To refuse to buy bleach?

[Eastie77Returns]

First world problem alert.

Our cleaner has asked demanded that I add Domestos bleach to my cleaning products. There's been a bit of an ongoing issue for a while now as I have trialed various eco-friendly cleaning products over the last few months and she generally doesn't like them. I have changed a couple of times in the hope she will get on better with a new range but she has a preference for products that contain high levels of chemicals. I understand they are the go-too products that she trusts but I just don't want to use them.

At the moment she is begrudgingly using the Ecover products I most recently bought. Now she is insisting she needs bleach to clean properly because Ecover doesn't really cut it. I said no as I just can't have it in the house. The smell is one thing but it's so toxic and dangerous (I'm absolutely haunted by an acquaintance whose young child inhaled some). She is a really good cleaner and in high demand. I'm aware she's already given notice to two households on our street because they did not fall in line with her requests (not cleaning product related, something else).

Has anyone used any of the 'natural' bleach products currently out there and were they effective?

yanbu
bleach is a disinfectant and just not needed in most households.
ecover and other eco products are good (and don't smell of chlorine)

Magic sponges are excellent for tannin stains. Just water needed.

I dont get the bleach love. The best way to clean and sterilise the toilet area is with a steamer. The ultimate clean smell and no chemicals at all.

Bleach is for extremely lazy people who want the illusion of clean smell IMO. Give your grouting a good clean regularly and it doesn't stain in the first place. It's all just a time thing.

Our cleaner wanted bleach. I refused as it's toxic for cats (I use it to clean grouting and after seeing the cat after inhaling some we said never again!). 6 montls later, I found a bleach spray amongst the cleaning products and sacked the cleaner.

Surely this is a simple decision. Which is most important to you? An excellent sought after cleaner or your feelings about bleach?

She's self employed, she takes a pride in her work, and she feels she needs bleach to achieve her high standards.
You refuse to have bleach.
You are not compatible.

When we moved into our home it was immaculate except for the dirty brown stain at the bottom of the toilet bowl.......
Daily cleaning with bleach has made the toilet look brand new! I can only imagine the previous owners living with the stain because they wouldn't buy bleach......
Personally I think it's brilliant stuff!

Yes agree Bar Keepers Friend is great. They do a cream one too.

As for bleaching a sink overnight....why? White vinegar does a great job on tea stains, etc, and removes limescale.

This ^

You could offer to pay her more if the job is harder because of the products you are insisting on

She’s being silly, plenty of people clean without bleach. I only have it to use if I’m cleaning up after a sickness bug.
If she’s cleaning weekly I don’t see how anything could be so dirty that it cannot be cleaned without bleach.

tbh (and i use eco products) the chemical products are way better and require far less effort.

So i would check with your cleaner what the actual problem is. It could be that they, like me, just don't rate the eco bathroom cleaners because you have to scrub too hard and they don't slow down the build up of limescale the way the chemical ones do.

If she feels she can't deliver a good job, maybe she will agree with you on the standard you require? or if it takes longer, you just agree on more time and pay her the extra.

But, get ready to find a new cleaner.

There's nothing that does what bleach does that isn't bleach, so if she feels she can't do her job properly without bleach you either buy bleach or she moves on.

I have to bleach my sink once a week or it gets dingy and streaked even though I clean it daily.

Use white vinegar or citric acid, both safe products that will do the job. Get a new cleaner, she should know this.

What is she bleaching ? I use bleach for my.bath it has jets so occasionally I clean them out with bleach , but I've never used bleach for general cleaning, my mum loves bleach though her house can really smell on her "cleaning day"

Maybe time for a new cleaner.

.

I was a self employed cleaner until I retired recently
All the insurance companies myself and other cleaners use in the UK will not insure use of bleach

i also almost never use bleach, but i always notice whever the Great MN Toilet Brush Discussion happens, many people who don't have one just chuck bleach down the toilet. (I have always wondered about that because as far as i knew it just hid the colour, but pp mentioned it does dissolve dirt too)

I have a toilet brush, and about every other month i bleach it to be sure it's ok. But then i buy a new one quite often too so i could probably knock that on the head.

And yet, I've never had a dirty or stained toilet. Despite no bleach.

After a sickness bug I use a steam cleaner. Astonishing what a visible difference a steam clean makes anyway tbh.

We don't use bleach, because we have a septic tank system and three cats.

I have a handheld steam cleaner for grouting and I've yet to find the dirt that white vinegar, bicarb and elbow grease can't remove.

Re: sinks. We have a ceramic sink in the kitchen which can get a bit stained, but I read an excellent tip on here - fill with very hot water, pop in a dishwasher tab (we use the Smol ones) and leave overnight. Squeaky clean by morning and zero effort!

I only use bleach down the toilet and not all over the house. Is she wanting to clean the whole house with it?!
I think realistically you need to assess whether this will work as you are at total opposite ends. Maybe find a new cleaner.

Yeah, I also love bleach for specific things requiring disinfecting. I use the type with limescale in for the toilets. And just plain for soaking dish clothes etc and cleaning the sinks. As a rule, I just wipe my counters down, but will sometimes use the cloth that's been soaking in soe bleach just to be sure I'm getting rid of any bacteria (or use a kitchen cleaner to add the "fat melting" properties).

I am sure I could do all of these things without bleach. But my god, the effort. No thanks.

I had the opposite problem with a cleaner. She gave me a list of the “eco” products she uses, and frankly they are all shit. When I’m cleaning my own home, I don’t have time to spend scrubbing at things a decent cleaning fluid will remove in seconds. Bleaching a kitchen sink takes seconds. Scrubbing it takes much longer than that. If I were being paid hourly, I’d want more time allowed.

If she is otherwise a very good cleaner then she is worth her weight in gold. If you want to take a stance on “toxic” bleach (as opposed to the other toxic things in your home) and lose a decent cleaner over it, that’s a choice only you can make. I wouldn’t.

Would limescale remover help? We live in a hard water area and for years I thought I needed heavy duty bleach. I stopped using it and discovered limescale removers, works much better!

If you are going to request what she feels are less effective products you need to either pay to have her there for longer to complete the clean or accept less will be done. Have that discussion with her and see if you can come to a compromise.

If she is still not happy expect that she will leave you as soon as she has another customer to fill your slot, or look for another cleaner that is happy with your products.

YANBU if you choose not to use bleach yourself. YABU if you expect to keep your cleaner if they feel your cleaning products are unacceptable.

Nothing beats bleach IMO for cleaning in certain areas. Maybe if you were doing the cleaning and struggling with your eco stiff you’d soon grab the Domestos. I find Aldi bleach fine btw.

And yet, I've never had a dirty or stained toilet. Despite no bleach.

Me neither. I just clean the toilet bowls by hand when they need it, I use a bit of bicarb paste.