OT-Chlorine bleach

[ilandrazdsw]

You mentioned that it is a common area and animals walk on it...it is possible that he was cleaning the sidewalk because it NEEDED to be cleaned (like someone stepped in something that one of the animals left behind)??? Just a thought. I can understand being upset that you have the smell in your house, especially with a baby. If this becomes a offten occurance then I woudl say something to the manager.

 

[my3sons77]

Yeah, defintely overreacted. It is totally understandable though. Especially if this is your first child.

All of the previous posters are correct though. Bleach is perfectly fine. I use it daily to clean with. Diluted of course. It is a great disinfectant! I love when my house has a nice smell of bleach to it after I am done cleaning.

Unless this guy actually poured the bleach onto your childs skin it is not going to harm her in any way. To clean a sidewalk that is actually what the majority of people use to do so.

 

[bumbershoot]

Please read my words. I said it is a poison to my body. Not that it is a poison.

When I'm in an allergic mode, my body reacts as though flowers are a poison...and bleach ALWAYS acts as a poison to my body.

 

[bumbershoot]

my nephew is allergic to grass but his parents keep growing it

Those are not very nice parents he's got there. My mom realized pretty early on that a lawn was not something she was ever going to to cultivate. Did it to protect me. And b/c lawns are huge environmental sucks of time and energy, of course, so I'm not sure she was upset. Of course, I figured out way later that it's generally the chemicals used on large expanses of grass that gets me, not a patch of grass. But I still don't like overwhelming myself, and if my mom had decided to grow a lawn despite my body's insistence that it's not good for me, I would have been questioning how much my mom actually liked me!

 

[princessmom29]

Well it's not harmless to me. I can go into asthma when I smell the fumes, and I have a skin reaction to it if it's used on my clothes.

Obviously my body hasn't taken the classes to tell it that bleach is not a poison to it.

Please read my words. I said it is a poison to my body. Not that it is a poison.

When I'm in an allergic mode, my body reacts as though flowers are a poison...and bleach ALWAYS acts as a poison to my body.

an allergen is not a posion. The two react completely differently when the body is exposed to them. Your reaction to bleach is an allergen response. Your body produces histamines in response to something it views as an irratant. It is the histamine your body porduces not the irratant that cause allergy symptoms. It is pretty rare for bleach to produce that kind of response as it has such a simple chemical composition. Ususally people only have reactions to bleach as a secondary allergen whe there body is already irratated by something else.Allergen response is completely different from response to a posion. Posions are toxins that impede cell function. This is not at all what an allergen does. The allergen itself is not at all posionous or toxic. Your body sipmply has a poor response to it.

 

[princessmom29]

Those are not very nice parents he's got there. My mom realized pretty early on that a lawn was not something she was ever going to to cultivate. Did it to protect me. And b/c lawns are huge environmental sucks of time and energy, of course, so I'm not sure she was upset. Of course, I figured out way later that it's generally the chemicals used on large expanses of grass that gets me, not a patch of grass. But I still don't like overwhelming myself, and if my mom had decided to grow a lawn despite my body's insistence that it's not good for me, I would have been questioning how much my mom actually liked me!

Excuse me???? My kid has pollen allergies. So do I. Does that mean we don't need plants??? Where are we supposed to get our oxygen from??? People have to breathe, and in order for that to happen someone has to grow plants. It is highly unlikely by the way that your respones was to some chemical and not to the pollen.

 

[Leajess99]

My husband and I are REALLY hot about something that happened yesterday. We live in a condo complex, 4 units upstairs, 4 units downstairs. We have an 8 month old and we don't like to expose her to any chemicals of any sort...bleach especially. Well, our downstairs neighbor took it upon himself to wash down his sidewalk with chlorine bleach. No warning posted, and no time for us to take the baby to gramma's house. We still have a slight smell of bleach in the house.

The downstairs guy got PO'd at my hubby for making a stink about the situation. We're probably going to wind up talking to the complex manager about it. My question is, would YOU talk to the manager or would you let it go?

