Bleach can be corrosive to the steel and ruin your sink. If you have a porcelain sink, check the pipes under your sink. Don't use bleach if you have stainless-steel pipes. Vinegar may be a reliable natural disinfectant, but if you're looking for something with more of a kick, bleach may be the way to go.
Bleach damages plumbing
The corrosive qualities of bleach can discolor your sink or drain, damage the blades of your garbage disposal, destroy rubber gaskets and corrode plastic or lead pipes (in older homes).
› We recommend that you do not use chlorine bleach in your stainless steel sink, as chlorine will attack the protective layer that makes stainless steel truly stainless. Any drain cleaning products containing sulphuric or hydrochloric acid will also attack the sink.
For white porcelain only, bleach can be used to remove stains; never use chlorine bleach in colored or vintage porcelain, as it can damage the finish. For both white and colored porcelain, liquid oxygen bleach (such as hydrogen peroxide) is a good alternative.
Bleach and cleaners with chlorine will stain and damage stainless steel. Don't leave dirty water and cleaning solution residues to dry on your stainless steel; it will create a dull finish and could leave permanent stains. Some tap water can be harsh and leave spots or stains. Use distilled or filtered water instead.
Wipe sink surfaces
Use the scrubber sponge to wipe the sink bowl and the fixtures with the bleach and water solution. Re-wipe as needed to keep surfaces wet for 6 minutes to disinfect.
Cleaning with Vinegar
Vinegar is another great option when it comes to removing bleach stains from stainless steel surfaces. All you need to do is mix equal parts vinegar and water in a bowl and use a soft cloth to apply the mixture directly onto the stain.
Highlights. Bleach can create dangerous chemicals when mixed with household cleaners and organic waste. Pouring bleach down the drain can ruin your pipes, leading to costly repairs. Contact your waste management authority if you need to get rid of bleach.
If you really want to use bleach, use a 1:50 ratio (a cap of bleach to one gallon of water) and then rinse thoroughly with water afterward. Hey, you gotta clean your sponge, too! For an extra deep clean, sanitize your drain too.
Bleach solutions require a full 10 minutes of contact time to ensure complete disinfection. If bleach solution evaporates in less than 10 minutes, a greater volume of solution should be applied. 5. After disinfection with bleach solutions, surfaces should be rinsed and dried.
Is Comet safe to use on Corian, Formica, porcelain, fiberglass and stainless steel. Yes. Comet Cleansers, Comet Soft Cleanser and Comet Bathroom Sprays are all safe to use on these surfaces.
As with any chlorinated product, bleach can damage stainless steel through a reaction known as "pitting corrosion": in the event of contact, small holes will rapidly form that will make your utensil unusable. Any chlorinated cleaning products, including bleach, should never be used to care for your stainless utensils.
Iron plus moisture on top of stainless can lead to surface rust and staining. Rubber dish mats, wet sponges and cleaning pads are a no-no for a lengthy stay in your sink. Since they trap water, discoloration and staining can result.
Preventative Maintenance
Pouring bleach into the drain when the unit is not operating can leave residual bleach, which will damage the drain pan and line. Using vinegar for preventative maintenance throughout the year will keep your drain clean and clear and will not damage your line.
While certain cleaners may not be compatible with PVC piping, bleach is usually safe to use in most applications, as long as it's used properly.
Yes. If the drain is not clogged but is simply smelly, try pouring a cup of liquid chlorine bleach down the drain and follow it with a stream of very hot water for about a minute or two. This action can sanitize but not unclog a drain because it cannot eat through hair, soap scum, and other gunk causing the blockage.
Bleach is not very effective at unblocking a sink and the bleach should not be left in the sink overnight because the chemicals can damage the connecting pipes. Repeated application of bleach to sink pipes made from copper, stainless steel, PVC or ABS plastic can result in corrosion over time.
A simple scrub made with baking soda and dish soap works great. First, I dry my sink because baking soda will dissolve on a wet sink. Then I sprinkle a little baking soda in my sink, add a couple drops of dish soap, and scrub with a scrubber until it comes clean.
“I use the time-honored baking soda and vinegar trick. Dump a good handful of baking soda into the drain, let sit (don't run any water) for 15 minutes, then pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup white vinegar down. Watch the bubbles, hear the pops and fizz, and let it sit for another 15 minutes. Then, boiling water and voila!
Pouring boiling water is quite risky as it might lead to a steam burn or scalding. Another thing to keep in mind is what type of material you are pouring in into. If you have a porcelain sink, it is likely to crack due to the heat. All in all, pouring boiling water down your drain will only cause issues down the road.
Can you clean with vinegar and bleach? You should never clean with these two ingredients combined. Mixing chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite, with any type of acid like vinegar creates chlorine gas, a dangerous chemical that's deadly in high volumes.
Bleach shouldn't be applied to copper or stainless steel appliances. That's because the corrosive chemicals in bleach can react with metal and leave behind stains and even corrosion, according to ARCSI. “Always use approved cleaners on metal surfaces. Also, never use bleach or ammonia to eliminate rust.
Although stainless steel sinks are resistant to many stains, they are susceptible to corrosion when exposed to harsh chemicals. Chlorine bleach is a powerful chemical that will corrode and discolor a stainless steel sink. What looks like a stain, is actually permanent damage to the surface of the sink.
Metal and stainless steel
But using bleach on metal surfaces can cause them to rust, so you should keep bleach away from metal. “As bleach contains ingredients that serve as oxidants, materials such as stainless steel can become corroded when exposed to bleach,” says Ana Andres, co-founder of TidyChoice.
Pouring bleach down the drain is dangerous since it reacts with substances in your pipes, release toxic fumes when mixed with other household cleaners, clog or damage your drains and pipes, and kill the good bacteria of your septic system.