Bleach Around Children

[Unregistered]

bleach is not unsafe if mixed properly

i am a regulator in nc for daycare centers. after reading some of the posts, i feel obliged to correct some of the misinformation. first off, bleach is not very toxic at all if mixed in the proper strengths. for disinfectant use, i.e. changing tables, toilets, and the like, the solution should be 500-800 ppm. there is a simple recipe for this, basically 1/4 cup of regular strength household bleach to a gallon of water. for sanitizer, the bleach solution used on food contact surfaces, i.e. tables, counter tops, and dishes after they have been washed and rinsed, the recipe is 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. i have been regulating daycares for 22 yrs and have never known anyone to suffer ill affects of properly mixed disinfectant or sanitizer solutions. it is best to purchase test strips that you can check the strength of the solutions with, but the above recipe should get you close nearly every time. keep in mind on sanitizing solution, there is potential for residual buildup and the gallon container may have to rinsed of the chlorine solution ever so often.

hope this helps.

[Unregistered]

another awesome product

Anyone who believes the number one killer in WWI is safe in any measure is not very well educated about chemicals. Anything with "chloro" in the name is not safe in any use. Chances are it is also in your laundry soap, dish soap, automatic dishwasher detergent and many of the other cleaners in your house. I am a Melaleuca customer and they have safe products for every cleaning job. They work better, too. They have a disinfectant that is as powerful as anything on the market, comes in a concentrated form and is a cost friendly. The product is called Sol-U-Guard. It also uses Thyme, but has a unique oil in it called melaleuca oil. Many of you may know it as tea tree oil. It also has a anti bacterial effect.

On the bottle it reads: Kills 99.999% of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in 1 minute. Kills 99.9% of Enterobacter aerogenes in 30 seconds. Disinfects against Slmonella enterica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, MRSA, Influenza A, Poliovirus type 1, Rhinovirus type 37, and Roavirus in 10 minutes. Disinfects againt Influenza A virus(swine) in 1 minute.

EPA reg. no. 66251-2, EPA Est. No. 66251-ID-003, or 66251-ID-001, or 66251-TN-001

Also I would like to add that cancers in children is on the rise and is in line with the increased uses of toxic chemicals in daycares and homes. Do the research and check the numbers. Dont just say it isnt true. I have decided to be a stay at home dad, to protect my children. Since they have been staying at home with me and we have converted our home to all natural and non toxic cleaners our kids are almost never sick. I myself never get sick any more. Lysol has also been linked to ADD as well as asthma. One child went into a semi comatose state everytime it was used around him. Here is a staggering number. Since WWI the rate of cancer has risen from 1 in 50 to 1 in 2 people today being diagnosed. 1.5 million people are poisoned by home cleaning products each year. MOST are children. These products KILL germs and everything else that comes in direct contact with them. They dont save people from anything. germs are natural and our bodies fight the infection off naturally. With chemicals toxifying our bodies, it is actually harder for our bodies to fight off the infections and heal. Chlorine had to be put somewhere and they decided it was a good idea to put it in water to kill bacteria. And if it is a small enough amount, yes our bodies can flush it out over time. However, constant ingestion and exposure doesn't allow a flushing out to happen. IN FACT many hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and daycares across the country have stopped using chlorine bleach. It causes sickness through the fumes. Look at the label! Look at the precautions. DO NOT breath vapors. Not possible without a respirator or oxygen tank. Do NOT get in contact with skin. Not possible if you touch any surface, rag, sponge with it on it or without using gloves as you touch the cap or jug. The vapors are the worst part and almost impossible to avoid. They cause problems for the lungs and eyes. Just say NO to chlorine, phosphates, and any other harmful chemicals. It sounds like the regulators are just LAZY to me. Be Well my friends.

[lindysmiles]

so I see this thread is a couple of years old. what is everyone currently using? Still the bleach/water solution, or the spectrasan 24? Michael, do you have that article still on Spectrasan 24? I checked out their website, but want to know it's worth its cost before I buy! Thanks! Signed, Newbie. ::

[Froreal3]

We use a bleach/water solution.

