Reassurance needed: Poured bleach on urine in toilet

[wildflower93]

I'm sure this must have happened to people other than me before?

I'm absolutely freaking out.

I noticed that the toilet started to bubble and then realised there was paper and wee still in there.

Google has either told me that it's really bad or it's fine and nothing in between.

I've rang 111 as tried to ring poison control myself but they only speak to those passed through 111.

Please no nasty comments. I've gone to my parents' house with my 2 year old.

I struggle with contamination OCD but have had an upset stomach and don't usually use bleach 😩

I had no idea bleach and wee were a thing. How did I get to over 60 and not know this? Not trying to sound flippant but I genuinely didn’t know.

OCD can be very debilitating, I’m sorry you are struggling tonight OP. I hope you are a little bit reassured by this thread.

Ammonia (in pee) plus beach = mustard gas.

Mustard gas was used to kill soldiers and spread terror on the westen front in WW1.

It is toxic, but you wouldn't create enough with a normal pee and some bleach to cause a problem. Opening a window and flushing would solve any possible issue.

Bleach plus any product or body fluid that contains ammonia will create mustard gas.

All products containing bleach and all products containing ammonia have warnings about mixing with the other (at least they do in the US where I live).

I'm really surprised there are so many posters here who are unaware of the hazards of mixing ammonia and bleach.

They do, and it comes with a warning.

I guess manufacturers assume people know there's ammonia in pee.

If there’s enough ammonia in your urine to react with the bleach and cause a health problem then you need to see a doctor about what’s going on in your kidneys. People wee in swimming pools and though that’s unpleasant, I am prepared to bet that no one has ever been gassed as a result.

My googling tells me that mustard gas also contains sulphur.

Please be reassured regarding the bleach and urine.
When you wee into the bleach in the toilet bowl, there is a chemical reaction and yes, it does bubble. That's because chlorine gas is being released, you can usually smell it - rather like the chlorine you can smell in swimming pools.
It isn't really mustard gas which has extra stuff mixed in, such as sulphur.
If you look it up on Google you will see all sorts of doom-laden "don't do this" but in the average home, with a normal amount of wee and bleach, you won't come to any harm.
Just flush the toilet so that it's all flushed away, mixing with the toilet water neutralises the effects anyway, although there may be a slight residue next time you use the toilet. If you're worried about the smell, open a window or just wait, it will dissipate in the air and be fine.
I know it must be so worrying if you have OCD but I hope some reassurance might be helpful.

Blips happen and there was a genuine reaction that could have been dangerous but luckily wasn't.

no, they're really isn't. Otherwise half the population would have gassed themselves by now.

They wouldn't be allowed to sell something that goes down the toilet if it causes a dangerous reaction with wee as it's inevitable they will mix sometimes.

What worries me is that you still seem to think it was risky, rather than realising that it was your OCD and that you overreacted.

In my work with people with mental health problems I often hear stories of medics saying very unhelpful things that can stay with people for years. Please have some empathy for the OP. OCD is torturous for the person suffering from it. It might look like a completely overblown reaction to you but to the OP's mind, this is a very valid and real fear.

OP, I hope you continue to get the input you need for your OCD. I would highly recommend EMDR if you haven't already tried it (I'm a clinical psychologist).

On occasion I forget I’ve put bleach in the loo and I go to the toilet on top of it, never thought this might poison me. I’ve been fine!

I get it. I used a cheaper bleach the other week and then accidentally poured it into an unflushed toilet with pee in it. The chlorine smell was incredible and spread throughout the house, made my eyes and throat sting, I panicked.

However, I opened all the windows, flushed the toilet and we're all still here.

I posted on Mumsnet a year or so ago as I'd accidentally mixed bleach with washing up liquid and actually had some kind replies, thankfully, so I get the anxiety, I really do!

Hopefully you're less stressed this morning :)