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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want DH to 'clean' with Zoflora

189 replies

PrincessBuggerPants · 20/05/2020 15:43

My husband does his fair share of cleaning, but does it a bit crap. I have largely put up with this as I am aware he is trying, it is just about livable with and I am aware other men are MUCH, MUCH worse than my husband. DH is also aware of this and reminds me.

However, the latest bugbear is that he insists on using Zoflora to 'clean the kitchen' i.e. wiping down surfaces after preparing a meal. Despite my repeated insistence it is a disinfectant, not a cleaning product and should be used after cleaning, if at all.

AIBU to think he should use a cleaning product instead?

OP posts:
safariboot · 20/05/2020 17:31

If the end result is clean, then how he gets there doesn't really matter.

If the end result is still dirty, or it stinks the house out or costs a bomb or something like that, tell him he needs to do better.

But like a PP mentioned, don't demand that he does it X way. You're his partner not his boss.

Pasghetti · 20/05/2020 17:34

I often clean just by wiping over with a wet cloth. Might use a spray cleaner the odd time. Am I doing it wrong?!

Yankathebear · 20/05/2020 17:34

I’ve no idea what products my dh uses and really don’t care as long as he does his share.

TheGinGenie · 20/05/2020 17:35

No, you are right, the product needs to be a surfactant to clean. I only ever use disinfectant if I've had a stomach bug or something.

turquoiseplates · 20/05/2020 17:36

I can't believe you're all this interested in cleaning products

Original poster
PrincessBuggerPants · 20/05/2020 17:37

@pasghetti no. You are doing it entirely correctly and as I would prefer it to be done in my home. As has been made repeatedly, and abundantly clear.

OP posts:
Nonnymum · 20/05/2020 17:38

You can clean work surfaces with diluted zoflora. I use it for surfaces sometimes and I clean the floor with it too.

CuppaZa · 20/05/2020 17:40

I clean mucky surfaces with kitchen spray, then just a wipe over with Zoflora to disinfect

CremeEggThief · 20/05/2020 17:40

I clean with washing up liquid and hot water or Flash with bleach in the bathroom. Occasionally, I spray Dettol anti-bac spray on door handles, light switches, remote controls and surfaces (etc.) after cleaning first. For example, if there's a sickness bug around and in the first few weeks of lockdown.

Bbang · 20/05/2020 17:41

@chomalungma I use antibacterial stuff because it foams better and it cuts through the grease better. I don’t mind zoflora but for me it doesn’t clean as effectively as it sanitises.

custardbear · 20/05/2020 17:45

I mix together zoflora and soap in water and spray on surfaces to clean - I like it! At the moment it's going on everything that's been exposed to outside world!

Ninkanink · 20/05/2020 17:45

Ok, probably my last comment on this because as others have said, it’s not a big deal, and not that interesting.

When I said you’re supposed to clean then disinfect, I meant this:

Where you mean to disinfect, as in the case of sickness bug, or in my case, if you’ve used a chopping board for raw chicken or got chicken juices all over the counter (not likely, I know but for the purposes of illustration), you don’t just spray some disinfectant and wipe it all over the meat juices/little chunks of chicken, etc, and spread that lovely mix all over the board or counter. That’s what I meant by clean first, then disinfect. And yes, I know that soap and water are a disinfectant. I just use a little spray after as a little extra insurance policy.

That’s the most I’ve ever talked about cleaning in any one go!

Gallacia · 20/05/2020 17:49

I use the pink stuff spray to clean then give the surfaces a wipe with diluted zoflora, zoflora is good for door handles etc.

I'd love my DH to use zoflora, he does all kinds I wouldn't do but I don't want to criticise him

ivykaty44 · 20/05/2020 17:51

I use washing up detergent to clean kitchen work tops, along with hot water. I apply washing detergent to hot clean wet dish cloth and clean. Rinse and wipe down again.

HasaDigaEebowai · 20/05/2020 18:04

@pasghetti no. You are doing it entirely correctly and as I would prefer it to be done in my home. As has been made repeatedly, and abundantly clear.

Right so if your DH just wiped over with a cloth wetted with water as pasghetti has described then you're happy that he's cleaning but if he wipes with a cloth using diulted zoflora (i.e. water plus a disinfectant) then you're not happy. That makes no sense whatsoever. You need to do your own cleaning and give your DH a break.

bumblingbovine49 · 20/05/2020 18:14

You should clean first and then disinfect. I thought everyone knew this...

I've reached the age of 55 and never knew this. I would use a disinfectant to 'clean' as well sometimes. My mother used to use Zoflora in the water to mop the floor. I had no idea it didn't clean

Clancey · 20/05/2020 18:19

I saw a programme on OCD & cleaning, they tried & tester all sorts of cleaning product & washing up liquid that came out top.

LordOftheRingz · 20/05/2020 18:21

YANBU.

Zoflora is for floors and bathrooms.

Not places where food is prepped.

I don't want my food tasting of 'winter spice' or 'tropical paradise'.

If people like it then crack on, but no if my DH did that I would point him to the method anti bad whilst hiding Zoflora and wiping it off.

Just because 'men clean' it does not mean the bar is set at zero.

Aridane · 20/05/2020 18:21

You should clean first and then disinfect. I thought everyone knew this...

Life is too short for knowing or practising this

bumblingbovine49 · 20/05/2020 18:23

If he is diluting zoflora in water, spraying it onto a surface and then wiping it down thoroughly with a cloth then he is both cleaning and disinfecting and anyone who says he isn't is just bonkers. It will lift normal daily household levels of grease quite happily unless you live in a chip shop.
Exactly, especially if you wet the cloth in hot soapy water and use that to wipe off the zoflora. Clean and disinfect in one go

ivykaty44 · 20/05/2020 18:23

Life is too short for knowing or practising this

No point shortening your life due to not knowing stuff though

Ninkanink · 20/05/2020 18:23

I would totally sweep or hoover and then clean the floor with flash and that would be fine for me. That’s different than cleaning up meat and cooking juices, etc (in my view). Sometimes I just use a cloth with soapy water. No big deal. No ones going to be pawing or licking the floor in my household.

Drivingdownthe101 · 20/05/2020 18:24

How would not disinfecting your surfaces shorten your life?

Ninkanink · 20/05/2020 18:26

(Not that anyone paws or licks the chopping board/counters/surfaces, but you know...)

All this talk of cleaning has got on my nerves so I’m off to enjoy an ale and take in the evening sunshine!

We’re all still here and alive so let’s face it, none of us can be getting things all that wrong!

DancyNancy · 20/05/2020 18:27

Hot soapy water. Your best friend for cleaning.

Yes OP is right in saying cleaning and disinfecting are too different things.

In fact organic material can deactivate the disinfectant so not cleaning first can render it pointless.

This lesson came from an infection control specialist talk I was at years ago.

She said it's way more important to clean with a detergent first. Then, disinfect.
Personally I just clean and then do milton every now and again to wipe over