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Cleaning Up:  Bleach  |
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82kygal
True Blue Farmgirl
548 Posts
Laura
Somerset
Kentucky
USA
548 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 07:17:26 AM
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What is your take on bleach? I hate the stuff my hubby thinks its the one and only cleaner. I am trying to find the harmful effects of it but can't find anything bad enough to convince him. Clorox cleaner hurts me to breath it in so he is not allowed to spray it when I am home. I Don't think it can be that great for you. Thanks for all your helpful info.
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
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bboopster
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Betty Jo
West Bend
Wisconsin
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 07:53:32 AM
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Hello Laura,
I have the same problem with most cleaning supplies. You can try to get him to switch to Vinegar by telling him even hospitals use it to disinfect medical instruments. It's the truth. Clorox also has a new line of green cleaners. I have not tried them but that might help. I use vinegar and water with a few drops of essential oil. Tree Tea is one that he might like as it has that antiseptic smell to it. I like a citrus smell makes me feel alive and energetic Search bleach here on MJF on the forum and you should come up with a list of old threads regarding this subject. Unfortunately I do still use bleach or a scrub with bleach as that's the only way I can get my sinks white and some of our clothes need it or they become dingy. I use it sparingly or have DH do it while I'm in another place of the house. 
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
3 Blue Star Mother and Proud of it!
Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
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82kygal
True Blue Farmgirl
548 Posts
Laura
Somerset
Kentucky
USA
548 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 09:04:41 AM
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Thanks, I will try the vineger solution. Using bleach sparingly isn't always easy I just watched him put a half a gal into his cooler because it smelled like fish.
If I could just get him to slow down with it a little bit.
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
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SusieQue
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Susie
Greenville
Ga
Georgia
603 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 3:38:17 PM
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| Hi Laura, I can't be around clorox/bleach. It makes my site go blurry and leads to a migraine. My hubby loves it too but can't do anything with it if I am around. |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 3:52:40 PM
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I still use bleach in our toilets and when someone is sick, I was the clothes or items I can in about a gallon of water to a capful of bleach. Nothing else seems to work but I do use is sparingly and only when necessary. We lived in a duplex with ALOT of mold and it was the only thing that worked.
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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oldfashioned girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2391 Posts
monica
oatman
az
USA
2391 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 7:01:23 PM
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Lura, one thing I can say about bleach is that it kills the good bacteria in your septic if you use toilet bowl cleaners with bleach. Baking soda may work better in the cooler to get the odor out. Thyme is supposed to be anti-bacterial and anti-viral so I have wiped things down in my house during the cold season with that. I simmer some thyme in hot water and use it in a spray bottle. I also can't use bleach in my wash because it turns the water brown. Maybe instead of finding info to convince your husband how bad bleach is, you may be able to find more info on how well natural products work on germs and odors. Good Luck!
Monica |
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abigailc1973
True Blue Farmgirl
85 Posts
abigail
orlando
fl
USA
85 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 9:44:39 PM
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| That's a great tip about the thyme, Monica, I didn't realize it had those properties and it smells great too! I had coupons for the new green Clorox cleaners, they're supposed to be made with all plant material and it actually smelled pretty good. Definately not a bleach smell. Laura, I use vinegar, dish soap and baking soda to clean our tub and shower, and even with our hard water, it gets it sparkling clean. I'm really liking the vinegar. |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2008 : 10:50:11 PM
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Bleach is just a surface cleaner, anyway. It disinfects pretty well, but it doesn't cut into the germs below the surface layer of grime, so unless you do a thorough cleaning with it, it's pretty useless. I used quite a bit cleaning my new rental house this weekend, but that's an exception for me. I don't like bleach, because it really irritates my sense of smell, and gives me a bad cough if I don't get enough fresh air while I'm using it. I notice that the fumes seem to settle near the floor, too...so when I'm cleaning, if I get down to clean closer to the floor, I tear up and my eyes sting really bad.
But like in the case of this house, it gives a sure way to kill '''other people germs''' from the previous tenants, so I can feel better about places like the kitchen and the bathroom. I'm preeeety sure no germs could survive the cleaning they got with the Clorox, lol.