I would let it go as you really don't know for sure if there was a reason for him cleaning it with bleach. I doubt he said to himself "I know this will upset the neighbor and make her child ill so i am going to be a butt and do it." There could have been blood, urine, or even vomit needing to be cleaned and bleach is a very effective way to clean it. I know I use bleach and my kids ahve no ill effects from it and that was also the first thing I went for last Saturday when a child puked on the bleachers at our upwards basketball games. I never gave it a second thought as it is the best for cleaning the germs. I so wouldn't make waves because he can make your living experience miserable. JMHO

 

[Leajess99]

Excuse me???? My kid has pollen allergies. So do I. Does that mean we don't need plants??? Where are we supposed to get our oxygen from??? People have to breathe, and in order for that to happen someone has to grow plants. It is highly unlikely by the way that your respones was to some chemical and not to the pollen.

My dd just had allergy testing today and basically she is allergic to Kentucky. lol We have new allergy meds for her and if those don't work she will be joining her sister in allergy shots. At least they are seriously helping her sister because the allergens are not going to go away.

 

[princessmom29]

My dd just had allergy testing today and basically she is allergic to Kentucky. lol We have new allergy meds for her and if those don't work she will be joining her sister in allergy shots. At least they are seriously helping her sister because the allergens are not going to go away.

That's great! Well not the allergies, but that they are being treated and are responding. My DH had six years of shots as a child nad they have helped him immensely. he has nasal allergies, but is also really allergic to shellfish. The allergy shots mean that it is no longer a trip to the hospital is he accidently gets one, just massive doses of benadryl.

 

[disykat]

Excuse me???? My kid has pollen allergies. So do I. Does that mean we don't need plants??? Where are we supposed to get our oxygen from??? People have to breathe, and in order for that to happen someone has to grow plants. It is highly unlikely by the way that your respones was to some chemical and not to the pollen.

It does seem pretty extreme not to have plants outside. I'm allergic to grass as well. I don't mow it, someone else in the family always does it, but we do have it. It came with the house. Heck, it took us 7 years to get rid of the juniper hedge - and that's my worst allergy. If that juniper had been inside it would have been gone immediately.

I've never understood when people purposely get pets their kids are allergic to, but I've never heard ANYONE say they couldn't have grass in their yard because their kids are allergic. The grass from next door upsets my allergies just as much as the grass in my own yard.

 

[Leajess99]

That's great! Well not the allergies, but that they are being treated and are responding. My DH had six years of shots as a child nad they have helped him immensely. he has nasal allergies, but is also really allergic to shellfish. The allergy shots mean that it is no longer a trip to the hospital is he accidently gets one, just massive doses of benadryl.

That is great news for your DH.

 

[famofsix]

Those are not very nice parents he's got there. My mom realized pretty early on that a lawn was not something she was ever going to to cultivate. Did it to protect me. And b/c lawns are huge environmental sucks of time and energy, of course, so I'm not sure she was upset. Of course, I figured out way later that it's generally the chemicals used on large expanses of grass that gets me, not a patch of grass. But I still don't like overwhelming myself, and if my mom had decided to grow a lawn despite my body's insistence that it's not good for me, I would have been questioning how much my mom actually liked me!

He has wonderful parents who don't allow him to live in a bubble and they have found reasonable ways to help him adjust to the environment. And they don't treat the grass with chemicals/pesticides. even his school grows grass...imagine that!!!

OP you can do what you think is best your child but in this case your neighbor wasn't harming your child.

 

[Leajess99]

He has wonderful parents who don't allow him to live in a bubble and they have found reasonable ways to help him adjust to the environment. And they don't treat the grass with chemicals/pesticides. even his school grows grass...imagine that!!!

OP you can do what you think is best your child but in this case your neighbor wasn't harming your child.

Geez, I guess if we were to follow what the one poster stated than kids with allergies could not play any sports or outside anywhere. My kids love playing soccer and it would kill them if they could not play because of allergies. We just treat the allergies because they will always be exposed to them no matter where they are.

 

[princessmom29]

Geez, I guess if we were to follow what the one poster stated than kids with allergies could not play any sports or outside anywhere. My kids love playing soccer and it would kill them if they could not play because of allergies. We just treat the allergies because they will always be exposed to them no matter where they are.

I think this is the right attitude to have. Kids can't live in a bubble. Most of the time removing the allergen is simply not a viable option. We have to do the best we can to treat it and still let them be kids.

 

[akersten]

I don't see the big deal either. It can be rinsed with water and there is no harm to kids or pets.

