to think we need to knock the bacteria bothering on the head?

[OtraCosaMariposa]

So unless you've been living under a rock we all know that single use plastics are bad, too much air travel is bad and that we're killing the planet with "stuff".

Just as important is the fact that bacteria are becoming resistant and that we haven't the new antibiotics to fight them. I know a lot of this si down to misuse of antibiotics, people not finishing the course or keeping old medication and popping it when they feel off colour. But I also think a lot of it is down to the sheer range of "anti-bacterial" products on sale.

The latest advert which really gave me the rage was for an anti-bacterial carpet cleaner, think it was Vax, which droned on about did you know how much BACTERIA there is in your carpet accompanied by pictures of children playing on the floor. Just like the "ewww, bacteria on your washing!!" adverts.

Do we really need to nuke all bacteria out of existence? Or do we collectively not need to chill out a bit, stop the paranoia about germs/bacteria and go back to basic cleaning with soap and water??

Anti-bac is banned in this house.

The bleach drinking issue had serious consequences it was hawked on autism sites .

@balula I use antibacterial anything that will kill pseudomonas

Why please? I have a specific interest in asking (the dog has it in his ear) and I'm curious why you target this bacteria specifically...

Ligresa your teasing.

Absolutely not! One drop in a huge tub of water. It's fairly common.

Given ordinary soap bars are antibacterial I suspect the word ‘anti-bacterial’ is marketing

Yes it is, even Method spray states it's anti bacterial iirc.

Totally agree OP. Well said. I really judge the selfish people who still use all these unnecessary cleaning products.

Animal husbandry is also a huge contributor to antimicrobial resistance. It's the main reason I've gone vegetarian.

I work in healthcare, and we are running out of antibiotics quickly. The whole face of medicine (and surgery) is about to change for the worse. Before antibiotics, infectious diseases were the main cause of death. I'm very much afraid we're about to find out what will happen after antibiotics as well.

Well, I was considering starting a domestic cleaning business with an ethos of using only naturally-derived cleaning products... am I right in thinking I could have enough client interest based on this thread?!

Are there people who both want a cleaner, and don’t want nasty chemicals to be used in their home?

But not for use for humans mms I think it was called.
Seriously I have an autistic child and I was on forums where it was reported to be a miracle worker till children turned up with intestines damaged.
Why would you do this to a child that’s why the smell is so off putting .
It’s important to use some of these products but sparingly.
A bottle should last like a long long time it’s due to its cheapness that it’s misused.

plus routine use of antibiotics in animals used for food...

This will give me away to anyone that’s attended infection training with me.

God made dirt, dirt don’t hurt

When we were kids, we got dirty. I remember rushing in from out playing, eating a white bread, jam sandwich, which would go grey from the dirt on my hands, and rush out to carry on playing.

Now children get one thing down them, their clothes are changed and they are wiped from head to toe with anti bac wipes- we are taking away their ability to build up an immunity.

I do use an anti bac spray in the kitchen, but only when I’ve been dealing with raw meat. Because food poisoning (after having it twice) worries me. Especially when I’m cooking for the young, the elderly or those with a weakened immunity.

Couldn't agree more OP. I think we need better education in schools about this issue.

If animal production is the main problem, why are most superbugs found in hospitals? Certainly in the U.K. too many antibacterial medicines have been used on farms, but unlike in the US, their use as growth promotors has been strictly limited for many years.

And the rules for medicine use in animals going into the food chain are also strict. There are well established withdrawal periods on all medicines used in animals that are used a food producers. Milk is regularly tested for residue and if any is found, there are heavy fines.

If you remove bacteria regularly using the same antibacterial, you end up with just as many bacteria, but the new ones will be ones that are resistant. They have discovered that hibiscrub dispensers which are topped up, rather than being completely emptied and cleaned between use, will eventually grow bacteria.

Though of course some bacteria, like campylobacter are killed by desiccation. So if you wipe your surfaces over after use to remove any debris that will hold water, any campylobacter will die once the surface is dry. Don’t wipe surfaces over with the damp cloth just before use though as it might be a source of contamination.

