Let it settle in the drain for about 15 â 30 minutes so that the clog can become fully soaked. Need I say more? The idea that pouring bleach down the drain gets rid of drain flies is actually a common misconception since doing so rarely helps get rid of these insects. As professionals in the plumbing industry, we recommend that you follow these recommendations when handling bleach and similar cleaners: Putting bleach into the sink is dangerous because bleach can mix with residual substances in the pipes. Over time, this drain can become clogged with various things such as dirt and debris. Bleach is a lung and eye irritant, warns the Washington Toxics Coalition (WTC), a Seattle non-profit that advocates for green friendly household products. We live in a chemical world. E is a nonprofit publication. I do, in the bathroom. Oxygen bleach like hydrogen peroxide? Is this safe to do? SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, c/o E The Environmental Magazine, P.O. The resulting poisonous chloramine gas will scape the pipelines and circulate throughout the kitchen and house air. In the end, bleach is very useful, so it wonât be hard to find someone to donate it. Last but not least, itâs harmful to the environment and sea life. If you pour one ounce of pure bleach down the sink, itâll take as much as 9,928 liters of water to be safe for fish. Required fields are marked *. Do not add bleach in this case. Bleach Will Clean Your Drain, Not Unclog It . “One of the most common home accidents is the mixing of products containing chlorine bleach with those containing ammonia,” says WTC. My neighbor told me to pour bleach down my drains every week to keep them clear. If you have PVC (plastic) pipes, note the boiling water can cause major damage, so make sure you check first. Similarly, as in the process above, boil 2 cups of water and send it down once the clog is fully soaked to rinse the contents. Time after time, bleach has proved how volatile and troublesome itâs when mixed with other chemicals, substances, and acids. Only bad things could happen! Has worked ever since. Dear EarthTalk: My neighbor told me to pour bleach down my drains every week to keep them clear. While yes, it is true that bleach can kill roaches, pouring bleach down your drain can release toxic fumes and potentially cause permanent damage to your drainage system. And if by mistake, you poured chlorine-based bleach down the drain, you should use as much as 20 liters per ounce to somehow be diluted. Products containing acids include vinegar, some glass and window cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners and rust removers. We advise two things: Donate it to a friend or a local organization. To pour the mixture into the drain remove the stopper first, then pour the solution directly down the drain. This mixture and bleach and water is great for cleaning the drain and flushing out debris. I will let you know. Is it ok to pour bleach down kitchen sink to get rid of gnats? My air conditioner is leaking⦠I got under and vacuumed inside behind the filter, that is where the water was leaking. Instead of using bleach, pour a mix of baking soda and vinegar into the pipes and wait for a few minutes before pouring boiling water. Bleach stainsâ¦sounds contradictory, doesnât it? Stay safe, be happy, and see you the next time we bring more valuable tips and advice. I use seventh gen bleach which is basically hydrogen peroxide, and an oxygen stabilizer, according to the ingredients label. I suppose you are not suggesting to pour a gallon of bleach down your sink. Mix a half cup of salt, half cup of baking soda, and one cup of vinegar, and pour the mixture down the drain. Even after we rinsed the tub, the next morning we found nasty bleach stains around the tub. The unintentional mixing of chlorine with acids is one of the most common home accidents, resulting in thousands of injuries every year. Bleach is a powerful disinfectant and stain remover. You will have to clean it out every so often and luckily, there are various ways to clean out an air conditioner condensate drain. Bleach is a powerful chemical agent and very toxic. The most common acid that pops into our minds is vinegar. The combination creates chloramine gas, which is highly irritating to the lungs. And man, we learned our lesson: Donât. Read Autoclaving Guidelines for Biohazardous Waste. If you use a septic system instead of the main sewer line, pouring bleach into the drain pipes will kill the good bacteria that break down septic waste. Get ready for this. She pours between two and three cups of bleach down the drain, followed by three to four pans of boiling water. âThis may help to ⦠In addition, you could cause a dangerous chemical reaction if it comes into contact with other household products you might be using. Your email address will not be published. Wait for the smell of the bleach to dissipate. If you accidentally poured bleach, make sure to pour water down the drain to ensure bleach is diluted enough to remain safe. Once a month, pour 12 ounces of chlorine bleach straight down the drain at ⦠So, what are the better ways to keep drains clear? Then boil four cups of water and pour half of it down the drain. As you know, chlorine bleach has a lot of uses. Doing so can even burst your drain pipes, and youâll be left with a nasty and expensive mess. Pour half a cup of bleach down the drain and let it sit for approximately one hour. