To say this even though I will get flamed for it?

[Friendswithwhenifits]

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. However, I am asthmatic. Numerous studies have shown a link between bleach and lung diseases. Thanks to a Christmas Eve bleach the house session I am now on Day 3 of difficulties in breathing.

You are sensible adults, if you feel ill- see a doctor. However, if I help anyone to prevent harming their lungs by switching to gentler cleaning fluids then it will be worth getting my arse handed to me.

Before you buy the bleach ask yourself if a different product might be healthier for you and your family. In these dangerous times, any little change might make a difference.

I have noticed that sprays are also irritants to the lungs. The wipes are much better if you are asthmatic.

Any perfumes I don't really like get left in the bathroom for spraying down the loo. Maybe your MIL should try that? @Lambtales
I tend to have a lot of samples, so there's always a selection.

Method products are brilliant if are asthmatic.

Does nobody else bleach the kitchen sink? I use bleach for toilets but also on the kitchen sink every once in a while to clean the sink/ drains so they don’t clog with scum.

To answer your “why did you use bleach” question

1. I’m an idiot
2. It was diluted and to get rid of mould
3. I decided it was only once, rinsed it off etc and minimised the risk to myself
4. see number 1

@MintyMabel

Does nobody else bleach the kitchen sink? I use bleach for toilets but also on the kitchen sink every once in a while to clean the sink/ drains so they don’t clog with scum.

I do occasionally. I also use it in the loo and down the bath/sink plugs to clear the drains. Very occasionally if the bath is looking grim I'll use some diluted bleach in there.

The only thing I use bleach for is cleaning out the food waste bin, can't stand the stuff, the smell of it makes me gag!

@Poetnojo

I have just bought myself a hypochlorous acid generator. It makes your own cleaner and disinfectant thats as effective as bleach, can be used as hand sanitizer and is totally safe and non toxic using only salt and water, sounds like magic beans but the science is there to back it up. It will also mean less plastic bottles in this house.

Basic O level chemistry. That is what Milton is. Cheap as chips.

@BaronessBomburst I don't do perfumes and my husband can only wear pre approved aftershaves! I also don't use strong smelling laundry detergent and only ever use a dribble of fabric conditioner as pungent smells give me a headache.

I previously had to ban Air fresheners because I don't get on with aerosols.

I've been trying to transition from bleach to other products. Standard Cilit bang has no bleach and seems to do just as well as bleach if you spray it on grimy bathroom surfaces and down the toilet. Just leave it for 5-10 mins resting before scrubbing and rinse off. I've never needed bleach in the kitchen as a good surface cleaner is perfectly fine. My SIL use bleach to wash up every single day. I do struggle to breath in their house and their poor children get irritated when washing up time comes and the stench from the bleach is down our throates.

I thought everyone knew about the dangers of bleach. I am in my 60s, but I remember being taught this at school and it is on the instructions on every bottle of bleach/cleaning fluid I have ever come across.

We aren't allowed to use bleach at work (nurse).

I only use it occasionally at home and with good ventilation, as my son is asthmatic. My MIL used to fill my washing up bowl with bleachy water when she babysat! I assume she was bleaching the kitchen because I was a slattern lol

[quote Lambtales]@BaronessBomburst I don't do perfumes and my husband can only wear pre approved aftershaves! I also don't use strong smelling laundry detergent and only ever use a dribble of fabric conditioner as pungent smells give me a headache.

I previously had to ban Air fresheners because I don't get on with aerosols.[/quote]
Same here. If my teens spray deodorant etc it makes me feel really ill. Can't wear perfume, but I'm fine with essential oils so I use them a lot.

@crackofdoom be careful using anti bac in the litter trays, most anti bacs are toxic to cats. I had no idea and felt awful when I realised how often I'd exposed mine to anti bac on floors and litter trays.

That won't work then! @Lambtales
My DM is the same. Newly printed materials upset her too - books, leaflets etc

I've recently rediscovered my hand held steam cleaner. Used it yesterday to clean under the rim of the toilet, the stuff that came off near made me boak but did a far better job than chemicals and a brush.

I didn't specifically know this but I'm totally un-surprised. I'm asthmatic too and can't be in a room where bleach is being/has recently been used. Tricky as my DM lives with us and is fond of bleach as a cleaning medium - she swears blind sometimes it's the only way to get stuff clean, but I never use or even buy bleach myself.

Black mould, the kind you get on windows is particularly bad for lung conditions, probably worse than bleach

@MissBaskinIfYoureNasty

I have to say I don't really understand people who "bleach the house". Bleach doesn't get used anywhere in my house besides the bathroom. I think this Instagram cleaning trend has a lot to answer for in terms of overuse of strong chemicals.

Completely agree. We have one bottle of bleach which is used for the toilets and nothing else.

Currently using stardrops kitchen cleaner in a squirty bottle diluted to half strength, it's "soapy" rather than chemically and doesn't smell strongly at all.

There are a lot of germaphobes on MN though who are obsessed with cleaning, and germy, and ewww dirty, and Zoflora.

@idsisatwat

What are the best eco friendly products?

I use bleach in the toilet and vary what I use in the shower. The cif bathroom cleaner (yellow bottle) makes me cough, so I’m guessing there’s too much bleach or I’m spraying too liberally. Or I sometimes use the mould & mildew remover, which doesn’t make me cough like the cif stuff does.

But I’d like to be a bit more environmentally friendly!

Is the yellow bottle Cif lemon scented?

Any lemon-scented cleaning product makes me cough. I've no idea if it's an allergy or what, but they all do it, even lemon washing up liquid.

I bleach the toilets once a week

Yanbu, bleach is bad for you and for the environment. I don’t have any in the house - I use vinegar or bicarb for the majority of jobs. I just tackled a large patch of mould with vinegar and it worked just as well as bleach.
I hate that zoflora is like a fashion accessory, it’s dreadful.

OP, regarding bleach, the chlorine used in public swimming pools makes me retch. I know the staff have to use it to be effective in killing pathogens etc, but do they always have the balance right? Chlorine seems to strip the body of its protective mucus membrane, as I've heard of people getting cystitis and ear infections after a trip to the local swimming baths.

@MintyMabel soda crystals work well in drains and are so cheap

Thanks Patty I will try vinegar. It’s just on the grouting. Also, to those who mentioned swimming pools- I can’t use them at all. The smell is overwhelming.