perldiver: A false-color multi-spectrum image of Sol. (Default)
perldiver ([personal profile] perldiver) wrote2009-04-16 06:02 pm

Clever Dave

So I decided to bleach my sink, because that's the first step in the Shine Your Sink recipe from FlyLady.net, a website that [livejournal.com profile] yummygirl pointed me to on how to get the household side of your life under better control.  (Yeah, not too much backstory in THAT sentence!)

So I get the sink filling, I fill a 1-cup measure with bleach, dump it in, and then start to put the cup measure in the dishwasher.  "Ah," I think.  "The dishwasher is full, I'll run it."  Then Mr. Minopoli's voice drifts back to me from 11th-grade chemistry saying "Hey! Chlorine bleach leftovers on the cup, plus dishwasher detergent...chlorine gas ring any bells?" 

All things considered, I'll wait until the sink is empty, then clean it by hand before sticking it in the 'washer for double surety.

Two thoughts remain: 
  • I can't actually remember what the active ingredient in detergent that causes the reaction.  For that matter, is it even dishwasher detergent?  Can't quite recall.
  • Thank you, Mr. Minopoli.  As much of a pest as I'm sure I was with all my questions, you were a wonderful teacher.

[Update:  Ammonia!  That's it!] 

avram: (Default)

[personal profile] avram 2009-04-17 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
You could clean the cup in the bathroom sink.
ext_23444: This is a multi-spectrum false-color image of the Sun. (Default)

[identity profile] perldiver.livejournal.com 2009-04-17 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
It occurred to me. But I couldn't be bothered. :>