But if you mix it with a certain cleaner, doesn't it produce DEADLY fumes? I think it's ammonia...so like, window cleaners, etc. So that's something to definitely look out for.
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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82kygal
True Blue Farmgirl
548 Posts
Laura
Somerset
Kentucky
USA
548 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 05:48:51 AM
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Thanks, for all the great info. I do appreciate it and will try your suggestions. I am going to the store today to pick up some vineger. Does it make your house smell like vineger? Or is there a trick to that?
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
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oldfashioned girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2391 Posts
monica
oatman
az
USA
2391 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 3:51:16 PM
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Laura, the vinegar odor goes away as soon as it dries! Something else I forgot to mention are to use a steamer for cleaning. From everything I have heard the hot steam kills germs without any thing else.
Jodi, I know you can't mix bleach with dish soap.
 Monica |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jun 23 2008 : 3:52:45 PM
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Oops. I mixed bleach with dishsoap. Not directly, but I finished disenfecting the tub with bleach, and then decided to try dishsoap to cut the soapy greasy guck.... Oh well, at least I'm still alive. LOL
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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82kygal
True Blue Farmgirl
548 Posts
Laura
Somerset
Kentucky
USA
548 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 05:09:35 AM
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A long long time ago while working at a grocery store after school, a friend of mine was going to do a really good job of cleaning the back storage room with bleach and dish soap. He ended up in the hospital for the rest of the day.
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
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Brew Crew
True Blue Farmgirl
676 Posts
Molly
Arizona
676 Posts |
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Prairie Princess
True Blue Farmgirl
1075 Posts
Jodi
Washington
USA
1075 Posts |
Posted - Jun 24 2008 : 9:17:54 PM
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Haha... I LOVE Molly's idea...definitely go with that. 
~Jodi
"Women are like teabags...you never know how strong they are until they get into hot water." Eleanor Roosevelt |
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82kygal
True Blue Farmgirl
548 Posts
Laura
Somerset
Kentucky
USA
548 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2008 : 07:59:20 AM
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He does clean, that is the problem everything gets cleaned with bleach and I can't stand the smell it hurts my lungs. I do appreciate the help but he thinks bleach is his best friend.LOL
With God, all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
What ever you are, be a good one. (Abe Lincoln) |
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oldfashioned girl
True Blue Farmgirl
2391 Posts
monica
oatman
az
USA
2391 Posts |
Posted - Jun 25 2008 : 10:02:00 PM
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Laura, maybe you could get him a steamer and tell him how much it kills germs!!!! Good Luck!!
Monica |
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farmgirl blessings
True Blue Farmgirl
777 Posts
Lea
TN
777 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2008 : 9:03:34 PM
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What great advice about using the vinegar! I am definately going to give it a try too. Though I have switched to "green" products for ALL my other cleaning, I just can't seem to get away from my love affair with bleach though I do use it minimally. But each time I use it, I always wonder about the harmful fumes or skin exposure. So glad you posted this topic, Laura!
Blessings, Lea
www.farmhouseblessings.blogspot.com
www.farmhouseblessings.etsy.com
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2008 : 9:27:21 PM
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Jodi-- it IS Ammonia you're not supposed to mix with bleach (and anything else that contains ammonia as well). It creates a very toxic gas that can literally kill you! Bleach really shouldn't be mixed with ANYTHING, just to be safe.
Oh, as for cleaning sinks and other porcelain, there is a product called "Bar Keepers Friend" it's a powdered cleanser (like Ajax or Comet) and it is WONDERFUL at removing stains in your kitchen/bathroom sink and tub and toilet. It does contain Oxalic Acid, so you can't leave it sit overnight (it gets hard and is HARD to get off!), and you want to wash it off your skin ASAP. You can use it to remove water stains and film off of old glassware too! How many times have you found some beautiful old glass peices but they have that nasty film on them that NOTHING seems to be able to remove-- well, this stuff will actually take it off.
There are a few places around that sell it (hardware stores, some groceries and restaurant supply stores) but if you can't find it locally, Lehman's non-electric company has it in their catalog and on their website. (they sell a lot of goods to the Amish) It's the only thing that I have ever found that will clean my old kitchen sink and NOT turn it yellow!!!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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Cleaning Up: Bleach |
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Bleach
