to be genuinely concerned about the casual over-use of Zoflora?

[ChicChicChicChiclana]

I have never bought or used any kind of disinfectant before.

I have vague memories of Dettol disinfectant in the bottom of the vomit bucket when we were poorly kids, but other than that I can't remember it in my childhood home either.

I don't really know what you need to use it for!

Anyway, our local pound shop had some small Zoflora bottles in recently and I bought one on impulse having become aware due to Mumsnet and the weird devotion to Mrs Hinch.

Dh has been pretty sick and sweaty so I decided to boost my usual hot wash of his bedding and pillowcases with Zoflora. I pre-soaked the pillow cases in warm water, biological powder and less than half a small capful of Zoflora. Then I rinsed them thoroughly under the shower. Then I put them through a 2 hour hot wash in my washing machine which includes 3 rinses. Now they are hanging up to dry inside and they still absolutely reek of this bloody disinfectant! I don't have any chest or allergy issues but I can feel the smell catching in my throat.

Isn't it dangerous as fuck and only to be used in tiny amounts if you absolutely must in extreme circumstances? I don't think I'll be going anywhere near it again.

@PorpentinaScamander

You could always give it to a food bank? Ours has a box of items like that people can help themselves to.

@TowandaForever

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I'll add them to the box of unused shower gel gift sets that we are overrun by and donate them.

Someone upthread mentioned about zoflora only being toxic to cats if they walked across a work surface before it was dry. What the hell, do people seriously let animals loose in the kitchen.

Eh, of course my cats can go on the kitchen. They dont go on the worktops when I'm in there. I cant speak for when I go out the kitchen though!

Awful stuff, hyped up by marketing as is all the anti-bacterial stuff. Antibacterial handwash for instance, totally unnecessary. The lathering of normal soap along with the rubbing motion of washing your hands is all you need the get rid of germs, bacteria and even viruses

@pollysproggle
There is a very strong argument for reducing the amount of antibacterial products in our homes. Plenty of evidence that children develop better immune strength by having little challenges in the environment. In the 70s there was a very nature strong/whole foods culture. This new Mrs Hinch is a fad and rather a cunning con trick to sell products. Zoflora was around but very very lightl used. Influencers......... the name gives the game away. Would you really accept that amout od advertising in any other format,? Follow someone = invite ads. Thats why the companies use them, and pay them. simples

I quite like zoflora, dettol smells awful... but I mean a bottle lasts me a couple of years...

I really only use it after someone’s been ill or the pets have done something disgusting... you know where you’ve used soapy stuff already but you want to know it’s clean clean.

I’ve used Zeflora for years. I love it.
I can’t stand the smell of bleach so I’m not sure what I’d clean with other than disinfectant.
I don’t think it’s designed to wash your clothes with.
This thread wreaks of inverted snobbery.

When did I advocate overusing zoflora, supporting influencers and Mrs Hinch??
I don't agree with over using anything.

Someone asked what was the point in disinfecting anything unless your immune compromised, that's when I joined the conversation...
The answer is to kill bacteria. Yes bacteria is good for us and children, no shit Sherlock. Not all bacteria is however.
Bacteria causes food poisoning, eye infections, skin infection, infections of the blood (sepsis) for example. All things I'd rather not catch thanks.
Soap and water is good, it washes away some bacteria but there's nothing wrong with disinfecting in addition to that.

If you manage perfectly well without using it and are healthy that's good news for you but it doesn't mean it's not important.
If the whole world switched to just soap and water we'd be in trouble.

Sanitisation (as well as vaccines) revolutionised public health- don't knock it.

@Porpentina
I don't know what job you previously had or what course you did but they're only recommended to be refreshed every 3 years.
Sounds inadequate if they didn't mention it at all.
It is important. I have a level 4 in food management, 15 years in various sectors of the food industry and a catering business with a level 5 rated kitchen.
Oh and a very good friend who is an environmental health officer for a London borough.

You are not unreasonable. The casual escalation of toxic cleaning products, promoted by wealthy influencers, is depressing.

This. Plus it absolutely stinks of artificial chemicals. We had a cleaner who used it, I had to leave the windows open the whole rest of the day every time and it still smelled two days after. And made DC cough.

If the whole world switched to just soap and water we'd be in trouble.

It would actually be the opposite, since vast amounts of people don't even use soap and water.

Sanitisation (as well as vaccines) revolutionised public health- don't knock it.

Sanitisation was the encouragement to use soap and water in the first place.

I use some bleach for the bathroom, but for everything else I use hot, soapy water. I'm 51, and the DC and I are pretty robust. I did buy some zoflora, but the smell made me gag, so I think it's going to go.

I worked in the care sector, evening meals were prepared by the carers. We did all our courses yearly. Mainly because we kept changing which company owned us. New company = new training. Of course we were taught the importance of cleaning, but with "kitchen cleaner" not zoflora.

Absolutely no need for regular use of disinfectant or bleach in a normal home, although I admit I put bleach in the toilet to prevent limescale stains.

To all those who love the perfume scent “Alien”, id recommend the Zoflora “Midnight blooms” . I’m more a detol user but this zoflora smells lovely and just like the perfume .

@looselipssinkships Thankyou for the bowel & movement chortle, I needed that!

What offends me about zoflora is that it doesn't have a child safe cap some of the smells are nice but I don't get the craze out dousing everything in it

That's fine then @PorpentinaScamander
I never said zoflora in the kitchen although you can use it there if you wish.
I said disinfecting/sanitising is an important part of food hygiene- it doesn't matter what product you use.

@MulticolourMophead
Yes you're right, soap and water started it, it had to start somewhere.
Then disinfectants came. It doesn't mean you should bypass one for the other.

I love the spiced apple and the winter spice scents and the pet one is really good at getting rid of pet smells. I've used it forever though. I remember my mum always having it in the 70/80s. I think the box was yellow?

I use it very diluted to mop the floors and I put a couple of drops in a spray bottle (mixed with water) for wiping down kitchen surfaces and door handles.

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely, we do need to be using disinfectant at the moment. Especially if we are coming in from using public transport.

Love it, the linen in my go to one. At the moment putting a small amount in a bowl with soapy hot water to wash shopping. A little bit goes a long way.

Wipe my kitchen tops with it (though it is a bit smeary)
Not keen on the flowery versions, linen, the festive Christmas one is nice plus the citrus one.

I said in a normal household. Although even now the best thing you can do is wash hands and arms thoroughly in soap and water and wash clothes at 60 degrees. If someone in the household has covid 19 then disinfectant is useful for wiping things they've touched.

I use it to get rid of sink smells.

Antibiotic resistance is related to over, or incorrect use of antibiotics, not cleaning products.

The smell of original Zoflora takes me back to my DGP's house in the 80's

If you look online, official sources are stating bleach used appropriately and
normal detergent are what should he used to clean our homes right now.
I usually use Method cleaning products.
Anti-bac is not needed, and the mad use of it is contributing to the huge problem of antibiotic resistance. I've had a lot of discussions over the past few weeks about why you don't need to use anti-bac hand wash, that just soap and water is fine.

Disinfectant only kills germs from an already clean surface, many are inactivated by the presence of organic materials, grease and dirt etc.