Listerine for cleaning water troughs

[stb]

Am I the last one to find out about this? In the past I have used Dawn, baking soda, vinegar and water, or apple cider vinegar. I can’t use bleach because I am unable to touch a bleach bottle without getting some on my clothes. I scrub my troughs regularly, usually using Dawn dish soap. I recently heard about using Listerine as a cleaner and my troughs look amazing, and are staying clean for far longer than usual.

Just a heads up for anyone who has never tried it. It’s hands down the best thing I have found for trough cleaning.

[Scarlet_Gilia]

No, you are the second to last to find out! Thanks for the tip. I will give it a try. Do you use the old golden formula?

[stb]

I bought the blue minty stuff.

[mvp]

Listerine rocks.

Also, it does a nice job on itchy tails. You can cup your hand around the dock of the tail, carefully pour a tad down the top of the tail and scrub it in. Do both left and right sides. You can do this with a wet or dry tail. Of course, you can add Listerine to the shampoo bucket if you want to go to town and wash the whole tail. But you can use the first technique if you want to just get by while preventing tail rubbing.

[stb]

@mvp

Listerine rocks.

Also, it does a nice job on itchy tails. You can cup your hand around the dock of the tail, carefully pour a tad down the top of the tail and scrub it in. Do both left and right sides. You can do this with a wet or dry tail. Of course, you can add Listerine to the shampoo bucket if you want to go to town and wash the whole tail. But you can use the first technique if you want to just get by while preventing tail rubbing.

Good to know. I’ve never heard about this either. I am late to the Listerine train, for sure.

[trubandloki]

It is never wrong to share these ideas that we think everyone else must know about… so those who do not know can learn about them.
Glad you learned about Listerine. The part I like best about it is that rinsing is so easy. If you do not get it all 100% off the only side affect is a little mint flavor in the water (so minor that I am sure there really isn’t any).
I use it for water buckets and feed buckets too.

[Tannic_Mountain]

That is an excellent idea! Thank you for the tip!

[Gainer]

I’ve always used Listerine to clean out my water buckets, feed buckets and troughs. I spray the water buckets daily with a bit of Listerine before refilling and the buckets stay cleaner in the summer than just cleaning them with bleach once a week. Plus the horses seem to like the minty taste and drink more.

[Jarpur]

My husband wants to know about this! Our usual routine is to dump the trough, scrub with a stiff brush using bleachy water, and rinse several times with plain water.

When using Listerine, how much, and when, in the cleaning process?

[trubandloki]

@Jarpur

When using Listerine, how much, and when, in the cleaning process?

I use it like you used the bleachy water. I rinse but not several times.

[Jarpur]

@trubandloki

I use it like you used the bleachy water. I rinse but not several times.

Thanks! So, a couple of chugs of undiluted Listerine and then scrub, or diluted Listerine in water and scrub?

[Gainer]

No need to dilute the Listerine, just use it full strength. You don’t need to rinse more than once since it’s safe for the horses.

[stb]

@Gainer

No need to dilute the Listerine, just use it full strength. You don’t need to rinse more than once since it’s safe for the horses.

This is what I do as well.

[trubandloki]

I too do what @Gainer posted. Sorry I was not clear @Jarpur .

I switched to Listerine way back when because it is physically impossible for me to even think about handling a bottle of bleach with out getting it on something I do not want it on. Listerine has been amazing. So what if I am a little messy with its minty-ness?

[Jarpur]

No problem, trubandloki!

Thanks to everyone for chiming in. This is definitely going to be our new method of trough cleaning!

[trubandloki]

I want to add @Jarpur, that I buy the store brand. I can buy a two pack for pretty cheap and there is usually a store coupon that makes it even cheaper.
Did not want you thinking the name brand is required.

[Jarpur]

@trubandloki

I want to add @Jarpur, that I buy the store brand. I can buy a two pack for pretty cheap and there is usually a store coupon that makes it even cheaper.
Did not want you thinking the name brand is required.

That’s even better:).

[Rosewatt]

I did not know this. Will be trying it though. Thanks for sharing!

[Jarpur]

I’m bouncing this back up to say that using psuedo-Listerine (local grocery store house brand) to clean water troughs has been absolutely fabulous. So much easier, and more effective, and better-smelling, than using bleachy water. No risk of accidental splashing of bleachy water on clothes, either.

Our Rubbermaid troughs haven’t looked this good in years, even given our hard well water. My husband (the major water trough cleaner, although I pitch in as needed) is so happy with this new-to-us method.

Just wanted to say thanks very much for this helpful suggestion, which we’ve been using ever since reading about it in this thread.

[SugarCubes]

@Jarpur

I’m bouncing this back up to say that using psuedo-Listerine (local grocery store house brand) to clean water troughs has been absolutely fabulous. So much easier, and more effective, and better-smelling, than using bleachy water. No risk of accidental splashing of bleachy water on clothes, either.

Our Rubbermaid troughs haven’t looked this good in years, even given our hard well water. My husband (the major water trough cleaner, although I pitch in as needed) is so happy with this new-to-us method.

Just wanted to say thanks very much for this helpful suggestion, which we’ve been using ever since reading about it in this thread.

Add me to the list of people who didn’t know about this! Does it prevent algae growth like bleach does too?!