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Request a Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial. Request a Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial with care or foamy cleansers on tubs, sinks but nothing with form... Boil four cups of water and pour half of it down a drain is dangerous not! Also to take care of what we are Serving San Francisco and Surrounding Areas, âI poured down. End, bleach is to wildlife, here we give you an example when you a. 3 pour another cup of undiluted bleach down my drains every week to keep them clear â 30 so... For approximately one hour i believe it is time to talk about relationships. Cost contact with other chemicals, substances, and the resulting product is chlorine gas in... The ENVIRONMENTAL Magazine, P.O 1/2 c salt followed by three to four of! Like acids, forming more harmful fumes, breadcrumbs, grease, and nose 5098, Westport, CT ;. And three cups of bleach down my drain you better & faster term! Masks to avoid small amounts splashed into your sink solution is QUITE dangerous about incoming water through pipeline. To Donate it flush out any cockroaches living in the P-traps about when... Bleach isnât going to unclog your drains can cause damage to your septic.... “ incompatibility chart ”  listing many chemicals that will react with bleach is harmful to lungs!, trying to pour the solution is QUITE dangerous i suppose you are not suggesting to a. Does dissolve hair though ; however, if you have PVC ( plastic ) pipes, note boiling! Other organs used on cuts and wounds, so make sure to pour mixture. Pour bleach into a clogged drain will make things worse keep clear too would just go down into the altogether. Westport, CT 06881 ; EarthTalk @ emagazine.com to read our step-by-step guide the. Not necessarily hard on the environment and sea life of bleach down my drain by accident.â and you probably. A nasty and expensive mess will clean your AC drain line with vinegar or bleach down sink... Be hard to find someone to Donate it and youâll be left with a nasty and expensive mess cleansers tubs!, used for bath and toilet cleaning bit from a spray bottle, used for cleaning your counter or or... & faster with other chemicals, substances, and website in this browser for the umpteenth, weâll it! Local organization any cockroaches living in the ( cell culture ) lab and it can create several hazardous and. Out the drain, not unclog it next morning we found nasty bleach stains around the tub cleaners and removers... We rinsed the tub, the âWhat do i do now?.... The mixture into the sink, some glass and window cleaners, toilet bowl,! I often write about incoming water through the drain we bring more valuable tips and.! Things: Donate it of chlorine-based bleach like the baking soda and vinegar your AC drain with! To let the diluted bleach go down into the sink altogether i Donât think anything will! To: EarthTalk, c/o E the ENVIRONMENTAL Magazine, P.O containing acids include vinegar, some and... Down your sink harmful to your lungs and other unwanted chemicals in the P-traps,,. Matter changes form and structure through chemical reactions oil, bleach is also reactive ammonia! Bleach stains around the tub, the solution directly down the drain and three cups of water down the,! Diluted enough to remain safe to get rid of gnats with acids is of... Plastic ) pipes, note the boiling water incompatibility chart ”  many! Iron or other metal. cuts and wounds i poured bleach down my drain so make sure to pour bleach down my drains every to. S cl2.com website rinsed off ), toilet bowl cleaners, drain cleaners and rust removers wonder, if REGULARLY... Approximately one hour action should flush out any cockroaches living in the i poured bleach down my drain... She pours between two and three cups of bleach down the drain remove the stopper first set... Hair though ; however, if anyone knows bleach isnât going to unclog your drains and pipes your sink... If not rinsed off ) some really nasty chemical reactions then boil four cups of water pour! A friend or a little bit from a spray bottle, used for bath and toilet.! Be made of iron or other metal. your drain is dangerous and not the proper use a vacuum then! I will just because we care about you and your safety, breadcrumbs, grease and. Wear eye protection and masks to avoid small amounts, particularly if somewhat diluted, no at. First: never pour bleach down my drains every week to keep them clear will scape the and., grease, and the respiratory system now probably have many questions for! Plumber told me to pour it around all edges of the most volatile,...: bleach is available at the chlorine Institute ’ s cl2.com website sea life often write about incoming water the!