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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

A (probably wierd) question for anyone who uses Mould and Mildew Remover

41 replies

Servalan · 23/01/2013 12:46

Hi, I have to get rid of some mildew around my windows today.

I have OCD and especially have a fear of chemicals

I want to use the Dettol mould and mildew remover (spray in the green bottle) to get rid of it, as that is what DH uses, and because I'm scared of it, I need to face my fear to move forwards.

My therapist has suggested that I do a general survey to see what people without OCD do in situations and to compare my response as part of my recovery.

So - if you were squirting stuff with Dettol mould and mildew remover, would you change your clothes afterwards? My obsessive thoughts are that some of the spray will get onto my clothes, I'll hug my daughter later, and she'll inadvertantly swallow some of the residue. However, I don't want to be indulging in OCD behaviour (changing and washing my clothes/showering) - if it is abnormal behaviour.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to answer :)

OP posts:

HollaAtMeBaby · 23/01/2013 22:54

Does your DD suck on your clothing?

I'd wear old clothes but only because I don't want anything nice ruined with bleach spots. Usually, though, I spray the shower cubicle right before I get in, take the scratchy sponge in with me and clean the tiles while I'm conditioning my hair! then finish washing myself after i've done the tiles. Would that work for you?

HollaAtMeBaby · 23/01/2013 22:56

(I realise you are meant to be facing up to this but maybe my way of doing it would be a step along the road and at least you'd have a clean shower in the meantime!)

HollaAtMeBaby · 23/01/2013 22:58

Oops just reread your OP and saw it's actually your windows that need doing

You could still do them naked though, at least from inside the house. Probably a bit cold to do the outsides naked, though it would be exciting for the neighbours

DoodlesNoodles · 23/01/2013 23:15

Sorry if this has already been suggested.

Why don't you spray the remover into a contained and then wipe it on the surfaces with the mould on.

MySonIsMyWorld · 24/01/2013 00:12

I use this product all the time everywhere in my house (rented moldy old horrbile house) and i hug touch kiss tickle pick up my ds afterwards and he is still here and so am i :) its a brilliant product please try not to worry, i will not harm you or anyone if you are carful! Good luck x

OcotoAlert · 24/01/2013 00:33

It is strong stuff. Is it the one in a green bottle? We get lots of mould too.

I would wear gloves and when doing a big clean I generally wear clothes that were due a wash anyway, have a thorough clean of bathroom/floor etc and a hoover upstairs so be sweaty and icky - chuck clothes in wash and have a shower when finished. That's just due to feeling a bit grubby after cleaning for an hour or so though.

Valpollicella · 24/01/2013 00:41

I have to use it in my bathroom which has no windows hence the terrible mildew problems.

I leave all the house windows and doors open when i do use it (other than the bedrooms)

And like another poster mentioned above I tend to be wearing my cleaning clothes (manky tracksuit bottoms and old top) as I'm always getting bleach/cleaning stuff on proper clothes otherwise! I also use latex gloves from the pound shop I can just bin afterwards (£1 for a box of 24 I think)

Go for it! You can do it. Well done for asking here for help. I hope you feel empowered enough to tackle it soon. Windows open, whilst DC is out and if you think needed, change of clothes.

Original poster

Servalan · 24/01/2013 13:15

Yikes - I've done it and am now in the high anxiety phase!

I haven't changed my clothes - I don't see any bleached out white patches on them, so hopefully that's alright.

I'm feeling a bit freaked out because I had to spray a top corner on a window above my head so sprayed upwards - but then saw droplets coming down in the air and am thinking, maybe my hair is contaminated, maybe my face is contaminated, maybe the shoulders of my top are contaminated. I'm feeling desperate to wash my hair - but don't know if that is a rational thing or OCD (if it's OCD and irrational I then I shouldn't do it - but not sure which way it's going to go).

Also, I'm mulling of the phrase on the bottle "rinse well" and am asking myself if wiping down once with wet kitchen roll constitutes "rinsing well" or if I need to be getting the surface wetter/wiping it down more times...

Bleurgh...

Thanks for helping my psyche myself up to doing it in the first place though...

OP posts:

CooEeeEldridge · 24/01/2013 13:24

Well done servalan!

In fairness, I only read the bottle today and didn't realise it said to rinse off. I've just been leaving mine on and still seems to have worked well?

FloatyBeatie · 24/01/2013 13:24

Yay! Fantastic. Good for you.

About your two questions -- washing hair and how much rinsing/wiping is enough after application:

For me, I might feel a little bit yuksome about it having got onto my hair, but not enough to want to wash my hair afterwards. If (and only if) I felt actual wetness on my hair, I might give hair and shoulders a bit of a towelling and then stick the towel in the washing machine.

I would probably give my face a quick wash if I thought the stuff had made contact with it, but I wouldn't be worried.

On windows I would think the kind of wet wiping you have done would be absolutely fine. I would only rinse more thoroughly if I had applied the stuff where food was prepared or where little fingers were constantly touching.

I hope this helps a bit to gauge what is reasonable care and what is OCD. I admire your strength in addressing all this.

Badvoc · 24/01/2013 13:27

I use it whilst wearing disposable latex free gloves.
I don't like the smell so I make sure there is either a window or door open.
I then thoroughly wash my hands afterwards.
HTH x

Badvoc · 24/01/2013 13:29

I just spray on, and then use a wet cloth to wipe away.
I do then throw away the cloth as I really hate the smell and obv would have mould on!

Poledra · 24/01/2013 13:30

Well done! I too think you've rinsed well enough for a window. And no, I wouldn't be washing my hair. If I thought the spray had got onto my face, I'd probably splash my face with some cold water but that's all.

Well done again

Winternight · 24/01/2013 13:33

I would wear an old top and rubber gloves and open the window. I got some on my top once and as it contains bleach got a white bleach mark.
It would b visible if it was on your clothes. .

Well done.

FlipFlopFloss · 24/01/2013 13:46

I wear old clothes for any heavy housework or when using chemicals like bleach etc. The reason is - I dont want to bleach my nice clothes not because of dirst worry.

Quite often I will get up in my PJs - clean the bathroom or whatever, then get showered and dressed - not so much to cleanse the chemicals away but its dirty work - why get showered and dressed to get mucky/sweaty (depends how much elbow grease is required). I am probably lazy though doing this. I always air the room I am using chemicals in - even on a cold day like this.

I reguarly use kitchen spray and wipes in the loo and bathroom - fully dressed in normal clothes and just wash hands afterwards. I also hug my DC in the same clothes.

Kimberleyholloway11 · 22/12/2013 23:59

It's not weird at all I'd personally change my clothes and wash them immediately after cleaning mould to stop any spores from spreading if that makes me OCD then god help me I honestly do not see the problem in this the whole point of me trying to kill mould is to kill it permanently I love dettol mould and mildew spray it does an amazing job and works first time

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