All homeowners want their homes to be sparkly clean and dirt-free. This is why they are always on the search for effective cleaners that can help them keep their houses spot-free. Bleach is perhaps one of the widely used chemicals under the cleaners category. Despite the widespread use of bleach, there are still so many questions along the lines of whether it is effective and safe to pour bleach down the drain. In this article, we have tried to tackle this specific question. Read the article to figure out how to use bleach safely and effectively for your drains.
Can You Pour Bleach Down the Kitchen Sink?
- Disinfects and kills 99.9% of common household bacteria in only 30 seconds
- Kills viruses that cause colds and flu
- Effective formula that removes tough stains, dirt, grease and grime
- With the smart tube technology, you can spray every drop
- 32 fluid ounce spray bottle of cleaner with Bleach
Last update on 2023-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Kitchen sinks are inarguably the most used items in any household, and this is why they require regular cleaning. Even though bleach is used for cleaning purposes, it is not a drain cleaner. However, many experts recommend homeowners to use bleach to sanitize their drains. This is because this toxic chemical is ideal for killing bacteria and making your kitchen germ-free. There is another use of the bleach. Since clogged kitchen drains produce a foul smell, pouring bleach down the drain is a good way to get rid of the stinky odor.
Although there are a number of benefits of using bleach for kitchen drains, it is equally important to have a thorough understanding of the effects of the bleach on other components. People often ask does bleach damage PVC pipes? PVC or polyvinyl chloride pipes undergo thermosetting – a hardening process – that lets the pipes develop resistance to harsh chemicals, including bleach. Even though it is safe to pour bleach down the drains, it is still advisable to use diluted bleach when cleaning PVC pipes.
Other Uses of Bleach in the Kitchen
If you have a habit of leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen sink overnight, you are likely to encounter roach-infestation in your kitchen. These critters create a nuisance in your kitchen, and you would want to get rid of them as soon as possible. One of the tried and test ways to get rid of the roaches is to pour some bleach down the drain.
Use of Bleach in the Toilet
- Pre-Labeled GHS Solvent Resistant Spray Bottle With 360 Degree Sprayer
- 360 Degree Solvent Resistant Bottles can be continuously sprayed sideways or upside-down - with no leakage
- Resistant to mineral oil based solvents and multifunctional oils
- Pre-affixed label includes all necessary GHS information for Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach)
- NOTICE: This bottle is EMPTY - it does NOT contain any contents inside
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Just like kitchen drains, bathroom drains also face clogging. They are also prone to becoming a habitat for germs and insects. Pouring some bleach down the shower drain is an effective way to keep your bathroom free from germs. However, it is important to mention that pouring bleach down shower drain to remove hair is not a good idea. This is because bleach doesn’t have the ability to dissolve debris. The best way to bust clogs is to use baking soda and vinegar solution. After that, you can use diluted bleach to disinfect the drain.
Can You Pour Bleach Down the Toilet
Many households have stained toilets, despite regular cleaning. This is because of the use of hardwater, which is common across all households. Just like you can use bleach in shower drains, you can safely use the solution for removing toilet stains.Pour down the bleach into the toilet bowl and let it sit for a couple of hours. Once the stains are beginning to disappear, flush away the bleach.
How to Dispose of Bleach Carefully
It is true that bleach is a toxic chemical, and it can cause serious problems if it comes in contact with your skin. Once you are done with using the solution for cleaning purpose, now comes an important part: how do you get rid of bleach?
If you have extra bleach left and you are uncertain about how to dispose it of, here’s what you can do. Pour the bleach down the toilet and then flush away. Another effective and safe way to dispose of the bleach is to pour it down the sink. Open the tap and start pouring bleach down the drain. When disposing of the bleach this way, make sure that the water is running. The running water will breakdown the bleach into salt and water and prevent it from damaging your PVC pipes.
If you have bottles that you won’t use in the foreseeable future, try giving them away. You can sell them online or can just give them to a friend or family. If you have large quantities of bleach in your home, you can call a waste disposal company to pick up the bleach and dispose it responsibly.
How to Pour Bleach Down the Drain – FAQs
Q: Is bleach safe for health?
Bleach is a common cleaning solution across all households. However, it is also true that bleach is a toxic chemical that has heavy fumes that can make you sick. Even if your skin comes in contact with the bleach, you will feel unbearable irritation. When using it for cleaning, use diluted bleach.
Q: Can I mix bleach with other cleaners?
Using bleach with other cleaners is not safe at all. This is because the mixture can produce toxic results.
Q: Are there any side effects of using the bleach?
As mentioned above, bleach is a harsh chemical. It may not only damage the surface, but it can also remove color.
Q: Can I use hot water with bleach?
Using hot water with bleach will result in the release of chlorine gas. This can be quite harmful to not only you or the person in charge of the cleaning, but it can also damage the PVC pipes or other surfaces it comes in contact with.
Q: Why does the article say that bleach is not a cleaner?
The purpose of a cleaner is to clean dirt and residue from any surface. Bleach, however, doesn’t do that. It is a disinfectant that will whiten clothing, kill germs, and remove tough stains. For cleaning the dirt and residue off a surface, you’d have to rinse and scrub the surface first and then apply the bleach solution.
The Final Word
When it comes to whether or not you can pour bleach down the drain, you have to first understand the nature of this chemical. The harsh chemical, even though effective as a disinfectant, has serious side effects as well. If you don’t dilute it, the toxic fumes of the chemical will mix in the air and cause trouble. Always be careful when using the bleaching solution for any kind of cleaning purpose.
