I had a typical stopped up shower drain (hair, soap) and poured some bleach down the drain and let it sit overnight. I then rinsed it away the next morning with cold water. Later in the afternoon I decided to try some industrial strength liquid drain-cleaner. Immediately upon my pouring it in it began to foam brown and splatter. Then followed positively the most horrible odor I have ever smelled in my life. It was so bad that people in the hallway could smell it. I turned on the shower and let it run, and the smell finally dissipated, and the drain was definitely clean. But now I have a slight dry cough, probably from inhaling the air. My question is whether the reaction was normal for burning the hair and soap, or was it a reaction to residual chlorine?

Can you list the ingredients of the drain cleaner? The reason being is that often chemical reactions from common cleaners can turn out deadly.
It sounds like you have gotten lucky.

Hi Sactoswan...

I'm pretty sure you'll be OK here, but I would advise you to call your state POISON CONTROL CENTER and let them know the ingredients in the drain cleaner and see what they think here... certainly the fastest way to determine if anything bad really happened, OK?

Here is an american association poison control center link that appears to be for the entire United States:

http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/default.aspx

Good luck!

Mark

NEVER mix bleach and other acid or caustic materials. Read the bleach label. You most likely produced some chlorine or chlorine dioxide, both of which are dangerous. As CD3 said, you were lucky. Google "bleach interactions"

Thanks to everyone who answered my question. Mark, I think you're right -- I'm fine now. The product label does warn about a "strong odor" and advises against "excessive inhalation" and recommends fresh air. No problem doing that. The website is: BetterBilt Chemical.

Since the drain wasn't damaged, I'm inclined to think it was a normal reaction to hair and soap very near the drain opening. But what a smell -- reminds me of how 17th century pirates used to make hand-grenades made of rotten meat, lit with a fuse. The smell was said to make sailors jump into the sea to escape it. I can definitely understand their motivation.

Again, thanks for the input.

The smell was definitrely a chemical reaction beyond simple reaction with hair and soap, especially when you factor in the chlorine bleach. See, here, this is the issue.. chlorine combined with the drain cleaner... ;)

Anyway, if you feel OK over the next few days then you are fine (super good news), and if not, please call the poison control center... only takes a few minutes and will put all our minds at ease!

FYI... check out this site for information on exactly what happened in your bathroom... very dangerous reaction:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_t..._sulfuric_acid

I don't mean to alarm you either... just want you informed as much as possible, OK?

Thanks you for posting your reply... we appreciate that!

Mark