TCP (TCP Liquid Antiseptic)

Member Name: adam171275

Product:	TCP Liquid Antiseptic
Date:	29/03/09 (500 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great for uses on cut, grazes and mouth ulcers

Disadvantages: a mre expensive liquid anticeptic

In most bathroom cabinets you will normally find a bottle of TCP a good old fashioned antiseptic that is still used by many today. My mum used it when we were young as did my Nan.
TCP is an antiseptic liquid which soothes pain and fights infection; it is used for a number of different things.

You can buy TCP from most chemists and supermarkets, the one we have we brought from our local Tesco for £1.52 for a 100ml bottle, I did look when I was last in Tesco at the first aid section and did notice that Tesco did there own antiseptic liquid for just 87p for a 250ml bottle. I always thought that TCP was cheap and didn't realise you could buy other brands? I guess when my bottle runs out I will have to try the Tesco brand.


TCP comes in a brown glass bottle which is great as it can be recycled after use; this is always a plus side. The design on the front is fairly basic and in green and blue, but a bottle that most will recognise.

TCP has loads of different uses for all ages, it really is multifunctional, and our favourite use is for cuts and grazes. Having two children we find that they fall and hurt themselves frequently so we always dash for the bottle in the bathroom cabinet. All you do is dilute the liquid with the same amount of water then dab on the cut. If the cut or graze is really bad you can use it undiluted, but we have found that once when my little girl fell over her cut was quite bas so we used it undiluted and she screamed the place down as it stung so much. Now my motto is no pain, no gain but in this case I may be wrong! I wouldn't advise not using this undiluted on children as it really does sting for a while and not worth the screaming after! I think when using this on any cut or graze you know that its cleaned properly, will eventually soothe the pain making it heal quicker. I always feel that when using this it does help to heal quicker, I never use plasters either as feel TCP is enough and mixed with the fresh air is a great combination.


What I use it for the most is mouth ulcers, which I do get periodically, and anyone who gets these now that they can be rather painful and uncomfortable. All you do is dab it neat on the ulcers three times a day, in my experience I have always found this an effective relief for ulcers. It always seems to relieve the pain and make it more comfortable, I know my mouth is more hygienic and the antiseptic is cleaning the infection. Now I Must warn you that if you don't like pain then it's not for you, I would advise you gargle with it instead with water as it's less painful, but as I said before no pain no gain! it really can sting!


Other uses of TCP include stings and bites which you use diluted with water, I've never used it for these I must admit as I usually use an antiseptic cream I don't know why I suppose I've always used the cream and its hard to break old habits.


TCP can also be used for relief of sore throats if gargled with water, now I have done this once but if I'm honest I didn't find it that effective so I went back to my good old cough medicine, but its worth a try as what doesn't work for me may work for you.


TCP can be used on spots, pimples or boils which I never knew, obviously I don't get spots and pimples now as I'm 31 but the boil one does interest me. I don't know why but my little girl does get the odd boil, the last one we had to take her to the doctors as it got rather big and she was prescribe some antibiotics to reduce it. Now if I knew you could use TCP on boils I would have put some on when it appeared, maybe this would have reduced it and avoided a trip to the doctors, and so when and if another appears I will definitely try this.


It does state on the label that you shouldn't use it on broken skin or if you are sensitive to the ingredients. If large amounts have been swallowed you should drink plenty of water and seek medical advice. In normal use you shouldn't get any side effects but if you do you should seek medical advice. This makes me believe that TCP is a safe medication to use in which has always proved to be so to me. With any medical products I'm always wary when using them on my children but I have always been very relaxed when using TCP.

The last thing that I will say about TCP is the smell, it's a smell that you will like or hate. Myself I hate it, it smells very clinical, and my wife loves it! If you use it the smell will linger for ages so use in well ventilated areas.

To sum it up I love TCP and its something I would never be without in our bathroom cabinet. I will definitely try and use it if my little girl gets another boil (gross) as I'm rather interested to see if it would work. TCP as I found out is not the cheapest antiseptic liquid available so I may try the cheaper Tesco's own brand when the TCP bottle is ran out just to see if it lives up to the well known TCP!

Summary: I would never be without it