Alternative to bleach

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Thurston Garden
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Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135119Post Thurston Garden »

Our bleach mountain, bought in a previous life (apparently whether we needed it or not...) is now, thankfully all used up.

I resisted the temptation to buy more at the weekend, but now have grubby dishcloths. What is the ish-bleach-alternative for this task? (My Mum is sure to visit over the Christmas holidays and she abhors grubby cloths. She is the Queen of Bleach :shock:)

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lsm1066
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135125Post lsm1066 »

Lemon juice? It's acidic so bacteria don't like it and it's a natural bleach.

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135127Post theabsinthefairy »

For dishcloths - just boil them, that kills any germy nasties - but does not necessarily whiten them if that's what you are after?

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135128Post Thurston Garden »

Yes, to the Queen of Bleach, white = clean lol
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135131Post contadina »

Pre-soak them overnight in water with either lemon juice or sliced lemons then, either boil wash on the hob or bung cloths with lemon water in the washing machine and wash as normal. Hanging them out to dry in the sun helps lemon whiten even more.

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135132Post red »

new dishcloths..... :mrgreen:
make your own out of whiter than white rags?
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135139Post Rosendula »

I know what you mean. It used to really bug my mother that my dishcloths were not snow-white. I've always hated bleach since I was little, and the solitary bottle we have has been sitting in the shed for several years - it's still full! (I didn't buy it, it was Richard :roll: ). To clean dishcloths and kill germs I put them in the washing machine with the towels on a hot wash, but they don't come up bright white.

If you need aesthetic cleanliness, get a new one. After all, it is Christmas, I'm sure people here will let you off just this once :wink: :mrgreen:
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135146Post Thurston Garden »

Perhaps thats the solution! Boil the 'in-use' cloths and have a 'show' cloth ready to pull out of the cupboard when the Queen of Bleach comes to visit. :cheers:

Thanks all!
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135259Post Peggy Sue »

That might be the solution for my MIL....the inlaws dog sit whon we go away, but my clthes are no where near sparkling enough (despite the washign machine) so I could have a 'standby' for her :?

I've started using white vinegar more as a disinfectant, it does freshen things up well, not the same whiter than white effect as bleach tho
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135265Post MuddyWitch »

I knit our dish clothes from organic cotton, so they are a beigy-grey to start with. When they look really grotty (despite being boiled clean) I dye them!

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135315Post Ellendra »

Use colorful cloths?

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 135350Post theabsinthefairy »

I use old bits of cotton or linen sheeting that I bought in a scraps bag from a charity shop of 50c (50p) and white vinegar for any cleaning in place of bleach - and then when they are grotty - boil them with beetroot!!!!!! Lovely pinks and cerises and purple reds.

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 166009Post southeast-isher »

Help me! I just do not like bleach at all - in the kitchen at least - and for cleaning the kitchen and i guess even the toilet too is there any more inside/outside enviroment friendly yet effective alternatives. What do others of you ishers use? Thanks.

I've seen a small range of Ecover products and own-brand equivalents in those dreaded supermarkets based on plant extracts but are they effective? That's with the kitchen/bathroom sprays... but what about with more stronger things like pure bleach? Alternatives welcomed! Though their efficacy is a must.

:-)

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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 166030Post Millymollymandy »

I use supermarket bought eco friendly loo cleaner, or just straight forward OK for septic tanks loo cleaner from Lidl. Can't see any need for bleach in the loo myself.

The only thing I use bleach for is to occasionally clean my washing up bowl which takes in dirt in a multitude of tiny scratches after a while and bleach is the only thing that really cleans it up and takes all the greasiness off - and whilst I'm at it I clean my cutlery in it at the same time, as my teaspoons go very brown.

Otherwise I hate the stuff as the smell really gets up my nose and lingers there for hours afterwards. Sometimes I have to wear a mask!
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Re: Alternative to bleach

Post: # 166034Post lazyspice »

Even though I keep the loo clean with vinegar and bicarb I can't convince himself that there's no need to put bleach down there too :roll: He doesn't like the smell of vinegar and I don't like the smell of bleach but as I'm the one that scrubs the pan I think I will ultimately win that little battle :wink:
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