shels, use ammonia on that quilt

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Registered: 03-27-2003
shels, use ammonia on that quilt
6
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 12:16pm

when you wash that quilt in the hottest water possible (maybe even turn the water heater up so you have hotter water to work with, then turn it back down), use your regular laundry soap and as long as it doesn't have bleach in it, you can add a cup of ammonia, the same way you'd add bleach. It will kill stinky bacteria beasties. You can do the same with the sheets if you'd prefer to not ruin the pattern.

I seriously do this with my teens bedding, especially with anything the cat pees on. And I do it will all the towels, too. Works very well, Just be sure you add it to the water, so it's well diluted before putting stuff in with it.

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Registered: 10-29-2003
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 12:54pm

Great! I'm an ammonia freak, as well. As you all know, I have my little 'phobia' of throwing up, and my best friend is a microbiologist (PhD--specializing in virology). She doesn't work with every day viruses, but based on what she knows, she THINKS bleach and ammoinia would be the best household cleaners to POSSIBLY kill viruses (I'll get on my virus speech in a sec.....beware!!! smile). So, therefore, I at all times have bleach and non sudsing ammonia in my house.

Many people do not know this (you all probably do, but I'll share anyway). Soap and water DO NOT KILL VIRUSES. Not much DOES kill a virus. Lysol spray kills a very slect few, but the standard cold and flu and stomach virus ones are not easily killed.....so, you ask, why bother with all the hoopla about hand washing??..........well, it is because as you wash and scrub your hands together, and rinse, many viruses are sloughed off and washed down the drain...........therefore disposing of much of the risk of spread. BUT, don't touch door handles, or re touch sink handles (to rinse off that last little bit of soap, etc) or whatever, because viruses will live on hard surfaces for several hours.

Ok, my little EWWWW speech on viruses----now on to bacteria...soap and water EASILY kill most bacteria----so hand washing for bacterial illness is quite effective. So in the case of strep, or whatever, plain soap and water are all good. Anti-bacterial soaps and detergents are sort of a misnomer.....since ALL soap is antibacterial.........there are specific anti bacterial agents in these productes (ones that say anti-bacterial) and there is cause for future concern over use of these products, because those bacteria, although easily killed, are also geniuses at mutating and becoming RESISTANT to the anti bacterial stuff. Over use of anti-biotics is also a concern for the same reason. Bacteria mutate to become resistant to anti-biotics after much anti-biotic use. So, you cold potentially have different bacterias become anti-biotic resistant, therefore being close to impossible to treat. Scary.

Now, my own personal disclaimer is that this info is my own personal interpretation of what I've been told and learned in the past. It may not be all perfectly accurate (for you scientists out there). But I thought it was worth talking about, just to pass on some overall (hopefully) useful info.

So, why do doctors say use anti-bacterial had cleansers in place of soap and water when we don't have access to it (travelling, or whatever)...again the rubbing motion of your hands together sloughs some of the virus off into the air, or into a tissue or towel.....so it is helpful to a degree. Just don't over use the products........

Enough of my soapbox.

I will try the ammonia on the quilt. I hate to even say this, because it grosses me out, but he's been guilty MORE THAN ONCE OR TWICE OR TEN TIMES of going to bed with yukky feet......this may be part of the 'gerbil' odor I smell......ewwwwww.

I'm not a neat freak or a clean freak, but I do keep the above in mind all the time when cleaning or purchasing cleaning stuff. We make our own cleaners. Heloise has a whole page of cleaner recipes---many ammonia based.........good stuff!!

Shels,

and thanks for your patience with my own personal soapbox.

Avatar for momtb4
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 1:07pm

I knew that about hand washing and virus germs. Also, you have to wash for a minute (or is it 30 second?) to have the best affect. Sing the entire ABC's, that takes a minute. It's a good way to teach little ones, a little harder to teach teens....LOL

I also have bleach and non sudsing at all times. I keep bleach in the laundry room and in both bathrooms. I use bleach to clean the bathroom, especially the toilet. I use ammonia in any load of laundry that stinks, like the dogs blanket out of the kennel that gets wet every time they go in there, and drys really stale and like wet n stinky dog. Ammonia and hot water are my friend.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-29-2003
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 1:15pm

sounds like we could be sisters!! I'll do the ammonia thing in the laundry.......that will make me feel better on those items that can't be bleached!!

Shels

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 1:20pm

I didn't read the original post so I don't know what happened to the quilt, but I've been reading up on cat peeing and marking (we have a recent problem) and everyone says NOT to use ammonia on cat pee. It attracts them back to the area because urine has ammonia in it.

If it is a cat urine problem, go to the pet store and buy one of the enzymes and soak the part of the quilt in it, then wash on the hottest water possible. I would seriously let it soak for about 6-8 hours in the enzyme. You can also pour it in the washing machine and let it soak there. They are a little pricey, I use "Nature's Miracle" for cats.

Good luck! I finally ended up buying this stuff called Feliway which has pheronomes(sp?) that makes the cat feel good and so he doesn't mark this one area.

Laura

Avatar for momtb4
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 3:33pm

When I'm cleaning up cat pee, such as on my toddlers bed where the cat likes to pee when the litter box isn't up to his standards (as if the 2 y ear old can do anything about that...) I spray the whole mattress (covered in plastic, it's a toddlers bed..) with rubbing alcohol. THAT keeps the cat away. I do have and use Nature's Miracle. I have the dog one, but I can't imagine they are enough different to be worth buying the other kind, too. Especially since the floor is where the dog pees (we have a puppy) and I use it on the carpet. The cat generally picks a place that can go in the washer.

The trick to washing with ammonia is extra rinse, for what it's worth.

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-16-2006 - 3:59pm
Don't feel bad--I can get in an out of a public restroom without touching a single surface. I'm actually famous for this amazing feat among family and friends. I use my shoes to flush, I use my shirt sleeve or bottom of my shirt for faucets and door knobs, and I always soap up, wash, then get my paper towel, then turn off the faucet with the towel. I'm not really a germaphobe, but the idea of all those people touching everything without washing their hands-----EEEEEWWWWWWWWW! Laura