What's the deal with storing bleach in glass containers? Why is it any better? Most chemical reagents come in plastic, unless they are reactive to it.

Also what's the deal with powdered bleach GN says to buy. The only "powdered bleach" I see on the net is a whitener, not bleach.

-- a (a@a.a), January 03, 1999

Answers

The "powdered bleach" is pool shock treatment. You need to purchase the 5# jar at the hardware store that contains 65-70% calcium hypochlorite - NO OTHER INGREDIENTS. 10 tablespoons added to one gallon of water makes bleach. DO NOT MIX INDOORS OR CLOSE TO WALLS . . . unless you want to do permanent damage to your lungs and paint. This will make 93 gallons of bleach, or roughly enough product to treat 700,000 gallons of water.

Jeff

-- Jeffrey G. Bane (thebanezoo@apex2000.net), January 03, 1999.

Look on your plastic bottles of bleach and look at the expiration date. Bleach in plastic bottles will eventually leach out, where as it won't in glass. Years ago, bleach came in amber colored bottles. It prevented the bleach from being exposed to sunlight or fluorescent lighting which changed the potency of the bleach. I just bought a jug of bleach and the expiration date is only for 6 months. I can pour this into glass and it will last for 3-5 years maybe even longer. You can't run the risk of not having bleach available, it should be near the top of all "must have" lists.

-- Bardou (Bardou@baloney.com), January 03, 1999.

I may be naieve but are you talking about regular bleach such as Clorox? I have a bottle in front of me and there is no expiration date. There is a number - 1.800.292.2200. No one there are present but will try to verify.

-- lparks (lparks@eurekanet.com), January 03, 1999.

I have a store brand with the expiration date stamped on it, June 99. Bleach is bleach. Also, make sure you don't buy the scented varieties, unless you like drinking scented water.

-- bardou (Bardou@baloney.com), January 03, 1999.

We don't use a lot of bleach so the half-empty plastic jug of it in our laundry room has been there for three years- at least. There is nothing wrong with either the container or the bleach.

-- Maria (encelia@mailexcite.com), January 04, 1999.

You are not going to know if the bleach is reacting with the plastic container; it's a chemical process. Just get some new bleach and store it in glass containers. Is it really worth the consequences, since we're talking about drinking the stuff? I like my bleached water with as little plastic container in it as possible, thank you.

-- jhollander (hollander@ij.net), January 04, 1999.