I read the thread and had a question for those who say, "clean when children are gone." For those of us who are hourly workers at centers and whose students stay 'till closing, when are we supposed to clean? OT is not a consideration.

The best I've ever been able to do is clean the very last 20 minutes of the day. The children are moved to one area (ok, hard to do in a 1 year old classroom; older kids are easier) like the library center and the rest of the room is cleaned. The solution should be so diluted that it is not harmful anyway.

[Countrygal]

My thought is, however, if it's leaving bleach stains on your kid's clothes you may want to check that they're using the proper solution (2 tablespoons of bleach to one gallon of water).

This was my thought, also. At the concentrations we are recommended to use - 1/2 T/qt on non-food surfaces and 1/4 t. per quart on food surfaces, it would be hard for the children to get their pants bleached. It could ONLY occur with the stronger solution, which is the one used to clean diapering areas or floor spills, etc.

Does anyone know if the sinitizing agent that restaurants use qualifies?

[HappyHearts]

Our health department authorized the use of Scrubbing Bubbles for the toileting and changing table areas. We are also able to use OdoBan for our sanitizer and disinfectant instead of the bleach water solution if we wish.

[Unregistered]

bleach in daycare

I am very concerned about this. I have read about the negative effects of inhaling bleach fumes.

I have a three year old son who goes to daycare and his father became concerned about the strong smell of bleach in the room when he picked up our son. I brought it to the director's attention and said that I was not upset about it, just concerned about the kid's health. She told the teacher who I was, by name, and said what I was upset about. The teacher then tried to get into a verbal brawl with me about how the solution is state regulated. My argument is not against the use of the bleach, or against the solution strength. I simply wanted them to use the bleach when the children are NOT in the room (such as when they are outside playing or after they have all left for the night). I see that one comment stated that staying over time to clean the rooms is out of the question (which is also what the teacher at my son's school said). That is completely ridiculous. I have stayed and finished up my job (unpaid) at many places of work. I am a high school English teacher that gets paid from 8am- 3pm and THATS IT. That does not count the five extra hours I spend each day grading papers and preping for class. These are small children, if you are interested in working with them YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING. PERIOD.

Clean the classrooms with bleach when the kids are not in the room. End of story.

[Blackcat31]

I am very concerned about this. I have read about the negative effects of inhaling bleach fumes.

I have a three year old son who goes to daycare and his father became concerned about the strong smell of bleach in the room when he picked up our son. I brought it to the director's attention and said that I was not upset about it, just concerned about the kid's health. She told the teacher who I was, by name, and said what I was upset about. The teacher then tried to get into a verbal brawl with me about how the solution is state regulated. My argument is not against the use of the bleach, or against the solution strength. I simply wanted them to use the bleach when the children are NOT in the room (such as when they are outside playing or after they have all left for the night). I see that one comment stated that staying over time to clean the rooms is out of the question (which is also what the teacher at my son's school said). That is completely ridiculous. I have stayed and finished up my job (unpaid) at many places of work. I am a high school English teacher that gets paid from 8am- 3pm and THATS IT. That does not count the five extra hours I spend each day grading papers and preping for class. These are small children, if you are interested in working with them YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING. PERIOD.

Clean the classrooms with bleach when the kids are not in the room. End of story.

I understand your concern but my state mandates me to wipe the diaper changing area as well as the eating area off immediately after the children are done using it with a bleach/water minture.

I can't very well not clean just because I have kids here and I surely don't send them all out of the room as I am only one person and I need to be within sight/hearing of the kids at all times.

I think if the state mandates us to use it and a parent is concerned about it, take it to the state and ask them to change their policies.

I HAVE to follow state regulations so my hands are tied.

[daycare]

I understand your concern but my state mandates me to wipe the diaper changing area as well as the eating area off immediately after the children are done using it with a bleach/water minture.

I can't very well not clean just because I have kids here and I surely don't send them all out of the room as I am only one person and I need to be within sight/hearing of the kids at all times.

