Here we go, another scary "germs!" advert.

Now that wobbly thing happens, to show that the scene is changing.

Fast forward to Medieval England.

Mr. Peasant: Right, wife, I'm off out to tend to the masters pigs and dig some turnips.

Mrs Peasant: As you've finished with my body, I will fasten my corsets and set about strewing some fresh straw and reeds about the place, as we wouldn't want young Josiah and Mary to pick up any germs, whatever they might be. I trust you will be bringing home some milk for them, straight from the cow?

Mr Peasant: Of course I will, as Lois Pastuer hasn't been born yet, and no doubt you will be grinding the wheat to make bread in a non washed let alone Dettol wiped bowl? Let's just hope we live long enough to procreate, so perhaps you'd better loosen you corsets again, just to make sure.

Picture the scene, a cave somewhere in prehistoric times, I have taken the liberty of translating:

Mr Neanderthal: Right, I'm off to get meat. I have my spear.

Mrs Neanderthal: Well, I'm going to be pretty busy trying to make sure that that little Ug and Og don't come into contact with any germs, whatever they are. If I don't find out, and find a way of dealing with them, then we could be the last people ever!

Mr Neanderthal: If the dinosaurs had Dettol wipes, they might have made it. Oh well.

Apparently you shouldnt use anything that turns white where cats are i was told although i know someone who uses Zofloa, i do use dettol sometimes, but keep the cats off it, although its well diluted

Whilst on that subject, does anyone else hate the use of antibacterial sprays for cleaning cafe/pub/restaurant tables? They seem to leave a sticky residue which I find really unpleasant.
I get the urge to whip out a dishcloth and a bowl of hot soapy water and give them a good doing!

I often wonder about the chemicals in products like Dettol and other wipes. Should we be using them on surfaces that we intend to prepare or place food on? Are they all chemicals tested individually and in combination. If they are strong enough to kill bacteria, why would they not kill healthy bacteria.

Just for the record, Dettol should not be used on surfaces where cats might walk – just about everywhere in my experience – because it contains a chemical harmful to cats that they can absorb through their paws. I assume it is okay once it has dried but am not sure. Their are other disinfectants that don't contain this chemical, the name of which I have forgotten. My friend the cat expert always used the reminder "Dangerous Dettol, Safe Savlon".

Totally agree Phoenix/Lisalou. The fact that all 3 of my children were rarely ill and have 'cast iron' stomachs is, I'm sure, due to my slap dash cleaning. (The children would also add that food poisoning was also impossible as I burn everything)

Dettol? Wassat?

Keep the dishcloth sweet by regular bleach baths, no need for Dettol wipes.
Having said that, they came in very useful when we had cats, those little paws got everywhere!

never used wipes nor liquid Dettol in my life ! reared six weans to adulthood

Oh, I remember! We wiped surfaces with dishcloths, with a generous dose of liquid dettol on em!

Spot on! Personally, I think a lot of the superbugs we deal with these days are as a result of disinfecting everything to death. As you say, how did we survive in the era before wipes?