AIBU - just saw my cleaner clean the loo with a cloth and then use it in another room on my bath!

[Janus]

Was talking to my cleaner as I usually change beds etc while she's here, went to talk in one bathroom and she was cleaning the loo with a bright orange cloth.
Went downstairs to make us tea, she's now in out ensuite and using the same cloth on our bath. I cannot be 100% sure as we have 2 of these cloths in the bag but I will look later to see if the other one has been used.
She comes from an agency so I can just ring the agency and cancel her.
I am a spineless twat and should probably just go up and ask her though shouldn't I? I have clearly told her to use one cloth in each bathroom as we have 4 kids and there's always some virus lurking but she thinking of it she can't do that because there's only ever 2 cloths out out to be washed.
I feel slightly ill.
Someone help me phrase it so I don't sound rude??

Another bonkers so-called-hygiene thread. I'm constantly amazed that I've survived so long and been ill so rarely without resorting to bleach, antibacterial products and mountains of disposable wipes.

Why is it bonkers to recognise the fact that dirty contaminated cloths spread bacteria and viruses? It might not kill a healthy person but why waste time cleaning at all if you are just going to spread germs everywhere?

Going round and round in circles doing this shit It never ends. When you get to the finish line, it just starts again. Cleaning toilets every day ? Why ?

I ask myself this : do men use up vast swathes of leisure time fretting about colour coded cloths and the precise order in which they clean household items that constantly get smeared, gobbed on, sneezed on, settled on by the invisible "germs" in our environment anyway ?

Presumably hot soapy water is applied to the cloth before it cleans anything else? Same as hot soapy water is applied to your hands between having a poo and eating your sandwich? Straight from loo to sink without washing out would be grim, but cleaning products clean things, that's kind of the point. So do washing machines. Do you throw away pants every time a toddler has an accident? Bedclothes every time a small child is sick in the night?

It's bonkers because our views on what is hygienic have become wildly distorted and even harmful. Particularly in terms of the amount of bleach and chemicals used, and the literal mountains of disposable (but not biodegradable) products thrown away or flushed into our sewers.

I worked a summer season as a chalet cleaner at Butlins - it was a long, long time ago but I still remember the horror of witnessing another cleaner (who was teaching me on my first day) use ONE cloth to clean everything (and it looked like it was months old). She would use the cloth to get right down into the toilet bowl and then use the same cloth to wash up the cups in the sink.

25 years later and I am still reluctant to use a cup in a hotel room.

I've always cleaned the loo myself at home and made it clear to cleaners that it isn't something they are expected to do...for the same reason (I appreciate it is a bit irrational)!

It's bonkers because our views on what is hygienic have become wildly distorted and even harmful. Particularly in terms of the amount of bleach and chemicals used, and the literal mountains of disposable (but not biodegradable) products thrown away or flushed into our sewers.

My views on cross contamination are based on knowledge of microbiology and training in aseptic technique (for my job).
The mountains of bleach and disposable products that some people go through are a separate issue as you can avoid cross contamination without doing that.

I can't imagine how any of you use public toilets - you must have to go in with rubber gloves, bleach, colour coded cloths etc before having a pee.

I do think some of you are obsessed with cleaning, as AnyFucker says, can you imagine a man bothering about this sort of thing?

Actually I remember staying with a friend of my DH's for a few weeks when we were travelling & he was rather obsessed about different coloured cloths for everything - fast forward 15 years & we all have a family - his children are constantly 'ill' and suffering from various ailments (not serious) but my DS enjoys robust health.

Haven't surveys shown that a bit of bacteria/germs etc is good for you?

Most men I know would be very bothered by someone using a toilet cloth to clean anything else with,what an odd thing to think.

You don't need bottle of bleach and anti bac spray/ wipes you just need hot soapy water and a separate cloths for the loo. But a separate cloth for loo is basic minimum cleanliness.

Haven't surveys shown that a bit of bacteria/germs etc is good for you?

Yes but very different from toilet germs. No need to bleach every surface of the house.

Yanbu. Yuck.

I'd never cross contaminate sink / bath and toilet cloths. Tbh I use disposable for the toilet because I don't even like the idea of them going in the machine.

I can't imagine how any of you use public toilets - you must have to go in with rubber gloves, bleach, colour coded cloths etc before having a pee.

More and more public loos provide disposal toilet seat covers and/or wipes so you can clean the seat yourself before use. Most toilets have hot water and soap so you can wash your hands afterwards and then disposal paper towels or hygenic hot air blowers. I always use a tissue to open the door to leave the toilets or wait until someone else opens it, as heaven knows how much other people's wee and poo are on the door handle given the sheer number of people don't wash their hands!

I think my point, marynary, is that except in specific circumstances application of aseptic technique is not necessary and may even be harmful to development of healthy immune systems.

Simple separation of cloths to clean toilets from cloths to clean other areas is entirely sensible and I wasn't advocating anything else.

I think my point, marynary, is that except in specific circumstances application of aseptic technique is not necessary and may even be harmful to development of healthy immune systems.

Obviously I don't apply aseptic technique around the house. My point was that it has made me aware of cross contamination.

Simple separation of cloths to clean toilets from cloths to clean other areas is entirely sensible and I wasn't advocating anything else.

This thread is about whether or not to be concerned about a cleaner using the same cloth to clean the toilet as other areas. You said this was a "bonkers" thread which suggests you do advocate something else.

Wash it how Dame ? I rinse it in the sink, strain, and leave to dry, what do you do?

This is exactly why I could never have a cleaner, I have too many "things" that I need doing a certain way. A mixed bag of toilet/sink/worktop cloths is absolutely rank.

I suggest buying 4 different coloured cloths and specify which cloths are for which rooms. That way it looks like you are being nice and your motive is a little less blunt.

Bastard- I have a bucket with a lid for 'yucky cloths/ mop heads/ towels we use to dry the cat when he comes in wet - bucket is in the utility room, gets emptied into machine and washed at 60 or 90. If you wash it in the sink, don't you just have to clean the sink again?

You put the mop head in the machine?! (Sorry I'm not trying to sound like a dick, I've honestly never heard of this!)

"bacteria gets onto everything including the Loo roll which is usually right next to the toilet."

Ours isn't right next to the toilet.

Bastard- yes of course, otherwise you're cleaning the floor with a dirty mop, aren't you? Vileda mop heads click off and you bung them in the machine.

www.tesco.com/direct/vileda-easy-wring-clean-mop-bucket-kit/211-6523.prd?skuId=211-6523&pageLevel=sku&sc_cmp=ppc_sh--sh--tesco--211-6523&sc_cmp=ppcshmshbgpx-shopping_gsc-_utility_room*211-6523&gclid=Cj0KEQjwsO6-BRDRy8bsxfiV2bkBEiQAF8EzKG92OzQZ1otPWBmeL6qAECzqU3qhtkhyo4uH7fpkmZUaAoU98P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&source=others

Fancy version of my mop- was half the price!

...I ask myself this : do men use up baste swathes of leisure time fretting about colour coded cloths and the precise order in which they clean household items that get smeared, gobbed on, sneezed on, settled on by the invisible 'germs' in our environment anyway

You clearly have never met my Dad.

vast not baste!

your dad is the exception that proves the rule and he is also mad