I think if the state mandates us to use it and a parent is concerned about it, take it to the state and ask them to change their policies.

I HAVE to follow state regulations so my hands are tied.

I just recently read that in CA they have allowed DCP and Centers to now use bleach alternatives because they were able to link bleach to asthma.

BUT most of the agents on that list will still cause breathing disorders, so I don't really understand what they accomplished.....

[LK5kids]

I hate bleach too. I wish our state would change its policy on bleach....yuck! The only other disinfectant allowed is an expensive ammonia solution. I can't find the name of it right now. I believe hospitals use it. I have no problem using it if I find out it is safer. I suspect it's just as bad as bleach, except it won't ruin clothes. Did I mention I HATE bleach?
Are there any less toxic or green disinfectants anyone knows of? Thanks~

[itlw8]

I am very concerned about this. I have read about the negative effects of inhaling bleach fumes.

I have a three year old son who goes to daycare and his father became concerned about the strong smell of bleach in the room when he picked up our son. I brought it to the director's attention and said that I was not upset about it, just concerned about the kid's health. She told the teacher who I was, by name, and said what I was upset about. The teacher then tried to get into a verbal brawl with me about how the solution is state regulated. My argument is not against the use of the bleach, or against the solution strength. I simply wanted them to use the bleach when the children are NOT in the room (such as when they are outside playing or after they have all left for the night). I see that one comment stated that staying over time to clean the rooms is out of the question (which is also what the teacher at my son's school said). That is completely ridiculous. I have stayed and finished up my job (unpaid) at many places of work. I am a high school English teacher that gets paid from 8am- 3pm and THATS IT. That does not count the five extra hours I spend each day grading papers and preping for class. These are small children, if you are interested in working with them YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING. PERIOD.

Clean the classrooms with bleach when the kids are not in the room. End of story.

Who will be with the children when the room is being cleaned?

the teacher changes a diaper then escorts the whole class out of the room to stay alone? while she goes back in and cleans the changing area then goes gets the class to change the next child and they then all leave again.

Not going to work is it ? Tables have to be cleaned before and after eating also. Most childcares do not have a janitor like a high school. Plus most already spend off hours planning the curriculum unpaid. Add to that they are not salary and often make not much more than minimum wage. If they stay to clean the employer is required to pay them. Federal and state law .

What does that mean to parents ? higher rates and they still have to sanitize during the day.


Question Chlorine is what bleach is. The same thing is used in swimming pools and to clean city drinking water. So I guess you NEVER go in a pool or hot tub and only use bottled water to drink and bathe in ?

[SunshineMama]

I didn't read all of the responses, (I'm sure someone else already stated this), but some illnesses are not killed by Lysol, only bleach. Like HFMD, for example.

[itlw8]

You can't use lysol on any mouthable surface around children You can clean the floors but not toys. It contains pine tar that causes cancer.

[Unregistered]

Bleach

The reason for use of bleach is that after it sits for awhile it is broken down into a salt solution that is not harmfull to children!!!!!! Other chemicals do not break down into a harmless salt solution and needs to be wiped off before use to get the chemical off whatever it is its on. I would not want chemical residue left on my tables that my children are gonna eat off of.

[Jenniferdawn]

This from California recommendations:

Recommendations for Disinfecting and Sanitizing without Bleach
The San Francisco Asthma Task Force is recommending the use of disinfectants and
sanitizers that are safer for asthma. The recommended products do not contain bleach,
and meet the state requirements for disinfecting and sanitizing in your child care center.
The following list provides a basic overview of the products. More detailed information
about the products that were tested for this project is available in the full report (See
“Resources” for how to access the report).
For disinfecting hard, non-porous surfaces such as diaper changing tables, the
recommended alternative is a ready-to-use disinfectant with accelerated hydrogen
peroxide as the active ingredient.
For sanitizing food contact surfaces such as snack and meal tables, the
recommended alternative is also ready-to-use and bleach-free.
The Task Force is also recommending a floor cleaner with accelerated hydrogen
peroxide as the active ingredient.