lemons, fresh and clean.
I don't use bleach and we very rarely even get a cold, no allergies/asthma.
My Mum has the ultimate immune, she didn't grow up in the best of conditions lets put it that way.
IMO the overuse of 'germ' killers is causing all the alergies, asthma, as well as food additives and pesticides but that's another thread.

WallyBantersJunkBox · 10/08/2015 15:33
Sgtmajormummy · 10/08/2015 15:33

Sorry, I can't do click-on links but if you Google "Readers Digest Uses for Household Ammonia" you might be converted. At household concentrations it's actually considered an ecological product as the same "chemicals" occur during natural decomposition.
I hear it's hard to find in the UK (Wilko, Boots or Amazon) because it can be used in home made bombs, but so can linseed oil!

Findtheoldme · 10/08/2015 15:34

I only use bleach in the loo but do sometimes pour down the plug hole if it is smelly. Happy to try more friendly products if anyone can recommend?

VulcanWoman · 10/08/2015 15:34

Coco, at the minute I'm using Ecover toilet cleaner about once a week with a bit of a scrub with, dare I mention it a toilet brush.

SurlyCue · 10/08/2015 16:02

Ok. I'm willing to give the bleach a swerve (but not today as DS is actually treating me to a bout of D&V so its bleach everywhere until he is better) and see how i get on without it. Glanced at coffees link but will give it a more in depth read later. Jeez between this and me switching to smaller towels you MNers will have me wearing flowers in my hair in no time Wink

Original poster
SusanMichelson · 10/08/2015 16:03

actually scraping limescale off with a screwdriver is likely to necessitate further use of bleach I think due to scratching the surface very slightly - like with a cerami kitchen sink.

I only recommend that as a one off measure in an old toilet that is really encrusted with scale.

I use a small, like a dish brush in the toilet which I keep in a plastic beaker, instead of a proper huge loo brush. I put some harpic or similar down it about once a month if that.

The rest of the time if one of the kids leaves some poo on the inside of it, I'll use a small wodge of toilet paper which I have dampened to rub it off then just flush it. And wash my hands thoroughly of course.

I think a lot of toilet cleaning products contain bleach in any case. You don't need a lot - even when we had a superbug to destroy, the recommended dilution was only 5-10% bleach. (so flash with bleach was ideal). Bleach is the only thing that kills these bastards and even they were susceptible to a 5% solution.

Think on't.

OP posts:
Original poster
SusanMichelson · 10/08/2015 16:04

GrinFlowers

Thank you for making the effort!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
SusanMichelson · 10/08/2015 16:05

and I hope ds is better soon!

(what's this about smaller towels?)

OP posts:
DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 16:06

I clean everything (including the kitchen and bathrooms) very infrequently, and never with "anti-bac" products. We are very very rarely ill in this house with colds or tummy upsets or anything else. Most germs arrive via school.

My sister lives alone and bleaches everything daily. She gets ill pretty much every time she steps outside.

bettyberry · 10/08/2015 16:11

Just down the loo to remove urine stains and poo (DS is disgusting don't ask)

SurlyCue · 10/08/2015 16:13

(what's this about smaller towels?)

Grin On one of the many "how often do you wash your towels" threads I (along with other daily washers) was getting a bashing for daily washing, water consumption, washing powder, energy costs etc. now having tried non daily towel washing for about a year a few years ago i just cant get on with it. I never felt clean after drying with a second/third/fourth use towel. So i am fixed on daily washing. However i agreed a compromise of instead of using a large bathsheet (plus hand towel for hair!) i would use just one hand towel to dry me and my hair. I have to say it makes a big difference in how much laundry i have!

Original poster
SusanMichelson · 10/08/2015 16:21

Ah! I have that problem too - none of my boys puts towels away so at least I sort of know which have been used - but I will often reuse the one I use for my hair, as I tend to shower and hair wash separately (we haven't finished the bathroom yet and only have a crappy shower attachment hose!)

I like using a muslin cloth to dry with after a shower as long as the room is warm ish - they are far quicker and more absorbent than towels.

Especially good using a giant muslin for hair.

But hair towels aren't really dirty anyway so they are fine to re-use anyway, IMO.

OP posts:
DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 16:24

Cripes. Towels and bedding get washed about once every 3 weeks here. I use white vinegar in the final rinse which helps with fluffiness and absorbancy.

DisappointedOne · 10/08/2015 16:26

(If your towel is getting dirty after your bath or shower, something's not right!)

VulcanWoman · 10/08/2015 16:33

Just to put my two penneth in with regards to the towels, I think the most important thing when re using towels is to make sure they're dried properly inbetween uses, I have towel aires on the landing and hooks on bathroom door, they were from Ikea and they keep the towels off the door too.

SurlyCue · 10/08/2015 16:34

(If your towel is getting dirty after your bath or shower, something's not right!)

Well now, i didnt say it was dirty. But of course there will be bits of you on it that I wasnt happy to be rubbing in my face a day later. They certainly arent as clean as they were before you dried yourself, if they were then we would never need to wash towels would we? Wink

DoreenLethal · 10/08/2015 17:00

Unfortunately there's a lot of depressing shit going on in the world and you just have to personally organise your priorities. That just isn't one of mine.

This is water you will eventually drink, yes?

Pointlessfan · 10/08/2015 18:55

Good point Doreen! I was also thinking about all the plastic going into landfill from all those bleach bottles.