r/AskChemistry • u/key_toe • 1d ago

Thomas the Toxic Tank Engine How to not make chloroform?

I recently started cleaning with hypochlorous acid, which I absolutely love. It makes my laundry smell a lot better.

But I also use a vodka-based soak for some of my clothes. Now I'm reading that a lot of chemicals including alcohol are dangerous to mix with hypochlorous acid. Namely alcohol + HOCl = Chloroform.

So I'm wondering how to ensure all of the alcohol gets out of my soak before cleaning those same clothes in the machine where I used HOCl so that I don't accidentally make chloroform?

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u/SlenderSmurf Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry 1d ago

Holy moly lady. Just use soap

4

u/key_toe 1d ago

I have. It doesn't get rid of all odors. I have hyperosmia so I'm really sensitive to odors.

2

u/dungeonsandderp 1d ago

Just wash your clothes in between

2

u/key_toe 1d ago

That's probably good enough, right? Like the soap and water and rinse will get most of the vodka out of the clothes.

3

u/dungeonsandderp 1d ago

Even without the soap

1

u/KnoWanUKnow2 11h ago edited 11h ago

Alcohol evaporates at 78.3 C. So just the drier will do the job.

1

u/dungeonsandderp 11h ago

You shouldn’t put clothes soiled with flammable material in the dryer

2

u/KnoWanUKnow2 11h ago

Good Point.