Chickenboy
Posts: 24520
Joined: 6/29/2002
From: San Antonio, TX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: geofflambert
nothing destroys organic matter like bleach except sulfuric acid
This is a widely circulated and patently incorrect assessment of bleach's disinfectant properties in the presence of organic matter. Dilute bleach is an effective disinfectant on smooth, non-porous, inorganic matter such as countertops, enamel ware, stainless steel, etc. The hypochlorite ion (the active disinfectant agent) fares poorly in the presence of organic matter, such as feces, dirt, wood and other common organic materials. It is bound very quickly by the organic debris and rendered ineffective. Another common problem with bleach is the lack of contact time and failure to rinse properly after contact time on the material in question.
For better efficacy in organic-rich environments, classes of phenolics or quartenary ammonia products are preferred. But these can be quite caustic or cause damage to unprotected materials, such as iron or other 'base' metals.
The use of sulfuric acid in a domestic setting for common disinfection is just plain silly and invites injury where none is due. Formalin / formaldehyde gas is a very effective aerosolized area disinfectant, but is quite hazardous to anything that you want to-you know-keep alive after exposure. Long gone are the days when one could drop a small brick of KMnO4 into a bucket of formalin to induce an exothermic reaction that aerosolized it throughout a house. Goodness knows I've never done that silly "dump and run" thing...
In general, one should thoroughly clean anything with soap and water *before* application of any disinfectant to remove offending organic material that may interfere with / inactivate the choice of disinfectant applied thereafter. This is often overlooked as a fundamental step in proper disinfection.
Clean, then apply apply appropriate disinfectant (should be dripping wet, not just sprinkled), then allow sufficient contact time, then rinse, let dry and return to use.
ETA: Follow sensible dilution guidelines for disinfection purposes. Don't use 'straight' bleach because 'if it's stronger it must be better'. Mix up a fresh dilution, use it quickly (the hypochlorite ion will 'off gas' and be ineffective in a relatively short period of time if left open to the air) and either let the rest sit out and off gas or dispose of it properly. If you have a septic system, do NOT dump the solution down the drain, as it may damage pipes, interact with the chlorine tablets in your septic and screw up the biota in your tank).
< Message edited by Chickenboy -- 6/13/2017 3:07:18 PM >
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RE: OT Things to ponder - 
Fraidy Cat says to Scaredy Cat "You flee precipitously because you are chicken. I retreat rapidly from an abundance of caution."
RE: OT Things to ponder - 
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