Why not Just Use Bleach?

    Finally, many floorcare product manufacturers will
Chlorine bleach has been used as a general germicidenot stand be-hind the performance of their floor
for many years.  In fact, some state healthpolishes if they are main-tained with chlorine bleach.
departments still recommend it as a sanitizer and 
disinfectant.  Chlorine bleach is also much cheaperWorker Safety – Chlo-rine is a strong irritant to
per gallon than hospital-grade disinfectant cleaners. human tissue. Violent reactions also can occur when
With all this going for it, why doesn’t everyonechlorine bleach is mixed with amines.  The reaction
use it?of chlorine and bowl cleaners containing hydrochloric
 acid can release deadly chlorine gas.  Every
   Here are some facts you should consider beforehousekeeper’s nightmare is a vision of the
adding bleach to your arsenal of maintenance“new guy” keeled over, head first into a
products:toilet bowl, after adding a little bleach to help the acid
 bowl cleaner brighten a little better.
  
  
   Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent.  In recent 
tests, chlorine bleach was exposed to samples of   Shelf Life – In just a short shipping and
commercial-grade copper, cold rolled steel, andstorage time,an industrial concentration of 12 percent
alu-minum.  The copper samples dis-colored in threecan fall to 7 to 10 per-cent. Efficacy – Chlorine
hours and showed green corrosion in 24 hours. bleach works best in a slightly acid to neutral pH
Aluminum showed signs of corrosion within 24 hours,range.  Alkaline soils must be removed prior to using
and on the surface of cold rolled steel rust formedthe bleach to prevent the chlo-rine from losing
within 30 minutes.effectiveness.  In other words, the surface must be
 clean if the chlorine (hypochlor-ite) is to have any
Some grades of stainless steel also can be damagedsignificant effect.  The only way you can be assured
from the use of products containing chlorine.  Aof killing organisms you want to control is to
process known as “hydrogen embrittlement”experiment with different ages/concentra-tions of
may occur as the chlorine bleach attacks the stainlessthe product and test the surfaces after use.
steel,trapping hydrogen gas in the pores of the 
metal.  Over time, the hydrogen can be released, 
resulting in weakened metal.  It is especially 
damaging to welded joints.   Cleaning Ability – Com-pared to modern
 disinfectant cleaners, chlorine bleach does not
 compare in cleaning ability.  If you are trying to clean
 and control germs simultaneously, consider one of the
   The American Concrete Insti-tute also cautionsnewer form-ula disinfectant detergents.  With dilution
that sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) will slowlyrates as low as 1:256, proven efficacy, longer shelf
disintegrate concrete and portland-based mortars orlife, and a less-corrosive nature, you might find the
grout.new disinfectant detergents are much better
 bargains than chlorine bleach.
 Hydrogen peroxide + citrus cleaner= Germicidal all
 purpose cleaner!