THANKS, RON! I've used the mixture in the Southern Boating receipe at least a half dozen times since it first appeared without the reaction you got, but based on what you say I cannot in good conscience recommend it now. My recommendation to everyone: DO NOT TRY THE SOUTHERN BOATING BILGE CLEANING RECIPE I POSTED ON OCT. 26. --Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, Fort Lauderdale -----Original Message----- >From: Ron Rogers <rcrogers6@gmail.com> >Sent: Oct 31, 2010 2:21 PM >To: 'Milt Baker' <miltbaker@mindspring.com>, 'Trawlers and Trawlering List' <trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com> >Subject: RE: Bilge cleaning recipe - Warning! > >You are recreating WWI in your bilge! I know because I just made a similar >mistake in my toilet bowl by adding too much Clorox to what was probably >uric acid. The chlorine gas liberated caused me to choke and run to turn on >a forward hatch exhaust fan - fast. Lemon juice is citric acid which, if >added to sodium hypochlorite liberates chlorine gas. Chlorine or phosgene >gas in sufficient concentrations can kill you or cripple your lungs. As a >child, I encountered two WWI gas survivors - not swell. To confirm my >experience, I just confirmed this chemical reaction via Google. Avoid this >powerful, albeit effective, mixture. > >Ron Rogers > >-----Original Message----- >From: Milt Baker >Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2010 9:29 PM > >Southern Boating magazine ran this recipe for bilge cleaner in Oct. 1998 and >I've used it with success many times on my Grand Bankses and once or twice >on the Nordhavn. This chemical brew does a terrific job of cleaning bilges >and getting rid of oily residue. If it doesn't do the job the first time >around, wait a week and do it all over again. Your bilges will be so white >you won't recognize them! > >Into a five-gallon bucket, pour one quart of ERA concentrated liquid or >similar laundry detergent. Add one gallon of Clorox or other chlorine bleach >and eight ounces of bottled lemon juice concentrate. Top off with water to >make four to five gallons. Turn off your bilge pumps, pour the mixture into >the bilge, and allow it to stand overnight if the boat rocks constantly or >longer if the boat does not rock much. A light rinse with a hose may be >needed to complete the job. > >Suck the mixture up with a portable bilge pump and dispose of it properly, >then turn your bilge pump switches back on. > >One caution: the chlorine odor is very strong, so don't plan to spend much >time on the boat while the mixture is in the bilge! > >Good luck!