Oh Alison, poor you. It's taken me around 10 years to stop being frightened silly over cockroaces and I still get shivers when I see the huge ones. Raid and Bygone are as good as anything else and like Helen I spray to prevent them. You can get one of the sprays for use as an outside barrier and I always spray a line of it around the outside of my front door. Every couple of days I spray underneath furniture particularly in the kitchen e.g under the washing machine. Before you leave, spray along the back of kitchen work surfaces and obviously give them a good clean on your return.
We don't get ants probably because we're on the top floor but I've heard as Helen said, that Nippon is good. You can get 'traps' for ants and cockroaches which might be another line of defence!
Believe me, it's nothing to do with how clean or dirty you are.
Rats and mice I've never had a problem with though they're rife across the Gulf.
As for whites - I've more or less given up! Just take them home and wash them!! I've tried everything to get my whites as clean as I do here, including Vanish powder, but I've decided it must be something to do with the water. I keep meaning to get a filter for the plumbing on the washing machine as I think that's probably the answer. Any plumber will be able to do the same for you I'm sure. As for Clorex, doesn't it give instructions on the bottle? If not I'd just add it to my powder or liquid. I don't think the sand on your clothes is the problem. It shouldn't stain them.
xx
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