I hate all the over sanitising. Does nothing for anyone's immune system. We use bleach in the toilet when needed (the limescale remover one, we have hard water), I antibac the kitchen sides if I've prepared food on them and that's it. We have normal soap, use regular washing powder and I don't think I've ever sanitised my living room or bedrooms. I do my floors with chlorine once a month otherwise it's boiling water and washing up liquid. We don't get sick very often (except right now with my rotten cold ), we never get stomach bugs. My house is clean but I don't believe in removing every germ possible, I don't think it's good for anyone

I agree with the antibiotics 100%

But wow maybe I need to reflect on my cleaning habits after reading these comments! I didn’t realise how much damage I’m potentially doing.

I go through at least 1 bottle of bleach every couple of days, a bottle of toilet gel per week, a small bottle of zoflora in about 2 days, use floor cleaner by the gallon, surfaces are sprayed with anti bac about 4 times per day, then wiped with anti bac wipes, then glass cleaner used on oven and induction hob, I polish everywhere with bees wax polish every other day, door handles and light switches often bleached or wiped with anti bac wipes, same with hand rails, carpets bleached disinfected and comfort in the machine every fortnight or so, couch covers removed and washed weekly, sprayed with fabric spray twice a day on non-wash days, skirting boards hoovered and wiped weekly, kitchen units anti bac wiped thoroughly once per week, bathroom gets fully disinfected - dried - then wiped with anti bac wipes every day. Bedding sprayed with anti bac fabric spray. I go through 2 bottles of 1001 a week spraying the carpets and rugs. Hoover and mop at least once per day.
I do have 2 dogs so I feel this is all necessary in my mind, and my anxiety is through the roof if the house hasn’t been cleaned properly.

But actually now that I’ve written this down maybe I’ve got an issue

YABU. It's a marketing technique, so use your brain and don't buy into it.

I suspect MN with its Ewww! Your Home is Disgustin' threads does some damage too.

I know only one MNetter whose DC ended up in ITU from their stinky ways, and they won't read those threads anyway.

Clean-shaming isn't helpful.

Oh I forgot to mention my beloved steamer for clothes and soft furnishings ❤️

@Ligresa

Really? (In seriousness - I'm genuinely intrigued!) I've used bleach to do troughs and buckets to get rid of the delightful slime but I've been around horses 35 years and I've honestly never, ever heard of putting it in the water they drink.

I'd probably horrify most people with my standard of housekeeping, I do use bleach but mainly in the toilet and for stubborn stains, or on the lino when old crusty dog has an accident. I buy whatever is cheapest or on offer mainly for cleaning.
Grew up around horses and dogs as did DD and we're rarely ill. Get colds, but not as bad as I see some people and the last stomach bug I had was about 10 years ago when I was in care and got vomited on (literally) by a resident who'd just come in - with norovirus. There wasn't much escaping that because it was everywhere, and it was only when I, and several other residents also went down with it we knew what it was. Other than that I don't get stomach bugs.

SachaStark as far as the place is clean no one would care.
You need to put some effort into cleaning that’s the trick.
If your in a soft water region it’s easier to clean .
The difference that the water softener has made has been enormous in our house hold.we only purchased it due to skin issues but it’s been a changer with the cleaning as well

But on the other hand, I saw my FIL clean out the fish tank with a cloth and then use said cloth on kitchen worktops - I nearly collapsed 🤮

I think if people were better educated to the fact that bacteria are all around us, all the time, and most are harmless (some are even necessary), they might stop this frantic germophobia (and germs and bacteria are two completely different things!).

I completely agree, we are being whipped up into a clean-freak frenzy by advertisers who want to sell us products that are no more effective than hot water.

I'm a complete slut when it comes to housework and cleaning, but I've raised five kids among dogs, cats, chickens, horses and all other animals without frantic cleaning and disinfecting, and they are all hale and hearty adults now. OK, maybe if you have immunity problems or are frail there may be a need for more stringent cleaning, but generally? No need at all.

This is one of the biggest risks to our health. Plus fungal resistance. Antifungals used on plant bulbs are producing super-strains in soil.
When i was in hospital having dd1, a cleaner came in to do my room. She squirted antibacterial stuff on the floor, and briefly mopped it. The floor was still dirty. When my Mum trained as a nurse the wards were scrubbed with hot water and soap, and they were properly clean.

Sicktodeath
Love your humour

The only time the anti bac comes out is if someone has d&v
My house is clean but I don’t worry too much about germs as I think we need some for our immune systems to fight
My mate is bleach bonkers and that drives me insane