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[wierd]

Do we need to worry about our lungs disintegrating?

Yes and no.  What you need to worry about is the evolution of chloramine gases.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloramine

It is a nasty thing to inhale.  Can potentially cause all kinds of problems.  Its evolution comes about from the aggressive decomposition of proteins in the plumbing from the heated up hypochlorate solution.

This is why we open the bathroom window, first thing, and avoid breathing the gasses. I would go so far as to say that you should pour it slowly, then run from the bathroom and shut hte door behind you, and wait an hour.


It will however, COMPLETELY OBLITERATE the clog in that pipe.  (Most bathroom clogs are a mixture of toothpaste residue, shed skin cells, body oils, and hair. The heated up bleach destroys the hair and skin cell portions, by breaking down all the proteins they are comprised of, leaving just oils and toothpaste residue, which hot water will dislodge easily. )

[Trekkin]

This is why we open the bathroom window, first thing, and avoid breathing the gasses.

That is why we use a real drain cleaner according to package directions rather than mishandling bleach according to random Internet strangers.

[JoshuaFH]

This is why we open the bathroom window, first thing, and avoid breathing the gasses.

That is why we use a real drain cleaner according to package directions rather than mishandling bleach according to random Internet strangers.

He's not just a random internet stranger, he's *THE* internet stranger.

[wierd]

Yes, because the hydroxide in the drain cleaner is perfectly safe for metal pipes, and works really well for breaking down hair. /s

[dragdeler]

-snip-

[Dunamisdeos]

While I'm sure the above method is accurate, I am also sure that there are plenty of ways to use unnecessarily dangerous chemicals to clean things, and that furthermore the reason people don't do that is because those chemicals are unnecessary, and dangerous.

[Trekkin]

Yes, because the hydroxide in the drain cleaner is perfectly safe for metal pipes, and works really well for breaking down hair. /s

So use one without hydroxide. Most oxidizing drain cleaners use bleach and something to heat it when in contact with organic material anyway. It's just also tuned to do so more slowly, which mitigates vapor problems and improves penetration of the clog.

EDIT: Also, as Dunamisdeos says, there are infinitely many unnecessarily dangerous ways to do things. Nitroglycerin and a hammer make a fine drain cleaner too, but there's a reason we don't use it.

[MrRoboto75]

This is why we open the bathroom window, first thing, and avoid breathing the gasses.

That is why we use a real drain cleaner according to package directions rather than mishandling bleach according to random Internet strangers.

He's not just a random internet stranger, he's *THE* internet stranger.

His avatar is literally a scientist mixing chemicals.  What's not to trust.

[pisskop]

idk, all I heard was 'huff hairballs and warm bleach in a bag.  Maybe less healthy than huffing glue'.

[wierd]

huh?

subscribe me to wierd's chemistry crash courses asap

Most drain cleaners, like Draino and pals, are a mixture of a thickener and sodium hydroxide. (Lye).  This undergoes first dissociation reaction on contact with water (Sodium ion and the hydroxide ion separate from each other, similar to sodium and chlorine in salt water), and then the hydroxide likes to bond to things.

This includes copper found in copper and brass fittings, as well as the tin in galvanized pipes,  Iron is less susceptable, but since naked iron pipe is rarely a thing in bathrooms, its a nonstarter to think that way.  Instead, galvanized pipe ends up pitted and corroded as the tin coating gets eaten off. This encourages future clogs, cause areas where flowing water causes micro-vortex turbulence (see also, why do golf-balls have dimples), which can further erode the pipe from normal use.

PVC pipes are immune to the corrosion, but the heat of the reaction (which is prolonged, because it happens much more slowly than the bleach one, which finishes in seconds) causes structural weakening of the pipe.

[dragdeler]

-snip-

[Dunamisdeos]

There are liquid drain cleaners that are specifically safe for copper/galvanized pipes. Use those. Save your bleach for really safe things, like mixing with Pine-Sol for scent.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

For fucks sake don't do that.

Also tho, that was interesting to read and thx for sharing and such

[Kagus]

Just be sure to visit your local army surplus for a few gas masks. Remember to attach a filter and ensure that you put it on the intake valve, and not the outlet!

[dragdeler]

-snip-

[Dunamisdeos]

There are liquid drain cleaners that are specifically safe for copper/galvanized pipes. Use those. Save your bleach for really safe things, like mixing with Pine-Sol for scent.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

For fucks sake don't do that.

Also tho, that was interesting to read and thx for sharing and such

I'm allways thinking in case of a zombie apocalypse where all the drain cleaners have allready been looted. I'll steal the masks from the infected soldiers at the camp nearby, wcgw.

I support this logic wholeheartedly.