AMMONIA & BLEACH = NO, NO

M5farms · May 2, 2018

Ammonia is an excellent glass cleaner . I use it most as a spray tank cleaner .

gwstang · May 2, 2018

Chlorine gas = 2.5 times heavier than air, so it will stay lower and won't dissipate unless there is wind to break it up. I've worked with ton cylinders filled with Chlorine Gas. I've been gassed twice. First one, an operator forgot to tell me that he thought he smelled some. Plant was closed up tight due to cold winter temps. I smelled it and went to investigate. Found it and closed off the tank. I had breathed some and had the drive heaves for several hours. Very unpleasant. Second time, New tank hook up and it leaked. Found that one fast and stopped it. Got a little sick. Used a weak solution of ammonia/water in a small squeeze bottle and it would make white smoke when in contact with the chlorine gas and that is how to find a leak. Glad we got rid of that stuff and went to a hypo-chlorite generator that makes a weak bleach solution from salt. Much safer. Water treatment....I do know....at least for one more month....lol Retirement just up ahead.

prichard · May 3, 2018

Congrats on upcoming retirement.

I worked in water plants for years and hated being anywhere near those cylinders. Hypoclorite is sooo much better.

Dadnatron · May 3, 2018

When I was a very small boy, I was at my Grandpa's house, and had to pee in the middle of the night. Little did I know that my Grandma was cleaning the toilet with some type of bleach product. I had NO idea what was going on, but I learned to shake and flush like a fiend.

We were a quiet bunch, and I was embarrassed. I asked my mom about it the next day, and she laughed and explained what was going on.

Still think about it every now and then.

Experience makes the best teacher... as long as you live through it.

PeterK · May 4, 2018

I leave an open jug of ammonia in my chimney cellar clean-out over the summer and fall, just let it evaporate. From what I've read, the vapor helps loosen creosote from the flue to keep it clean. My chimney guy said whatever I was doing, keep it up because it was clean when I had it inspected last year. Been using this for years for my wood furnace flue - burn 6 cord/year for the last 10 years and I clean it every year. Seems to work.

tjkubota93 · May 4, 2018

PeterK said:
I leave an open jug of ammonia in my chimney cellar clean-out over the summer and fall, just let it evaporate. From what I've read, the vapor helps loosen creosote from the flue to keep it clean. My chimney guy said whatever I was doing, keep it up because it was clean when I had it inspected last year. Been using this for years for my wood furnace flue - burn 6 cord/year for the last 10 years and I clean it every year. Seems to work.

I'm going to try that

FTG-05 · May 5, 2018

Another no-no is to allow water to get into a bucket of dry swimming pool chlorine. Chlorine gas and bad news is what happens.

It happened to me one time with my pool at my old house. Fortunately, I was a) the only one there, b) saw it happen in real time and c) it was right next to the deep end of the pool. Kicked it in and left the area. Closed off the pool from the house and back yard fence for the day. Fished the bucket out the next day.

JRobyn · May 5, 2018

And don't store plastic containers of chlorine tabs for any long term on your basement shelves. After a year or two, the plastic container will crack and everything metal within 20 ft. will be corroded!

cqaigy2 · May 5, 2018

Also, don't store in the trunk of a car, especially if you store flammable things like break fluid the trunk as well.

Was in a firefighting class and the instructor described an incident where a car caught on fire because those items were rolling around in the trunk, they figured the break fluid had leaked out and the bucket of swimming pool chlorine finally broke open. He said the fire was hot and quick.