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

I don't think its harmful, but

I think its REALLY weird to wash an outdoor sidewalk with bleach! I'm sure all the bacteria are gone now LOL

I don't think you owe him an apology either. If its a common area, he was presumptuous to clean with bleach.

 

[Tiger926]

As usual DISers are getting out of hand with their own personal opinions - geez, give OP a break!

Some of us are very allergic and asthmatic to chemicals, of which bleach is one. My mom and I are very allergic to bleach - we have respiratory issues, get hives, runny eyes and even nauseated/throw up. It is what it is.

I live in a very chemically polluted city - so many allergies, asthma and learning/behavior disabilities and autism present, so if the OP wants to protect her child, good for her. That being said though, I wouldn't talk to manager about it. She or hubby should have carefully and calmly spoken to neighbor about allergies with baby, and then I'm sure the neighbor would have responded favourably. He probably didn't even think twice about - I have serious chemical allergies, and I don't yell or snip at people (not saying OP did), and I have reason to as they harm me and make me sick. I know that people aren't being malicious when they wear perfume or use bleach. Honestly, people without allergies or chemical sensitivities just don't think about these things - hopefully you all can have an amicable relationship from this point forward and you can ask him to let you know if and when he is going to use bleach again as the fumes did find their way into your home.

Tiger

 

[lil mermaid]

My question is, would YOU talk to the manager or would you let it go?

I'd let it go.

 

[allison443]

As usual DISers are getting out of hand with their own personal opinions - geez, give OP a break!

Some of us are very allergic and asthmatic to chemicals, of which bleach is one. My mom and I are very allergic to bleach - we have respiratory issues, get hives, runny eyes and even nauseated/throw up. It is what it is.

I live in a very chemically polluted city - so many allergies, asthma and learning/behavior disabilities and autism present, so if the OP wants to protect her child, good for her. That being said though, I wouldn't talk to manager about it. She or hubby should have carefully and calmly spoken to neighbor about allergies with baby, and then I'm sure the neighbor would have responded favourably. He probably didn't even think twice about - I have serious chemical allergies, and I don't yell or snip at people (not saying OP did), and I have reason to as they harm me and make me sick. I know that people aren't being malicious when they wear perfume or use bleach. Honestly, people without allergies or chemical sensitivities just don't think about these things - hopefully you all can have an amicable relationship from this point forward and you can ask him to let you know if and when he is going to use bleach again as the fumes did find their way into your home.

Tiger

The OP didn't say anything about the baby or anyone else having an allergy to bleach, like you have. She was just saying they didn't want the baby exposed to the bleach fumes. I am still waiting for someone to tell me what is so hazardous about bleach (I'm not referring to your case where obviously you have a bad allergic reaction to it).
Also you sound like you have worked out a good way to handle it-I think you're right that many people don't think about others possibly being allergic. The OP said her husband "made a stink" about it to the neighbor. Maybe the neighbor didn't get why they were complaining if it wasn't an allergy-type situation?
So OP or anyone else, what is so bad about bleach?

 

[Tiger926]

The OP didn't say anything about the baby or anyone else having an allergy to bleach, like you have. She was just saying they didn't want the baby exposed to the bleach fumes. I am still waiting for someone to tell me what is so hazardous about bleach (I'm not referring to your case where obviously you have a bad allergic reaction to it).
Also you sound like you have worked out a good way to handle it-I think you're right that many people don't think about others possibly being allergic. The OP said her husband "made a stink" about it to the neighbor. Maybe the neighbor didn't get why they were complaining if it wasn't an allergy-type situation?
So OP or anyone else, what is so bad about bleach?

With an 8 month old baby though, the fumes could be very serious, so an allergy or respiratory issue could arise. Perhaps this is why the OP wants to protect her child, KWIM?

Believe me, having chemical allergies/asthma is no fun - I have had to miss out on many functions or events because people are doused in perfume or body sprays and that is no fun. Allergies or respiratory issues could come at any time, so I wouldn't be exposing my babies to bleach either.

Hopefully, the OP has figured out a polite way of handling this as I'm sure her neighbor wasn't being malicious at all. That being said though, most people don't think about others when doing these kinds of jobs, and they really should as bleach fumes can be really harmful to many people.

Tiger