Previous in Forum: Epoxy Resin for Glass Fiber Applications   Next in Forum: Specific Gravity of Steam
Close
Close
Close
36 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
Anonymous Poster

How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 8:22 AM

I have a bottle of Clorox in my workshop that has developed a leak. There is about 1/2 gallon left and I'd like to get rid of it. I don't use the stuff that often, so it would be a while before I used it up. I don't want to dump it down the drain as is, it would kill my septic system Can anyone give me a good method to neutralize it before dumping it down the drain or behind the workshop?

Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#1

Re: How to neutralize bleach?

10/22/2010 8:29 AM

I'd dilute it with water at about 10:1 and just pour it on the ground.

But, if you insist:

FAQ: How can I neutralize the damaging effects of chlorine bleach ...

Reply
6
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1688
Good Answers: 145
#2

Re: How to neutralize bleach?

10/22/2010 8:32 AM

Could you just give it to someone who has a half full bottle?

__________________
Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Reply Good Answer (Score 6)
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#4
In reply to #2

Re: How to neutralize bleach?

10/22/2010 8:40 AM

Slaps forehead, walks away wondering, "why didn't I think of that".

Reply
Anonymous Poster
#5
In reply to #4

Re: How to neutralize bleach?

10/22/2010 9:13 AM

roflmao and Doh!

However...

...my first thought was that I'd rather not cart a leaky bottle of bleach around if I don't have to.

Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Near ... New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Posts: 217
Good Answers: 3
#23
In reply to #2

Re: How to neutralize bleach?

10/23/2010 4:02 PM

Or you could tow it outside of the environment ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcU4t6zRAKg&feature=related

Reply
Guru
Hobbies - Fishing - Old Salt Hobbies - CNC - New Member United States - US - Statue of Liberty - New Member

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rosedale, Maryland USA
Posts: 5197
Good Answers: 266
#3

Re: How to neutralize bleach?

10/22/2010 8:39 AM

do the laundry

__________________
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty, pristine body but rather to come sliding in sideways, all used up and exclaiming, "Wow, what a ride!"
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#6

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 9:57 AM

Sodium bi-sulfate.

Reply
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on.
Posts: 32175
Good Answers: 839
#12
In reply to #6

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 5:24 PM

No deal. Try Sodium bisulphite instead.

__________________
"Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Izmir, Turkey
Posts: 2142
Good Answers: 31
#7

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 1:41 PM

This is the first time I have ever heard of someone having a problem disposing of such a common chemical!

Reply
2
Guru
United States - Member - Member Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Electrical Construction

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mid Western USA - The Corn Belt
Posts: 1439
Good Answers: 58
#8

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 2:19 PM

Get a 5 gallon pail.

Pour the 1/2 gallon of bleach into the 5 gallon pail.

Add one cup of common dish soap (Ivory, Joy, ect.) into the 5 gallon pail.

(Be sure to add bleach and THEN the soap, otherwise the soap will curdle)

Add 4 gallons of water into the 5 gallon pail.

Get a scrub brush with a long handle.

Apply this solution to your deck, siding, sidewalk, garage floor, garage door, whitewall tires, lawn furniture, dog/cat (just kidding), feed trough, garden equipment, ect., scrub as needed, and let soak for 3 to 5 minutes.

Rinse with high pressure washer (preferred) using clean water.

Disclaimer: Check for color fastness of item being cleaned in a small discrete area before use if unsure.

__________________
The first 5 days after a weekend are always the hardest................................
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#10
In reply to #8

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 3:13 PM

My dog doesn't have any discrete areas.

Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United States - Member - Member Engineering Fields - Electrical Engineering - Electrical Construction

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Mid Western USA - The Corn Belt
Posts: 1439
Good Answers: 58
#11
In reply to #10

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 3:45 PM

Laughed my A$$ off - thanks I needed that!

__________________
The first 5 days after a weekend are always the hardest................................
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
United States - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Petroleum Engineering - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Spring, Texas
Posts: 3403
Good Answers: 150
#14
In reply to #10

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 11:12 PM

they were surgically removed I assume?

__________________
Who is John Galt?
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Izmir, Turkey
Posts: 2142
Good Answers: 31
#17
In reply to #10

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 1:13 AM

An equal opportunity mess maker?

Reply Off Topic (Score 6)
Guru

Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 2446
Good Answers: 60
#9

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 2:22 PM
Reply
2
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on.
Posts: 32175
Good Answers: 839
#13

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 5:26 PM

Bleach will be used elsewhere in the household, and a typical use is toilet cleaner. Does the forum have to spell it out any further?

__________________
"Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
Reply Good Answer (Score 2)
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 940
Good Answers: 28
#35
In reply to #13

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

11/14/2010 6:33 AM

That still puts it in the septic system which he doesn't want to do. How about mixing it with plaster of Paris and then disposing of the lump.

__________________
Nothing exceeds like excess.
Reply
Guru
United States - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Petroleum Engineering - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Spring, Texas
Posts: 3403
Good Answers: 150
#15

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 11:14 PM

Quick! Somebody grab Stinky Pete before he hides again!

Yo Pete! It's BATHTIME AGAIN....

__________________
Who is John Galt?
Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: The cigarette-stained drunkard living in the cardboard box outside Marks & Sparks delivery entrance, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Basildon.
Posts: 487
#29
In reply to #15

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/24/2010 2:42 PM

Do the words "Get knotted" mean anything to you? <Cough, splutter>

__________________
Essex jobs for Essex yobs! <Burp>.
Reply
Guru
United States - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Petroleum Engineering - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Spring, Texas
Posts: 3403
Good Answers: 150
#16

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/22/2010 11:16 PM

You could develop some photographic film maybe?

