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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bathing in dettol

314 replies

Pinkerbells · 04/01/2019 16:24

So I was chatting to my friend about what we were doing after work, (we work in a restaurant), and she said she was going home to have a dettol bath. I though she was kidding as she has a bug, but no. Turns out she has a 45 minute soak in dettol every night, then changes the water and has a 45 minute bath in 'normal' bathwater. Is this a thing??????? AIBU to think that's so bad for your skin and fufu. Dettol's website (of course) say it's fine, but surely your killing germs bad or good.Confused

OP posts:
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7
GaryBaldbiscuit · 04/01/2019 18:26

I have been tempted to buy it, simply because i love the smell, but it is quite expensive, i cleaned some lady's loo with it the other day (carer) might have been a bit extravagant.

Willow1992 · 04/01/2019 18:28

My mum was recommended Badedas bubblebath after birth in the early 90s, she got me some when I had DS. It has horse chestnut in which is meant to have healing properties. As I said in my p.p., it didn't work for me!

Nothisispatrick · 04/01/2019 18:30

I think this is gross! Why are people so scared of germs and bacteria, many of which are good for you?

But maybe I am the odd one as I don’t use any disinfectant or bleach, unless someone has been ill, which is never really.

CupoBlood · 04/01/2019 18:32

This is amazing for nappy rash, takes the sting right out of it. Other than that can't think why.

GrumpyOldMare · 04/01/2019 18:33

I love a dettol bath! Pity I used the last of it on the kitchen floor. I'll get some on the way home from work tomorrow,not had a dettol bath for a while now.

Motherofhounds · 04/01/2019 18:33

Oh my goodness! I’ve joked before that I’m going home ‘to shower in bleach’ (particularly whenever I have to go on the central line Envy)but I didn’t realise washing yourself with things like Dettol is actually a thing. I feel like I’m developing eczema just thinking about it.

StoorieHoose · 04/01/2019 18:39

All you people gasping in horror - we are talking about a capful of dettol in the bath water! It hardly warrants the horror

alansleftfoot · 04/01/2019 18:46

Was just about to say the same, literally 1-2 capfuls in a full bath, not bathing in concentrated bleach .

B1t2Indy · 04/01/2019 18:46

I used to have Dettol baths when I was little. I love the smell and still feel comforted when I smell it. Only stopped because it started giving me thrush when I got older (which it doesn't do to all women) , but for those people asking if it stings, no it doesn't.

TickTockClocks · 04/01/2019 18:57

I have a dettol bath once a week. I love it.

Eliza9917 · 04/01/2019 19:06

I love a capful of Dettol in the bath. I just like the smell. That and vosene, and neutrogena t-bar shampoo or whatever it's called.

I've currently got coal tar soap, love the smell of that too.

Gitfeatures · 04/01/2019 19:07

The only weird thing about this is the fact that 'bathing in dettol' was her answer to the very common question of what she was doing after work.
'Having a wash' isn't generally something one announces as their plan for after work.

HardAsSnails · 04/01/2019 19:09

I remember Dettol baths in the 70s, and we'd add fairy liquid for bubbles.

confusedofengland · 04/01/2019 19:14

My Dses have had the occasional Dettol bath, when they've fallen over & scraped their skin a lot. It's an effective way of cleaning the wounds without tabbing them, plus it's fun for them as they just play with their bath toys. I just put a capful of it into their usual bathwater.

Bonkersblond · 04/01/2019 19:20

Wow this brings back memories, my mum used to pop a capful of dettol in the bath if we had fallen over and grazed our knees etc, I had been thinking about doing it for DD since she has a nasty scrape on knee at the moment!

GoofyIsACow · 04/01/2019 19:23

It’s the left one not the right one and it’s really common to use it, not for 90 mins though!!

Bathing in dettol
MammaSchwifty · 04/01/2019 19:25

1.5 hours in the bath a day?! Sounds boring as fuck.

No way would I bathe in disinfectant, dilute or not. Poor precious skin flora, and vag flora!

Ollivander84 · 04/01/2019 19:37

I use bleach occasionally for a medical condition. V v v diluted in a bath!

WindyWednesday · 04/01/2019 19:38

I love coal tar soap too.

Ollivander84 · 04/01/2019 19:41

Hibiscrub is another thing I use for my skin but only heavily diluted and on affected areas

Fr3d · 04/01/2019 19:42

Bleach baths help eczema sufferers...they reduce the risk of eczema getting infected and needing antibiotics. There's a study done and guidelines given if anyone cares to Google it Smile

EmeraldShamrock · 04/01/2019 19:44

A cap full or two wouldn't hurt. I use a small bit in the washing machine when I wash towels and bedding.

Waterlemon · 04/01/2019 19:44

Wow! I remember my grandad washing the dog with dettol and my Nan scrubbing her concrete floors with it, but had no idea that people bathe i it!

SabineUndine · 04/01/2019 19:44

My dad used to do this, and I've never worked out why.

DemToes · 04/01/2019 19:46

Everyone is Shock at a dettol bath but I'm 😱😱😱🤮🤮🤮🤮 at the Milton salad! Wtf?!