Cleaning or Disinfecting??

[AllGoodDogs]

So I've fallen down an insta rabbit hole and there are some grammers who have been talking about the science behind cleaners, and the difference between something that cleans and something that will disinfect. For example using Zoflora is fine, but it won't clean anymore that just water will, so it will kill bacteria but leave dirt on the surface still. It was also pointed out that we wash our dishes (obviously) but disinfect our floors... I'm never gonna eat off my kitchen floor but I use anti bacterial wipes... Why??!

I've been looking at the products I use, and have switched out a bathroom cleaner with one that kills germs, because normal Flash doesn't actually kill bacteria... Surely if there's one room in your house other than the kitchen where this is needed, it's the bathroom!

So what do you use, and where, in terms of cleaners, vs antibac or Bleach. I'm not a germophobe by any stretch, and I understand that some bacteria is good for us etc, but I want to make sure I'm using the right products where necessary.

I do keep bleach and disinfectant in the house, but I don't use them often. I've always thought hot soapy water is enough for most cleaning. I do use vinegar, soda etc when necessary, usually to cut through grease and soap scum.

I use cloths rather than wipes but throw them in the wash as soon as they've cleaned the floor, loo or anything like that. I also believe that if you keep surfaces reasonably clean all of the time, you don't need to worry. If you have a lot of stuff laying around with food and debris traps behind and between, bacteria have somewhere to grow. If you've recently wiped a clear worktop with a clean cloth and hot water, they won't.

I use bleach/disinfectant for pet accidents and, in theory, illness.

For washing dishes I mostly use the dishwasher. It goes up to 70 degrees and there is a dishwasher tablet in there. If washing by hand I just use fairy washing up liquid but I do use very hot water and everything is rinsed in running hot water.

For the kitchen work surfaces I put a squirt of fairy in the basin and run the hot water tap until I have about an inch of water. Then on the worksurfaces and table I spray a DIY mix in a spray bottle of flash all purpose cleaner, ( about half an inch in the bottle), half a capful of zoflora and the rest water. Clean cloth each day and it soaks in bleach water between uses during the day.

For the bathrooms I spray the DIY mix on sink, bath, toilet etc then with a hot damp cloth I wipe everything basin, then bath, then toilet. Then I squirt bleach around the toilet bowl and leave it.

For floors it’s the DIY mix and then about 5 sprays of elbow grease all in the mop bucket and the diluted with boiling kettle water.

Washing with hot water and soap will remove most bacteria and of course does clean too. Not all bacteria is harmful, which is the first thing I think when I see advertising that states, "Kills 99% of all known bacteria". It depends on technique too, surely? Wiping something down is very different from spraying with disinfectant and just leaving it. I wear gloves when cleaning as this means I can use really hot water without scalding my hands. You really don't need more than soap and hot water for most things.

Thanks for your replies. IStandWithPosie is it OK to mix zoflo with another cleaner? I know you can't mix with Bleach but not sure about others?