Betrayed by Clorox

[Moosepoop]

I've always used Clorox bleach in my laundry and for household cleaning. The germ-killing aspect is the main reason I use it. Killing the bacteria and body soil on washcloths, towels, bedding, and so on, along with disinfecting surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom, is the main thing -- whitening the laundry items is a bonus.

When they came out with scented versions of Clorox, I bought the "Fresh Meadow" scent. There's also "Mountain Fresh" and "Citrus Blend" scents available, but I like the flowery one. Now my house and laundry actually smelled good, rather than chlorine-y. Yay!! (Is chlorine-y a word?)

So recently I found myself at Clorox's website, checking out some new product or another, and learned, much to my surprise.... that the scented versions of Clorox bleach DO NOT KILL GERMS!!! Only regular old Clorox bleach does! So all this time, I've been merrily using the good-smelling bleach and assuming that it had the same properties as the original, just with perfume added to it. But alas -- it was a false sense of security!

I compared bottles of regular Clorox and "Fresh Meadow" Clorox, and other than the paper label being pink instead of blue with the addition of wildflowers pictured on it, the "Fresh Meadow" bottle was indentical. Nothing on the label stating that this bleach is substandard to the original's germ-killing reputation. The only clue (which I missed since I haven't needed to read the directions on bleach in a long time) is that on the original's usage directions it uses the phrase "to clean and disinfect" this or that, and on the scented version's label the phrasing is "clean and deodorize" this or that. Only by visiting the website do you get the straight info about Clorox original being the only one of their line to be a sanitizer.

Now, is it just me, or do I have a right to feel betrayed here? Shouldn't they put a disclaimer on the label, so that customers who associate Clorox bleach with disinfecting aren't duped by the new, nice-smelling versions made by the same company? Or am I just unwilling to admit my own failings as a savvy consumer??

[skygazer]

1. Bleach is not very good for a septic system

It kills bacteria that works to break down waste. As someone who has always lived in rural area and had a septic tank rather than a citywide septic system, I've always avoided using bleach. Not very environmentally friendly a product.

[imperialismispasse]

2. I think the real question here is what were you doing

on the Clorox Bleach website?

[Moosepoop]

5. I had just read online snippets of Scooter's book "The Apprentice"

and was looking for a way to sanitize my eyeballs.

No, really, I had clicked on an ad for some new product of theirs and it took me to their website. Once I was there, I got to looking at the bleach info. I'm kinda weird that way -- I'll read just about anything that's put in front of me (except any more of "The Apprentice" -- yuck!!):blush:

[I Have A Dream]

3. Wonder how that works if the ingredients are the same?

:shrug:

I'd feel deceived also.

[Moosepoop]

6. I wondered that too...

so I read every single tiny word on both labels, for comparison.
There is one more difference between the two -- Original Clorox lists its ingredients at the left-side top on the front of the label:

Active ingredient:
Sodium Hypochlorite...6.0%
Other ingredients...94.0%
Total...100.0%
(Yields 5.7% available chlorine)
CONTAINS NO PHOSPHORUS

followed by the "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN DANGER" warning.

Whereas, the scented version has only the warning, but no listing at all of any ingredients.
I have no clue what's in there.

[eyesroll]

9. Here is the MSDS info for Clorox Ultra Bleach "Fresh Meadow"

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=3027108

The relevant stuff is here:
Ingredients from MSDS/Label
Chemical CAS No / Unique ID Percent
Sodium hydroxide 001310-73-2 0.5-1
Sodium hypochlorite 007681-52-9 5-10

It contains sodium hydroxide in less than 1%, and between 5 and 10% sodium hypochlorite. Sodium hypochorite = chlorine = germ killer.

I would think the few pathogens that end up on clothes after a normal, without-bleach wash cycle are probably much better for you and your family than are the nasties in a bottle of bleach (not to mention the volatile organic compounds in the perfume), but that's just me.

[Texasgal]

4. Really?

I had no idea!

It is a betrayal, the company should state that it is infact different.

I would write to them... that's just bullshit...

[eyesroll]

7. "Disinfectant 101" for laymen:

The words "disinfectant" and "sanitizer" are legally defined terms. To use these words in an ad or label, there needs to be EPA testing and approval.

To sanitize, a product must kill all pathogens, but not necessarily spores.

To disinfect, a product must kill 99 percent of pathogents, but not necessarily their spores.

(To sterilize, spores have to go as well.)