__________________
Who is John Galt?
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#27
In reply to #16

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/24/2010 12:34 AM

You can use bleach to do something to film but I wouldn't call it developing. More like making trash.

Reply
Anonymous Poster
#18

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 1:26 AM

I'm not an engineer but... There is a concept of using another jug to hold said liquid. Just pour into another container and replace cap. Don't use a jug that held ammonia!!!

Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 940
Good Answers: 28
#36
In reply to #18

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

11/14/2010 6:35 AM

AND MARK THE JUG!!!

__________________
Nothing exceeds like excess.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Tamilnadu, India
Posts: 836
Good Answers: 42
#19

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 2:14 AM

If you are so concerned about the choline odour and want to chemically neutralize,

Dilute as much as possible, add 5to 10gpl urea[ exothermic heat absorber] or glycerin, or keep it inside indirect immersion in water bath. Now you can antichlor the stuff by any one of the following depending on the availability- Sodium hydrosulphite, sodium thio sulphate, sodium bi sulphite, sodium sulphide[all happened to be reducing agents] or Hydrogen peroxide [in calculated quantities only]

Another simple remedy is to dilute the same with water, keep it open outdoor for some days- chlorine is gone in air.

Consume it for white goods washing if possible.

__________________
Nature is so graceful and naked. Human possession is ridiculous.
Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 284
Good Answers: 18
#20

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 8:45 AM

By pure accident (no, really!), I've discovered that putting bleach in a toilet and then *ahem* leaking into it creates this amazing invisible cloud that smells strongly like ammonia. Close your bathroom door, trigger the chemo-generator, and sanitize your bathroom. :-) Open a window too, unless you're out to sanitize your whole house, hahahaha. Cheers! DZ

__________________
Do unto others. Then run.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Tamilnadu, India
Posts: 836
Good Answers: 42
#21
In reply to #20

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 10:42 AM

The O.P is concerned about the damage to digestive micro organism/ worms in the septic tank, which may get dead by chlorine. Otherwise your point is applicable, if you can bear with any foul odour in the absence of septic tank organisms

__________________
Nature is so graceful and naked. Human possession is ridiculous.
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#22
In reply to #20

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 1:11 PM

What did you eat the last couple of days?

Reply
Commentator

Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 56
#25
In reply to #20

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 5:27 PM

Q. How is this "amazing invisible cloud", visible if it was 'invisible' ?

Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 284
Good Answers: 18
#26
In reply to #25

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 5:45 PM

You, Sir, are DEAD ON. I pride myself for my precision in speech, I despise impossible imagery, and I abhor mixed metaphor. (I do rhyme and alliterate, though :P). My SINCERE recognition for your setting me straight. I'll keep an eye out for this from now on. Cheers, with gratitude. DZ P.S. No irony! P.P.S. That being said, that clouding may have been my corneas going opaque and stuff.

__________________
Do unto others. Then run.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1688
Good Answers: 145
#33
In reply to #26

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/28/2010 9:34 PM

IN YOUR POSTING: "I pride myself for my precision in speech"

FROM: Montreal, Canada (still under the Queen?)

Maybe you can help me someday. I usually have a terrible time when Mr. Del Cat puts a posting on CR4. Perhaps you could be the officially designated person to translate Queen's English to Real English.

Thank you,
Bruce

__________________
Few things limit our potential as much as knowing answers and setting aside questions.
Reply
Power-User

Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 142
Good Answers: 3
#24

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/23/2010 4:13 PM

IF YOU JUST LEAVE IT OPEN TO ATMOSPERE IT WILL GAS OFF IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS LEAVING ALMOST PURE WATER.

Reply
Guru
United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on.
Posts: 32175
Good Answers: 839
#28
In reply to #24

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/24/2010 2:38 PM

Here's hoping the OP will turn off Caps Lock first.

__________________
"Did you get my e-mail?" - "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place" - George Bernard Shaw, 1856
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#30
In reply to #28

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/25/2010 6:12 PM

Correction. Not the OP. The one right above you.

Reply
Guru
Technical Fields - Technical Writing - New Member Engineering Fields - Piping Design Engineering - New Member

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Richland, WA, USA
Posts: 21017
Good Answers: 795
#31

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/26/2010 11:59 AM

In the meantime, turn the bottle so that the leak is at the top.

__________________
In vino veritas; in cervisia carmen; in aqua E. coli.
Reply
Power-User

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Pacific, Mo.
Posts: 250
Good Answers: 5
#32

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

10/26/2010 4:30 PM

Give to someone to put in their pool.

__________________
“If you forget you have to struggle for improvement you go backward.”
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#34

Re: How to Neutralize Bleach?

11/01/2010 7:52 PM

Ordinary baking soda does an excellent job at neutralizing Clorox.Add soda till it stops foaming.Do not breathe the fumes.When done, the ph will be around 7 and safe for septic tank.

As for the guy that urinates into the clorox in his toilet, what you smell is actually chlorine gas,generated by the ammonia in urine when combined with the chlorox.Can be fatal if inhaled in a closed room with no ventilation.

Chlorine causes the air sacs in your lungs to exude fluid, causing you to drown in your own body fluids.Was used by the Germans in WWII.

'Nuff said.

Reply
Reply to Forum Thread 36 comments

Good Answers:

These comments received enough positive votes to make them "good answers".
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (7); BruceFlorida (2); CONWAYMECH (1); DreadZontar (2); Hornetson (1); Jaguar (2); KJK/USA (2); lyn (3); mrclean (1); one2playwitt (1); ozzb (1); peterg7lyq (1); PWSlack (3); Rorschach (3); russ123 (2); s.udhayamarthandan (2); Stinky Pete (1); Tornado (1)

Previous in Forum: Epoxy Resin for Glass Fiber Applications   Next in Forum: Specific Gravity of Steam

Advertisement