germs on the montel show - bleach everything?

[yukookoo]

Im watching montel and he has some expert dr on that is testing everything and talking about the germs on it like sinks, toilets, toothbrushes etc. Oprah had a show like this once too. I dont know why im watching it but i can't stop.

They just told people to have a container of bleach/water to keep your sponges/scrub brushes in next to the sink so that mold and germs dont grow and stay on them.

Man just wash your hands with soap and water and throw the scrub brushes and sponges in the dishwasher or hot water once in while... bleach next to the sink? cheese

ok now she just said that vinegar and water isnt a good cleaner or disinfectant and that it helps some types of molds grow even.

Soooo How do you know you are killing "bad " germs? Should i be bleaching everything? certain things?



ANy comments?

[thixle]

Germs are everywhere. It's not so much the fact that they are there that is bad, it is when they overgrow... So you don't have to kill them all, just keep them in check- and don't do anything stupid like clean up cat poop with your toothbrush then brush your teeth. As long as you use soap and water, you are doing enough (now, obviously this doesn't apply to operating rooms )

Vinegar kills a vast amount of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. A google search should give you some decent studies as well as some not-so-decent ones.

The fact of the matter is, you'll never know how many or what kind you are killing.

I use bleach on my cutting boards sometimes. And dd's bath toys- it's the only thing that gets rid of the slime that grows inside. That's pretty cosmetic, though, not so much to kill super-germs. I think I've had the same jug of bleach for about 2 years, though, so...

[Pariah]

We don't use bleach at all...the smell is so horrible. I don't know if I'm super sensitive or what, but just opening the bottle makes me feel sick, or even cleaning really well after using the bleach still leaves a lingering smell hours later. We just use vinegar and TTO.

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by thixle

and don't do anything stupid like clean up cat poop with your toothbrush then brush your teeth.

When I clean the cutting board, bath toys, toilets, etc. I use hydrogen peroxide. Hospitals even use it. Other things like floors, walls, and just as a mold preventative I use straight vinegar. Tough stains and when I need to get some scrubbing action I'll use BS and vinegar.

I found this about bleach and thought it was quite interesting- http://www.bumc.bu.edu/Dept/Content....24&PageID=8726

[SageR]

Hydrogen peroxide/oxygen is about as hard core as we go too. And not often. I know we're doing ok because our house smells nice and we're never sick. And I use common sense. I'm know there are germs on my toilet after I use vinegar and bs to clean it - which is one of the reason why I'm not licking the seat or making my morning tea in it.

IMO anything that claims to kill most germs on contact is probably pretty unhealthy for you anyway. I can't tell you how many people I've met who are convinced they or someone they know got sick not from the germs but from the cleaning products. Chlorine is a great example - chlorine production is really detrimental environmentally and is a serious toxin for human beings. I'll pass thank you.

I'll tell you one thing for sure - I will never do something solely based on the advice of anyone on a television show! The next time you watch pay attention to the commercials and look for the show sponsors - almost all of them are for conventional cleaning products, processed food, diet plans, plastic fantastic baby stuff ie. It's such a racket - the shows depend on the money from commerical spots, businesses depend on people buying their product in order to make a profit and make more commericals. What better way to get people to buy stuff then to have an "expert" tell them they need it and then conveniently show them an add for that very thing! I bet there was a Chlorox ad during every commerical break in that show.

When someone gets on PPS or NPR and tells me my kids are going to die if I don't use toxic chemicals to clean my house I'll listen. I can't say I'll agree but I'll listen. Until then....

[Mosaic]

Agreed, I hate the smell, feel, LOOK of bleach. That said, I do have a Lysol Kitchen spray that I use on the sink/counter after handling raw meat (about once a week), and I do wipe down the diaper pail with a clorox wipe whenever I empty it and then add some TTO. But I wear vinyl gloves when I deal with it, and use vinegar the rest of the time. So essentially, I do use bleach-containing products for things where I feel there is a higher chance that someone may get sick from touching it/normal use.

[stacim]

I have come across several articles online that recommend using a combo of peroxide and vinegar to increase your germ fighting ability. You spray one, then the other (in either order), and then wipe. Don't mix them in the same spray bottle. I suspect that each kills different germs, so you have a more broad spectrum disinfectant. Also supposed to work well to clean fruits and veggies.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by stacim

I have come across several articles online that recommend using a combo of peroxide and vinegar to increase your germ fighting ability. You spray one, then the other (in either order), and then wipe. Don't mix them in the same spray bottle. I suspect that each kills different germs, so you have a more broad spectrum disinfectant. Also supposed to work well to clean fruits and veggies.

It's also supposed to kill a huge amount of parasites-- much more scary on fruits and veggies to me than bacteria.

[Pariah]

Originally Posted by Jojo F.

I found this about bleach and thought it was quite interesting- http://www.bumc.bu.edu/Dept/Content....24&PageID=8726

Wow, did not know that! All the more reason to avoid it.

[PikkuMyy]

Yeah, I use either vinegar or 7th generation or Ecover's non-chlorine bleach, which is HO2.

[lastrid]

Do you dilute the peroxide or do you just use it in the strength that it comes in the bottle?

[Jojo F.]

Originally Posted by lastrid

Do you dilute the peroxide or do you just use it in the strength that it comes in the bottle?

Personally, I don't dilute it. One spray bottle is straight vinegar and the other bottle is straight HP.

[Ruthla]

I'm not afraid of germs. I'm much more afraid of getting sick from the cleaning chemicals! Just the SMELL of bleach leaves me feeling sick for hours.

[Kabes]

Where did you find your dark colored spray bottle for your HP? I haven't been able to find one. thanks

[thixle]

Originally Posted by Kabes

Where did you find your dark colored spray bottle for your HP? I haven't been able to find one. thanks

I found a spray nozzel that fits on the HP bottle. Just take the HP lid into the store with you and try to find one with a similar-sized collar.

[Kabes]

Sweet tip, Thanks thixle!

[Dillpicklechip]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I'm not afraid of germs. I'm much more afraid of getting sick from the cleaning chemicals! Just the SMELL of bleach leaves me feeling sick for hours.

I agree! The smell of bleach (and most other cleaning products) makes me feel absolutely ill. I am not afraid of germs, but even for people who are, you don't need bleach to keep your house clean. It's overkill. I use tea tree oil when I clean the floor around the litterbox, and when I clean the toilets, but for everything else I use soap and water and/or baking soda.

I think our society is way too paranoid about germs, because the companies who make those cleaning chemicals are good at advertising how "necessary" they are.

I used to like watching the tv show, How Clean is Your House?, and I remember that the hosts of the show mentioned almost every episode how people over use bleach, it's so strong just a drop is all you need for very gross jobs, and they used to also tell people that all you need to remove germs from surfaces on a regular basis is soap and water. (Mind you, this was the original British show; once they started making a US version it was filled with endorsements for Mr. Clean Magic Erasers and Swiffer Wet Jets...)