| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Bridge |
Posted - Aug 16 2005 : 2:01:51 PM
This is something I struggle with back & forth!!
I have been working real hard to remove the chemicals from our household. I use only Natural cleaners for the most part.
But I just seem to have a liking for "Bleach". I feel like it kills the germs and makes things really clean.
Alot of the things I read state that you should not use bleach that it is too harsh.
So I just wanted to see what all my Farmgirl friends think??????
If you don't use bleach, Is there something that you use that you really like??
Help. I don't wanna use bleach if it is bad for us and the environment, but my mind needs some convincing!! |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Oct 09 2006 : 3:24:45 PM
YEP, very hot water and bleach for some things, can't get away from it.
NANCY JO |
| Phils Ann |
Posted - Oct 09 2006 : 2:17:28 PM
Great topic! I also use bleach sparingly on the tile (really the grout) in the showers, as well as on whites--again sparingly, not as a regular habit. I've also read that bleach kills only the surface of the mildew, and frankly don't have a clue how to kill the whole shebang. Now, I scrub that grout with scouring powder and a stiff grout brush before using the bleach (which I spray on in a watered solution), so maybe the combination of cleanser and bleach is killing it.
As for clothes, I've tried soaking overnight in a solution of vinegar and baking soda, then washing in the machine (as told in a newspaper article) but the mildew smell came back the first time the handtowels were used, as soon as they became damp. I switched to white towels... and clorox when needed. However, the clorox does hurt my throat, eyes and nose, and the taste hangs around a while, so I can't believe it's safe. It isn't always possible to be well ventilated, which I'm sure would help a lot.
For white clothing with stains, I use the oxyclean, and let it soak through for about ten minutes. That seems to do a pretty good job. I hope the septic system approves. 
Ann
There is a Redeemer. |
| karlanee |
Posted - Oct 09 2006 : 10:45:28 AM
I do only non-toxic household cleaners and laundry products, except for bleach. There is simply nothing else that can clean the mold and get my whites clean like bleach can. It's my one chemical I will probably not give up.
I've tried other natural recommendations, and none of them even come close to cleaning like bleach can. Now with that being said, I don't go hog wild. I only use it in my shower, where mold is constant battle, and in my white clothes. That's it.
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| country lawyer |
Posted - Oct 08 2006 : 08:46:08 AM
Yes....I admit it....I use bleach....especially on tile floors...
"All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Julian of Norwich
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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| JO AND AL |
Posted - Oct 08 2006 : 07:05:44 AM
hi girls, i use vinegar alot too, i put a glass of it upright in the dishwasher when i do a load, every now and then., it cleans the stench sometimes dishwashers seem to get after time. plus i am a great believer of bleach, for toilets especially, and sometimes i use it in whites, if they are badly dingy! but actually all i ever used was vinegar,mostly and bleach,of and on! u can put vinegar in you washer too! it seems to clean the detergent build up in it,i put it in the dispenser where the fleecy usually goes, and it really makes the washer have a better odour! jo~
love is all you need |
| beachaubergine |
Posted - Sep 17 2005 : 5:57:31 PM
so glad i found this, was looking for a topic on how y'all might clean up mildew mold. i live in an oceanside town, and although we aren't really near the water, i left the windows open all days and nights for two summers and i need to start making some changes. i never had mold problems growing up. is it ok to use the vinegar solution on clothes? |
| ladybugsmom6 |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 8:21:30 PM
OH man! I love vinegar to clean. and since we ran out of our "normal" floor cleaner, I have been adding 1/4c of vinegar to everything and it still amazes me how clean everthing gets and how much healthier my skin is. I dont even smell the harshness of it except when I add it to my hot water bath for canning to keeep the jars clean and free of hard water build up. I know it is safe for my kids to help with more chores now too.
