What do you use bleach for?

[SingleMumAndProud]

I have only ever used bleach for the toilet.

Saw on a friends facebook today that she "bleached her whole house"

I have never even though about it for general cleaning.

What do you use it for?

Droves -- I found out when DD1 accidentally drank some bleach when she was a toddler that it's not toxic. It was the only thing I had in the cupboard under the sink that wouldn't harm her unless she swigged a lot more than the mouthful or so that she managed before I found her and whisked her off to the hospital.

I always use it diluted for the toothbrushes, and rinse them thoroughly afterwards; I used it for sippy cups when the DCs graduated from bfing. Milton sterilising fluid and tablets are not sold in the US, where I had all the DCs, and very diluted bleach is recommended for bottle sterilising (1-2% bleach in water).

I use bleach for the toilet and all plugholes. I also use a little on a cloth for lightswitches & doorhandles, cleaning the ceramic hob, and occasionally on kitchen worktops if having a deep clean. I dilute bleach for mopping hard floors.

I have only used it a few times for stains on clothes mainly DS's white t-shirts.

I have never ever used bleach and this thread has really opened my eyes to all the creative and wonderful jobs people use it for... toothbrushes? Really?!!! Crikey. A new one every 2 months and rinse under boiling water once a week is what my dentist recommends so I'll stick to that thanks.

White vinegar and bicarb leave the house sparkly and clean as can be, and drains clear, soaking and sunlight remove stains, and a drop of two of lavender or citrus oil makes the house and laundry smell wonderful. Chemical smells I cannot abide... and bleach makes the inside of my nose feel like it's burning.

Another crime to humanity? Air 'fresheners' . Open a window, burn some essential oil, whatever, just please don't contaminate my nasal passages with that vile chemical vileness!

Hard plastic toys get washed in bleached water and then rinsed. Bleach is essential for the bathroom. Put it in the kettle overnight once a month to kill anything in there. Door handles to all rooms are bleached every week. Anywhere in the house the dog licks gets bleached.

Forgot to add that white vinegar, borax and tea tree oil (not all at once) are excellent disinfectants and none are corrosive (which bleach is).

I don't use bleach for cleaning because that's not what it's for - I feel I'd rather use some sort of detergent which actually CLEANS the floor, rather than just kills the bugs on it.

Also I would worry about it damaging surfaces.

cleaning toilet/sinks/bath, getting rid off tea marks on surfaces, cups, getting white clothes white again (diluted), and tile grout, pluc if I sell anything plastic on ebay I normally give it a quick bleach wipe to bring up the colour again.

Oh and I put the toothbrushes in the steriliser now and again if they are not quite ready to be replaced (also worry about the aerosal effect).

Can also vouch for the toxic combos - don't use Viakal limescale remover in the bath at same time as bleach, is difficult to breath.

Sound like a terrible environment ravager I know, but apart from bleach and occasion Viakal round the taps everything else i use is more enviro friendly I promise! (also hate air fresheners and those silly gel things for the toilet - have just asked my BIL who is a plumber and he says the stuff that dyes the loo blue is by far the worse for your plumbing)

I never bleach, sterilise, milton fluid, dishwash or hot water rinse my toothbrush. Had no idea I was supposed to!

Am still here .

Schroeder when I put it in with the whites I just dump it on top. I have a top-loading washer though.

you can soak your toothbrush in mouthwash overnight to clean it, rather than use bleach.

that's so clever nomorecake!

I would prefer bleach to alcohol (on my DCs' toothbrushes anyway...)

Please could someone tell me how to use bleach to get rid of stains on school white polo shirts (with school logo)? I've tried lots of stain removal products in the past but have never been really happy with any of them.

Bleach gets rid of weeds that grow on hard landscaping. I know that because I bleach my patio

The best greasy stain remover I've ever used was something I found in an automotive parts place -- if there's grease involved, ask at an automotive place. Anything suitable for car upholstery will work on fabric too. Or try carpet cleaner (spot test first).

Bleach will burn holes in most fabric if used neat or if a drop gets onto a piece of clothing. It will fade first if not colour fast, then the hole will develop, so I wouldn't use bleach unless your shirt is synthetic.

Ooooowwwww - my eczema is raw today. I got a bit 'bleach-happy' and bleached the bin lid without wearing gloves. Not a good idea. Smellt nice though - the bin, not my hands!

welsh and proud, I just put a glug in a big bucket, fill bucket up with water and soak the shirts over night, then rinse in w machine and wash as normal. Over time this might degrade the fabric, but as they would probably end up in the bin if i couldnt get all the marks off, then thats a gamble I'm willing to take! hth!

Thanks geraldine I will try this over the weekend.

Apart from the loo
Bleach the bin when I change the bag
Tea stains in mugs & pot
kitchen sink after cleaning, to get it nice and white.

I think I will start adding to whites laundry now I have read (some of) this thread!!

Yw, Welsh, hope it works, mine are in soaking as I type