What are the common mistakes when using sodium hypochlorite?

1. Incorrect concentration usage

1. Direct use without dilution: Sodium hypochlorite is highly corrosive when the concentration is high. Some users may not realize that dilution is required and directly use high-concentration sodium hypochlorite for disinfection or bleaching. For example, directly using undiluted sodium hypochlorite to wash vegetables and fruits will not only destroy the nutritional content of the food, but also leave a large amount of sodium hypochlorite on the surface of the food, which is harmful to human health.

2. Improper dilution ratio: The user may not dilute the sodium hypochlorite in the correct ratio. If the dilution is too high, the disinfection or bleaching effect will be poor; if the dilution is too low, the disinfection object will be damaged due to the high concentration. For example, when used for fabric bleaching, the strength of the fabric fiber may decrease due to the high concentration, or even damage the fabric.

2. Incorrect mixed use

1. Mixing with acidic substances: This is a very dangerous mistake. Sodium hypochlorite mixed with acid (such as hydrochloric acid in toilet cleaner) will produce chlorine gas. Chlorine gas is a highly toxic gas. Inhaling a small amount may cause symptoms such as coughing and difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, it may lead to poisoning and death. For example, when cleaning the bathroom, if you use a disinfectant containing sodium hypochlorite and a toilet cleaner at the same time, this dangerous chemical reaction will occur.

2. Randomly mix with other disinfectants: Some people believe that using multiple disinfectants together will enhance the effect. However, when sodium hypochlorite is mixed with some iodine-containing disinfectants, peroxide disinfectants, etc., a chemical reaction may occur, which will not only not enhance the disinfection effect, but will produce harmful compounds or reduce the disinfection efficacy of each.

3. Misjudgment of disinfection objects

1. Use for non-corrosion-resistant materials: Not considering whether the material of the disinfection object can tolerate sodium hypochlorite. For example, using a large amount of sodium hypochlorite solution on the surface of unprotected metal products, such as copper, iron and other metals, will accelerate the corrosion of the metal. There are also some coated items, such as special coatings on the surface of some high-end furniture, and the use of sodium hypochlorite may damage the coating.

2. Misuse of special fabrics: rashly use sodium hypochlorite for bleaching without knowing the composition of the fabric. Some natural fiber fabrics (such as wool and silk) are sensitive to sodium hypochlorite, which may cause the fabric to fade, harden, and damage the fiber structure after use.

4. Errors in the operation process

1. Ignoring ventilation conditions: Using sodium hypochlorite for a long time in a closed or poorly ventilated environment without realizing that the pungent smell produced by its volatilization will irritate the human respiratory tract. For example, using a large amount of sodium hypochlorite for disinfection without opening windows for ventilation indoors will increase the indoor chlorine concentration and endanger human health.

2. Improper control of the action time: Either the action time is not guaranteed to be sufficient, which greatly reduces the disinfection or bleaching effect; or the sodium hypochlorite stays on the disinfected object for too long, causing excessive disinfection or damage. For example, when disinfecting tableware, if the soaking time is too short, it cannot effectively kill bacteria; but if the soaking time is too long, the patterns on the surface of the tableware may be corroded.

3. Not rinsing after use: After disinfecting vegetables, fruits, tableware, etc., they are not thoroughly rinsed with clean water, resulting in the residual sodium hypochlorite being ingested by the human body, which may irritate the oral, esophageal and gastrointestinal mucosa.