Clorox with the perfume still "kills germs." It just doesn't meet the legal definition for disinfecting, probably because the perfume dilutes it to the point where it cant. Or, it hasn't been tested and certified by the EPA.

Unless you have a severely (think "Boy In The Plastic Bubble") compromised immune system, you don't need sterile laundry.

[Moosepoop]

10. Hey, thanks for all the info!!!

Including the MSDS info in post #9. I really do appreciate it.:)

My immune system isn't compromised nearly to the extent of needing a plastic bubble, but I don't have a spleen and neither do my kids. I think that's why I'm something of a bacteria-phobe. :scared:
I also think I tend to go a little overboard with it sometimes. :blush:

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. Moosepoop...move to vinegar

I'm not kidding...cheap and it will kill any germ you give it. Try putting a roach in vinegar. It's fun!

Now, about Moose poop. Is it big like horse poop or little pellets like deer poop, and has it any practical uses?

[Moosepoop]

12. Thanks, THGrannie!!

I didn't know vinegar killed germs -- sure makes me feel better about using it to clean the coffee maker instead of bleach!!:7 (Yes, I once considered doing just that.)

As for the moose poop... Truthfully, I've never seen any! The name comes from a childhood joke with one of my daughters and became her nickname for me. She's an adult now, but the joke goes on between us and ended up as my user name here. :silly:

[ContraBass Black]

15. You don't use clorox on eating or food prep surfaces, do you?

[nutsnberries]

24. sometimes I do... what's wrong with that if I rinse it off? may switch

to vinegar after reading this thread tho!

but please, tell me why you asked that?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

16. Hi, MP

I recently lived for seven months in a place with no running water. It was a real treat to do the dishes. I had enough to wash but it was cold and it was yukky. After they were washed I wiped them all in vinegar. They were great.


I found this link:
http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/164


Bleach is really bad for your lungs. It can take you DOWN.

[Angry Girl]

17. In Asia they use vinegar to disinfect - it's also a great facial toner

I used to use L'Oreal's cleanser/toner but now I take a capful of organic apple cider vinegar and dilute with about a cup of water. Bottle it and use it on cotton pads to cleanse/tone your face and neck. Works great and it's way cheaper! (and no bunnies were hurt)

[Gormy Cuss]

21. Vinegar: it's a good thing.

There are so many good uses for the stuff. Spray it on the leaves of young weeds on a sunny day and it kills them within hours.

We buy it by the gallon.

The world's longest list of uses for vinegar
http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/tips/a/vinegar.htm

[LynneSin]

11. Eewwwww, glad you're not doing my laundry

I cannot be near anything with Clorox in it because the smell makes me absolutely nauseous!!

[MarsThe Cat]

13. I've NEVER used bleach for laundry or cleaning-

and i'm still very much alive at age 45.

for the laundry, I use Tide Free liquid detergent, and a cup-and-a-half of ammonia. that's it. no softeners or dryer sheets either.

[GirlinContempt]

14. if you can't smell the chlorine

it isn't working

[Canadian Socialist]

18. Ammonia works great on laundry

and isn't so hard on the fabric. As for bleach, whenever I cook chicken, I always wash down EVERYTHING that had contact with the raw chicken, with regular bleach. Salmonella. Just sayin'. FYI, all soaps are anti-bacterial. Goes with the territory. You don't need to buy "special anti-bacterial" soap.

[uppityperson]

19. Don't ever use ammonia AND bleach together

If you use ammonia, make sure any cleanser you use does NOT have chlorine bleach in it also. Chlorine and ammonia combine to make poisonous gas.

[Canadian Socialist]

20. Yup. Knew that.

However, I did learn a very interesting way to blow someone up, using two of those ingredients + drano. However, Agent Mike might be lurking.
FYI, I knew the mixing of the ammonia and bleach because of basic chemistry in grade 10. ammonia = base; bleach = acid. Or something like that.:shrug:

[musette_sf]

22. yeah, me too,

I interviewed there a few weeks ago and then they went and changed the position requirements. Damn. :mad:

[Ikonoklast]

23. Plain Clorox is the only type of bleach

that is accepted by the FDA for disinfection in medical and/or food prep use. The other types with the scent have not been offerd to be tested and therefore do not meet the legal definition. The product, in varying percentage of solution, is basically the same. Only the plain type can make the claim of disinfectant.

Before more effective anti-microbial/viral/infective agents came along, we used Clorox to clean and disinfect all our food prep machinery after degreasing and washing. The state health inspectors would always want to see what we used as a disinfectant, and Clorox was always acceptable.