So today I might have taken a few years off my life by creating chlorine gas and inhaling it in an enclosed space.
Long story short, i decided to power wash a small bathroom (roughly 5ft by 5ft) with absolutely no ventilation. But being the brilliant cheesebag I am, i sprayed sodium hypochlorite from a small spray bottle all over the bathroom first. You know, to let it soak in and then power wash it all off.
Half way through spraying the SH all over, i noticed it reacting to something on the ground. Oh, its probably just cleaning up that urine that is covering the entire toilet seat and surrounding ground. Almost immediately, my lungs were hit with a ton of bricks. I ran out of the bathroom weezing and coughing.
So either the SH being sprayed finely into the air got into my lungs, or the bleach combined with the ammonia in the urine to create a chlorine gas. Either way, not good. Not fun.
I ran out into the fresh air, far away from the gas, and tried to get some clean air into my lungs. Unfortunately for me, all i could smell for the next 3 hours was chlorine, deep in my nasal cavities and lungs, no matter how fresh the air I breathed was.
Now if i were a smarter man, i would have said f- that, I’m done in that bathroom. But then, what would everyone in the powerwashing resource forums think of me? A quitter? Heck no.
I rolled up my sleeves and marched right back inside with my power washer in hand and sprayed that stinker out. It took some back and fourth to fresh air to get the job done, but I did it.
Now excuse me as I call poison control and/or head to the ER. Thank you for listening.
I wear a respirator while washing, I also use it in my bathroom when cleaning the shower after having to run out like you did several times.A respirator works very well, and it stops the mold and mildew from getting into your lungs while washing houses and concrete.
That happened to me one time when I was younger we tore up our carpet and I mopped the subfloor with bleach because we had a cat the urinated in a few places. I noticed the bleach reacting with the ammonia in the urine spots and the fumes almost knocked me over. I didn’t know. Now I do. My mom knew a woman who died cleaning a shower with bleach and then ammonia.
Long time ago when I first started washing for a paint company as a teen, it hit me that I had to take a leak. On of those bladder’s about to bust and there ain’t no time cause it’s coming now moments. Found a spot under a deck I had washed to sneak away to. Never again lol! Burned the fire out of my eyes and lungs.
One time I was cleaning an enclosed entrance to a YMCA. It was after hours and I had been about 12 hours on the clock at the time and just wanted to get done.
They had a couple bike racks (that I moved) there that left embedded rust stains. I treated it heavily with F9.
I did my other preparations(about a half hour) and then proceeded to pre treat with SH.
Man…I was wondering if I would make it out alive.
That was bad. I was working alone, couldn’t breathe enough to talk to call 911.
About 10 mins later I recovered and ended up finishing the job.
Next day it felt like I spent the night in a Hookah bar.
Be warned, never mix an acid and a base.
Molly maid got sued by employees years ago because they had their employees clean everything with Windex and bleach. Good way to turn your lungs to butter
Ive did this once at tractor supply. I knew there is ammonia in pee but didnt think it would be enough to worry about. My eyes were watering and lungs burning. Had to air it out over night
