Alternative to bleach

[southeast-isher]

You're braver than me MillyMollyMandy! It's not so much that ghastly smell that i don't like but the thought of how damn potent this stuff is. Vinger and bicarb would of course be better LazySpice but i'd need to be convinced that it worked :-s

[lazyspice]

A shiny white pan - what more proof do you need?

All bleach does is whiten whatever's there, that's not clean to me

[Millymollymandy]

I think bleach does a bit more than just whiten, I rather think it kills a few germs too.

[lazyspice]

Lol I know, but I feel like by giving it a good scrub I'm actually getting rid of more than I would be by just pouring bleach over it (like hubby does!).

[Millymollymandy]

Well a bog still needs a good scrub whatever cleaning method you use! Still, at least your husband is trying to help which is more than some would do where the loo is concerned!

[lazyspice]

True, but when the bleach is gone he's going to have to go and buy it himself cos I won't be adding it to the shopping list

[southeast-isher]

LazySpice, i may (hopefully) have an answer for both of us at least...

After looking at things like borax etc it seems that even better than that, if i've read it right, hydrogen peroxide is supposed to be our magic answer! *fingers crossed*

It seems it's the chlorine in the bleach that's toxic, i think - would be interested if there's any people with scientific knowledge on here or anyone actually who uses it for cleaning...

This guy wrote:

Here are some ways to clean with it:

* The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved hydrogen peroxide as a sanitizer. So, use it to kill germs on all surfaces (counter tops, tables, showers, etc.). It can be applied to a sponge or cleaning rag for wiping down an area ... or sprayed directly onto the surface.

* Do you use a wooden cutting board or wooden utensils? A little peroxide will kill salmonella and other harmful bacteria.

* Add one cup of peroxide to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. The trick with making this tip work is time. Peroxide takes time to work so ... add it into the wash and let it sit for awhile (I let mine soak for at least an hour). Then, add in your regular detergent and wash as usual.

* Use it to wash store-bought fruits and veggies. According to the Journal of Food and Science, peroxide is affective in killing E.coli.

* Fight mold and mildew throughout your home ... just spray peroxide onto the affected area and let it sit ... then wipe down as usual.

* Apply it to a clean rag to shine up mirrors and windows.

* Use it to mop your floors ... either add it to your bucket of water or ... pour it directly onto the floor.


A few notes about Hydrogen Peroxide:

* It is rendered useless when exposed to light (that's why it comes in those brown bottles). So, if you want to keep a spray bottle handy, be sure it is a dark spray bottle.

* It takes time to work, so spray or pour it on and then let it sit.

* Peroxide is a bleach and will whiten ... so be careful when applying it. If you're trying to get a stain out of, for example, your blue jeans and you pour peroxide directly onto the material ... you'll probably end up with a white spot. So, use caution.

* Some reports have suggested using peroxide as a mouthwash to clean and whiten teeth. It should be noted that there is some evidence suggesting that peroxide can be used in the treatment of mouth infections but that long-term use can damage tissues in the mouth. So, ask your doctor before using peroxide in this way.


So, there you have it! A cleaner that works ... and is kind to both humans and the environment. How good is that!!

[lazyspice]

We keep a bottle in the first aid box but I've never thought to use it for anything else - thanks for that, I'll give it a go

[southeast-isher]

Read up about it first though in case safety measures are required...

http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/index.html

:-)

[lazyspice]

Bookmarked

[southeast-isher]

By the way, you probably want a 3% concentration as anything higher like the 35% one you can get will be way too strong (around ten times too strong!)

[Peggy Sue]

Things you may want to kow about Hydrogen Pewroxide (from a science point of view).
It works in exactly the same way as Chlorine- ie it oxidises what it touches (doesn't do anything other than the surface just like bleach)
It is only active for a very short time, much shorter than bleach before it breaks down
Its breakdown products are Oxygen and Water so has no environmental impact on the green side.

Practically speaking I think it's too fast to break down unless the loo is already pretty spotless. I used to use in in an industrial situation and it didn't cope as well as Bromine or Chlorine with much cleaner water than loo water or loo surfaces

I'm a lazy moo and hate scrubbing so once in a while I buy an ecover loo cleaner which is a surfactant, lifts all the c**p so to speak, if you will excuse my 'French' (appologies MMM), then in between I sometimes use bleach, sometimes white vinegar which will both disinfect. A good scrub would be better but I don't intend eating my dinner off the surfaces so....

Science versus stubborn laziness eh? Actually I just HAVE to be outside, all day everyday, it's my internal law! If you want it cleaned bring it outside

[contadina]

Because of its abrasiveness I'd still say bicarb mixed with vinegar is better for the toilet. I use the brush, without anything after every flush and then put a half and half mix of bicarb and vinegar in when the water level is low (use the toilet brush to plunge a few times to get the water down). Give it a quick scrub with the brush and then leave on for half an hour or so - clean with the brush again, flush and hello spotless toilet.

[Millymollymandy]

Actually I just HAVE to be outside, all day everyday, it's my internal law! If you want it cleaned bring it outside

You're like me and I've been waiting for it to rain because I really DO need to do some vacuuming (and lots of other cleaning jobs) but it hasn't rained in 4 weeks and I last washed my kitchen floor at the beginning of June just before my mum came to stay. But outside jobs are far more important than indoor ones, unless it's making chutney or jam!

[Peggy Sue]

Actually I just HAVE to be outside, all day everyday, it's my internal law! If you want it cleaned bring it outside

You're like me and I've been waiting for it to rain because I really DO need to do some vacuuming (and lots of other cleaning jobs) but it hasn't rained in 4 weeks and I last washed my kitchen floor at the beginning of June just before my mum came to stay. But outside jobs are far more important than indoor ones, unless it's making chutney or jam!

Absolutely! Insdei fro Jam, Chutney and bread making only