-Tami
livin' right and loven' life! |
| greyghost |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 1:44:49 PM
Well, I don't think about germs so much as I just visually don't want to see dust or dirt. Or clutter. It's a good thing I don't have kids because either they or I or both of us would go nuts!! |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 11:33:14 AM
Lynn,
I wish that I had a little of that neurosis. I go into a panic anytime someone knocks on the door for fear that I will have to invite them in. Granted, it's especially bad right now since we are trying to balance unpacking with clearing our property, and I'd much rather be working outside than in. But, I guess the point that I really wanted to make is that there is a difference between being fastidiously tidy and germ obsessed. I'm working on becoming more fastidiously tidy and trying to break my husband of the need to disinfect every surface with whatever noxious chemical has been most recently introduced. Keeping balance in mind is good advice. I'm working on that in a lot of areas (such as my obsessive scanning of this website for interesting ideas and advice ;).
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain
http://ljrenterprises.blogspot.com/ |
| quiltedess |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 09:03:46 AM
Balance . . . that's the ticket. And for each of us it is different and changing Lynn, I could use a little of you at my house, though 
I use bleach sparingly, I guess, since it takes a long, long time to go through a bottle. The kind I really don't like is the spray, it gets the bleach all through the air and onto things that shouldn't be bleached. A lady I worked with used it on things that in my mind didn't need to be bleached. Some of my clothes got tiny holes in them.
Nancy
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| greyghost |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 08:28:14 AM
My throat and eventually lungs hurt if I am exposed to bleach for very long. Weak lungs run in the family anyway, and I have exposed mine to eveything from chemical combinations (oops) to asbestos, to drywall dust, black mold (was sick for three days) and oil-base paint fumes and more, many times.
Laura - I think we are overly neurotic about house cleanliness. I know I am - to me everything should be spotless all the time! I'm trying - for my own sanity in a house with 2 good size dogs and a husband who leaves a trail behind him - to get to a certain level of cleanliness. Such as - just sweeping twice a day and mopping maybe every two days instead of every day. Or scrubbing the kitchen sink once a day instead of twice (see? I'm neurotic, and I know it).
I don't know how I got this bad - I can't stand clutter, no surface of my house should have more than three items on it, no dust and be polished to a high shine. Dog hair when the girls are shedding their winter/summer coats drives me absolutely nuts - I've been known to sweep/vaccuum during those times up to 5 times a day, because I can't stand the sight of it on my floor! I have this ideal in my mind that my house should be company-ready, and photo-ready all the time. |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 07:24:23 AM
I must add that if I am exposed to any chlorine product for very long my thyroid throbs. Therefore, I too have learned to hate the smell of it because it's associated with pain. Anyway, I should go clean my house instead of just chatting about it online!
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain
http://ljrenterprises.blogspot.com/ |
| lonestargal |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 07:14:40 AM
I've heard that before too. I personally cannot stand the smell of bleach or very many other cleaning products for that matter and I would not be willing to leave bleach anywhere for 30 minutes so I figure why use it. I don't mind the smell of vinegar so I've been using that and peroxide for a while. My husband would differ about the smells so I generally just clean when he's at work. |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Sep 06 2005 : 06:53:30 AM
Does anyone know anything about dioxins and the use of household bleach? I can't find any reliable information on it. Everything is either overly technical or has an agenda.
Does anyone but me wonder how really clean our homes need to be? It seems to me that we have become overly obsessed with making our homes germ free which is really not possible and some studies suggest that overly sanitary conditions can be harmful.
I did come across the information that very few things will kill viruses. Bleach will kill viruses but I read that it has to be left on the surface for 30 minutes to be effective.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain
http://ljrenterprises.blogspot.com/ |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 7:41:59 PM
Whites will come out yellow when using bleach because of synthetic fibers in the fabric.
"If you are lucky enough to have a garden, you are lucky enough!" |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 7:40:36 PM
Anne -- thanks so much for the information. I have been using vinegar to clean too but just don't feel it kills the germs like bleach. I love the smell of bleach -- I think it smells clean! Think I'll go clean my bathroom!
"If you are lucky enough to have a garden, you are lucky enough!" |
| connio |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 5:36:47 PM
Hey Farm Girls!!!
