# Why Does Bleach Odor (and Other), LINGER

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 22, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566 "2021-04-22T20:50:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566/1 "2021-04-22T20:50:54Z")

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I just cleaned out an old container I had in my sink. It contained cole slaw that I had just a little too long. It wasn’t moldy or otherwise visibly spoiled. But just to be on the safe side, I thought I’d clean it with Comet (which as you know, contains bleach). I couldn’t find any Comet cleanser. So I just used Chlorox Bleach, which should be safe (my mother used it all the time, with no I’ll effects). Then I of course rinsed it thoroughly and washed my hands.

The only thing is, the odor still lingers on my hands. This has always been the case though, even with Comet I might add.

Why do some odors linger even after soap-and-water washings? Is there some chemical explanation for this? I also feel compelled to note germy smells, like dog doody. As a child, I could never clean that away. Even after I scrubbed and scrubbed _and scrubbed!_

What gives? 🙂

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566/2 "2021-04-22T21:11:06Z")

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Chlorine reacts with nitrogen compounds in your skin to make chloramines, which are really good at bonding to your skin. When you smell the aroma that most people think of as ‘chlorine smell’, you’re usually smelling chloramines, not elemental chlorine.

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**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566/3 "2021-04-22T21:30:08Z")

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It will dissipate, lucky for you. Fish odor takes longer. Worst is refrigerator smell. But unless you live in a refrigerator, you don’t have to worry about that.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566/4 "2021-04-22T21:31:48Z")

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Interestingly, again, fish odour is probably amines

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**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2021, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-bleach-odor-and-other-linger/940566/5 "2021-04-25T14:03:40Z")

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What about Pine Sol? That stuff reeks for days.