Bleach is a common cleaner found in most homes, but is it safe to use in homes with PVC piping? In short, yes. You can safely use bleach to clean and disinfect your PVC pipes, as long as you dilute it first and avoid mixing it with other chemicals.
During the colder months, bleach should not be used for drain lines that are made of PVC or ABS plastic. Chlorine bleach can quickly eat away at not only the line but the glue and cement joining the line to the fittings and the condensation pan.
Just like cooking oil, bleach is one of those things you shouldn't pour into your sink. You should also never use bleach to unclog your drains. Doing so can even burst your drain pipes, and you'll be left with a nasty and expensive mess. Last but not least, it's harmful to the environment and sea life.
In fact, the best way to clean PVC pipe is simple. To eliminate grease buildup in the pipes, heat a few gallons of water and then let it cool for about two minutes. Add a couple of drops of dishwashing soap, mix that in and pour it down the drain.
Don't use bleach to clean uPVC window frames or sills. It will damage the surface of the uPVC and can permanently discolour it.
The best way to clean the outside of a PVC pipe is to wipe the pipe with PVC cleaner using a pad or cloth. This is a specific solvent that is meant to clean PVC pipes, ideally prior to gluing PVC fittings and couplings together.
Step 2: Mix your eco-friendly window cleaning solution using 1 part distilled white vinegar and four-parts warm water. Using the soft sponge/cloth and vinegar solution, start wiping down the windows. Make sure you wipe down the windowsills too at this point.
For simple clogs or regular cleanings, warm water and dish soap often does the trick. To use this method, heat a few gallons of water in a pot, then let it cool for about two minutes. Mix in a few drops of dish soap, then pour it down the drain.
Specially formulated to remove outdoor dirt and grime quickly and easily from resin, plastic, rattan, wicker, wood, wrought iron, vinyl, PVC and canvas. Safe to use on all outdoor furniture including cushions, awnings, children's play equipment and more.
There are several ways to make the plastic more transparent. Use a finer grit sandpaper - really really fine: 1500 grit or finer, if you can get it. Plastic abrasive sponges are more gentle and can be used wet, so may create smaller, less deep scratches. Use toothpaste to "sand" the plastic in the first place.
No. Bleach is a very powerful and toxic substance, so you need to take particular caution in what you apply it to – pouring bleach down a drain does not constitute a proper use. Bleach has the potential to react with other substances in plumbing and pipework, and could end up causing further clogging of the system.
Bleach is a powerful, toxic substance that should be used carefully and properly, and pouring it down a drain is not a proper use. Bleach can react with other substances in your pipes, potentially release fumes, and further plug up the system.
The sun's ultraviolet rays can break down the structure of the material and make it brittle. If you have to run PVC above ground for any reason, it's recommended you take measures to protect the pipe from excessive sun exposure – either by painting the pipe or providing a covering.
However, PVC should not be used with esters, ketones, ethers and aromatic or chlorinated hydrocarbons. PVC will absorb these substances and this will lead to swelling and a reduction in tensile strength.
Cyanoacrylate and acrylic [PMMA, MMA, etc] based polymers can get good bonding at the molecular level. [ABS, PVC, HIPS] => Acetone and Methyl Ethyl Ketone [MEK aka 2-Butanone] will dissolve both ABS and PVC and chemically rebuild the joint in a less ordered manner as the solvents dries.
Best Eco-Friendly Drain Cleaner
If that's what you're looking for, then Biokleen's Bac-Out Drain Care Gel is an easy choice. Instead of harsh chemicals, this gel cleaner is formulated with natural enzymes that are still tough enough to break down build-up and dissolve moderate clogs—all without damaging your pipes.
Because of its corrosive nature, Drano can cause toilet bowls to crack, PVC pipes to melt or break and the glue that holds pipes together can be eaten away. If any of these things happen, you're going to be left with an inoperable plumbing system and costly repairs.
Is Liquid-Plumr® Clog Destroyer Plus+ Hair Clog Eliminator™ safe for plastic pipes? Yes. Laboratory tests confirm that this clog remover is safe for all household plumbing, including plastic pipes.
Soap & Water
This is the easiest way that you can clean your PVC fence. Just mix up a solution of some water and dish soap and grab a non-abrasive pad or cleaning cloth. It's amazing the amount of grime and dirt that will come off of your fence.
If PVC clothing is not soiled, the inside can be freshened up with a fabric refresher product and the plastic outside can be wiped with a damp sponge. If necessary, PVC clothes can be hand washed with warm water and a small amount of liquid detergent.
In the case of greasy prints or splashes, the surface of the plastic sheet can be gently cleaned with isopropyl alcohol. Keep in mind that the surface of the PVC will become slightly matt if you rub firmly, or if you use other cleaning agents! Do not use spirits, acetone or thinner to clean the plastic sheet!
- Rag / Cloth
Saturate a part of the cloth with acetone (which can be found in standard nail polish remover). Rub the marked up PVC pipe or fitting to remove the print and dirt. Repeat until clean. This process actually removes that outer layer of PVC from the pipe.
Then, rinse in warm soapy water. Freedman favors distilled white vinegar as a stain-buster: Fill the stained plastic with 1 part water and 1 part vinegar. Soak overnight or until you see the stain fade.