Enough Bleach Already!!!

Rach39

My hubby is obsessed with bleach as a cleaning product and will happily scrub every kitchen surface with it liberally at the drop of a hat. It doesn't matter that I've already cleaned everywhere with appropriate stuff - he thinks that's not effective enough and 'nothing cleans like bleach'. I've told and told and told him as have my mum, his mum and friends that bleach has it's uses but scrubbing worktops and kitchen table ain't among them! Does he listen? Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful that he wants to help with the chores but I just can't stand the smell!! If he's home before me I can guarantee I'll get that familiar niff as soon as I open the front door and him standing looking all proud of himself waiting for praise for being so good and 'doing the housework'!! DS thinks it's hillarious and stands in front of the displays in Tesco saying "move away from the bleach dad" but it really is tiresome - how can I get him to stop?

pigpen

I clean everything with bleach too.. dilute some in a squirty bottle so he isn't using it neat and set him loose.. I LOVE the smell of bleach, tell him to come clean my house.. I'll throw him scooby snacks as praise!

Ooh.. he could try stardrops.. it is raved about on OS board (though it makes me wheeze)

summerday

I also hate the smell of bleach and find that for most jobs around the house, it's not needed- you can use natural cleaners such as vinegar and lemon. I sometimes have to resort to bleach for toilet bowls and tile grouting but that's about it. Also bleach is not a good thing to breathe in too much of, and I've heard that people with respiratory problems or asthma in particular should avoid it.

Could OH have a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? If the surfaces are already clean, he seems to be compelled to do it needlessly?

Rach39

Not so much OCD but genuinely thinks they are not clean unless cleaned with bleach!! He therefore by default thinks I'm carp at cleaning and tells people he does all the housework (coz obviously washing, dishwasher loading and emptying, cooking, ironing, etc etc are not real housework!!)

gratefulforhelp_2

If you stand still, does he try to bleach you??

Rach39

It has been known - well the odd splash anyway! I'm tired of buying him new t shirts as they all end up like an interesting bleach tye dye effect! Only ever buy him plain white ones now!!

balletshoes

I'm with you OP, can't stand the smell of bleach. Can't you put vinegar/lemon juice/water solution in the bleach bottles? That way the stench of bleach will be less, and he'll still be able to happily slosh away with the bottle.

I'm sure all that bleach can't be good for you or your home.

aliasojo

Tell him the dangers of exposing the family to constant bleach fumes.

According to a 15-year study presented at the Toronto Indoor Air
Conference, women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work away from home. The study concluded that this was a direct result of the increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products.

Agree with pigpen's squirty bottle idea. Might lessen things a little.

MrsE_2

Rach39 wrote: »

Not so much OCD but genuinely thinks they are not clean unless cleaned with bleach!! He therefore by default thinks I'm carp at cleaning and tells people he does all the housework (coz obviously washing, dishwasher loading and emptying, cooking, ironing, etc etc are not real housework!!)

I love the smell of bleach & I agree with your DH its a great cleaner:D

Sambucus_Nigra

To be fair; looking at some people's OH's problems [like p1ssing all over the house] - a little bleach is a minor infraction.

Dilute it down as much as you can and politely tell him to wind it in a little.

Errata

Hot water, soap and bleach is all that's needed to get things clean and germ free. And an OH.