KEEP A LID ON GERMS

Answers

1. My gran reckons her mum used Domestos when she was little. Is this true and if so has it changed much?

Domestos was first sold in the UK in 1929 so there is a very good chance that your great-granny did in fact use it. In those days there was only one type of Domestos and it was sold by a man on his bicycle called Wilf Handley. Wilf had a stoneware jar on the front of his bike and went from door to door selling Domestos to happy customers. Nowadays, Domestos thick bleach comes in a range of smells and bottles designed for your convenience.

2. Why should I use Domestos rather than my usual multipurpose cleaners?

Detergents are good for removing visible dirt and (some) germs on rinsable items such as plates and glasses. But when it comes to surfaces and items that are difficult to rinse, disinfectant products, such as bleach, that kill micro-organisms are needed to make things hygienically clean. You need a product that kills all types of germs, as many hygienic cleaners are only designed to tackle bacteria. Only bleach is capable of killing all types of germs, including bacteria, viruses, moulds and mildew.

3. There are loads of stories in the papers about scary bugs such as MRSA and Avian Flu. Are all the scare stories true and where can I go to find out more information?

It is true that the papers are littered with stories about the latest outbreaks of life threatening bugs, of which there is some truth and some degree of speculation. We’ve worked with the experts in the field to separate the truth from the myths in order to arm you with the facts so that you can best protect yourself if need be. Simply click through to the World of Germs section (include link) to find out everything you need to know about MRSA, C.Difficile etc. Domestos has been passionate about public awareness campaigns and helping families to protect their homes since 1929. By using Domestos to keep your home hygienically clean you can have peace of mind that your families' health will be protected from the nasty germs that inhibit our homes. We take great pride in working with 'germ experts' in order to educate you about the dangers of germs and how to tackle them in your home.

4. Isn’t bleach really dangerous and isn’t it bad for the environment?

All household cleaners should be used with caution and always refer to the back of pack for clear instructions as to how to use them, however bleach isn’t as dangerous as you may think. Bleach is a versatile disinfectant and is known to be a powerful cleaner in your home. In fact, it's so powerful that it’s often thought to be harmful for the environment. However, the truth is that bleach starts as salt and water and ends as salt and water. The end product contains no free chlorine, as it quickly breaks down into essentially salt and water during or after use.

5. Is it true that you can use Domestos outside of the loo? I have a friend who uses it everywhere!

Thick bleach is incredibly versatile. It can be used neat to clean your loo or can be diluted down and used to clean bigger surfaces such as your kitchen floors and worktops. If you are looking for something a little more convenient then Domestos Bleach Cleaning Spray is the perfect solution. It already comes in a dilute formulation which means you can spray it directly onto many surfaces in your home, from chopping boards and kitchen worktops to the inside of your fridge. It’s also got a directable nozzle so now you can target all those hard to reach areas within the home.

6. Is there such a thing as being too clean? Don’t you need some germs to build up your immunity?

However much you clean you will never be able to get rid of all the germs in your house so it is important to concentrate on the places in the home where germs are most likely to be present and where the risk of passing them on is highest. This is called ‘Hotspot Hygiene’ and is a targeted approach to cleaning rather than attempting to clean everything in sight. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that keeping your house hygienically clean weakens your immunity and makes you more susceptible to picking up germs.

7. Is it true that germs from my loo can end up on my toothbrush?

There is evidence that proves that if you flush the loo without the lid down germs can spread from the toilet and land on other nearby objects in the bathroom such as your toothbrush. Even if you put the lid down when you flush, germs can still escape through the cracks in the toilet seat. The best way to keep the family safe is to use a really good bleach to clean your toilet with, like Domestos 5x. The unique formulation means it kills all known germs on contact and goes on working five times longer than any other bleach or toilet cleaner.

8. The water in our bath takes ages to drain away. Using a plunger hasn’t worked. Can you help?

Lots of people have this problem. If it happens in the bathroom it is likely to be as a result of hair and soap scum whereas if you get a blockage in the kitchen it’s most likely because of grease and scraps of food. If a plunger hasn’t worked a good next step would be to try Domestos Sink & Pipe Unblocker, which is capable of dissolving plughole blockages in as little as 15 minutes. Don’t forget once you have got rid of the blockage, give your plugholes an occasional squirt of Domestos thick bleach can help to prevent blockages and save you the expense of a plumber.

9. I use a lot of bleach in and around my home. My neighbour told me I could potentially be harming the animals in our street. Is this true? - Mags Coyle, BELFAST

Not at all. Bleach is safe, both for people and the environment, when used properly. In fact, once used it is broken down rapidly, almost entirely into common salt and oxygen (or water).
As with all products, to get the best and most efficient results from bleach, always follow the usage and dosing instructions on pack.

10. How do I eradicate maggots from my wheelie bin? - David Travis, GODALMING

1. Empty the contents of the bin into a new bin liner.Tie it at the neck which will stop any maggots getting out.
2. Clean out the bin.Use boiling water to kill any maggots. (Drain the liquid into a foul drain (e.g. the drain outside the kitchen) not a rainwater drain.)
3. Rinse out the bin with dilute Domestos bleach or Domestos bleach cleaning spray.
4. Put the bin liner of rubbish back in the bin

11. How do I prevent maggots from living in my bin? - Anna Mason, STOKE-ON-TRENT

To prevent the build up of maggots in your bin make sure that you wrap food waste so it is enclosed and doesn't spill out into the bin. This will prevent flies from landing on the waste and laying eggs.

12. We have green wheelie bins for garden waste. Would domestos affect the composting process? - Bernadette Griffenn SUNDERLAND

Assuming the kitchen compost intermediate bin is well rinsed it shouldn’t adversely affect the waste going to be composted.

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