I am back to using bleach after reading what our farm girl with the microbiology background wrote about it. Used it last weekend, and I have to admit that everything in the house, especially the floors seemed a lot cleaner.
Connie
cozycottage |
| cecelia |
Posted - Aug 29 2005 : 5:35:50 PM
I use bleach sparingly; chlorine or an oxygen bleach. Anything you use for cleaning, etc. must be used with caution: read the label, know what you are using. Bleach (i.e. chlorine), is a "natural" product, that is naturally found chemicals. If you think of it, even "natural" or organic products are mixtures/chemicals, etc. made of molecules of something! You need to know what result you want; vinegar is an acid, I believe non-toxic as you certainly use it on salads, but you wouldn't want to drink it full strength unless you don't value your teeth or stomach!
I don't think it kills bacteria - my chemistry is a bit rusty - but bleach certainly does.
Cecelia
ce's farm
"Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery" Victor Hugo |
| Anne |
Posted - Aug 25 2005 : 09:44:41 AM
I agree, restraint with cleaners is always best. I always try to use the least amount necessary. But we used it with our septic system growing up and never ran into a problem. I suppose each septic system is unique, however, and what works for some may not work for others. |
| LJRphoto |
Posted - Aug 22 2005 : 9:09:46 PM
Anne, what about with a septic system?
Also, my understanding of the problem with bleach is that we dump it into the environment via water treatment facilities faster than it can break down. I agree, it is great for sanitizing, I scrubbed the snot out of my tub with it when we moved into our new house, but I don't think that there is anything wrong with a little restraint.
"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain |
| Susie Q |
Posted - Aug 21 2005 : 2:12:38 PM
I grew up in a family that swore by bleach. I think if you use it properly there should be no problem. |
| realme52 |
Posted - Aug 19 2005 : 05:22:32 AM
Thanks, Anne, for that solid contribution and for taking a lot of worries of my mind!
From this hour on I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
| Anne |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 8:55:16 PM
As a farmgirl with a bit of a microbiology background, I can safely say that vinegar will not kill most microorganisms. Bleach is a very simple and ancient cleaning agent. It cleans and whitens by adding oxygen to the molecules it contacts, just the same as the hydrogen peroxide cleanser someone else mentioned. Besides oxygen, there's nothing else in bleach that isn't in table salt. I think that if you like it, you should use it and not worry. And if you don't like it, don't use it.
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| realme52 |
Posted - Aug 18 2005 : 06:47:02 AM
First, I wanted to thank everyone for the information contributed. I learned a lot and will try some of the hints myself. I must admit that I have used bleach in a lot of applications re. laundry and disinfection.
Second, I wanted to mildly and politely disagree with >"Orange and Lemon oil is just oil that has had orange and lemon fragrance oil added to it."
It really depends on what one means when saying "oil". If one is talking about scented oil, this is true. However, if you have essential oil you have a substance that is extracted manually or physically from the respective part of the plant and represents the properties of the plant/part. (If it is 100% essential oil you have nothing but that extract.)The contents of this oil can be determined/proven with scientific reliability through gas chromatography. So, for example, if you take some substance, let's say vinegar, and put an amount of, let's say essential lemon oil into it, you will have the properties of vinegar and the properites of lemon oil. Lemon essential oil, for example has disinfecting properties (to surfaces, air, etc.)
This is also very important, I think, when you are using "scented" candles, for example. (Specifically for people with allergies!) When the list of ingredients states "scented with...", it is most likely some sythetic sustance made to smell like ...oil. Only if it says "contains 100%essential....oil" can you be sure that you get the real thing (and the related properties, if applicable.)
But I am getting carried away, if I don't stop myself now.
From this hour on I ordain myself loss'd of limits and immaginary lines. Walt Whitman |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 17 2005 : 11:39:06 PM
The vinegar smell also disipates within an hour or so and leaves behind a fresh almost sweet scent.
Orange and Lemon oil is just oil that has had orange and lemon fragrance oil added to it. There is not anything really special about it other than the fragrance. I would suggest using beeswax based furniture rubs as this is much healthier for any wood furniture.
Ciao
Alee |
