Wiki: Bleach

[stuart noble]

What you have demonstrated is how difficult it is to keep something intrinsically complex and specialised within the confines of d-i-y

[Alan Braggins]

Bleach removes the colour of things by breaking chemical bonds, which might well affect their solubility.

As other people have said, household bleach is strongly alkali. So if the dirt includes oils or fats, they might undergo saponification (get turned to soap).

"Household bleach and pool chlorinator solutions are typically stabilized by a significant concentration of lye (caustic soda, NaOH) as part of the manufacturing reaction. Skin contact will produce caustic irritation or burns due to defatting and saponification of skin oils and destruction of tissue. The slippery feel of bleach on skin is due to this process."

[NT]

I've not got round to doing this yet. 'will produce irritation or burns' doesnt seem too realistic for domestic bleach.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

oh it does, as does caustic soda solution on yer hands. Unless you have nerve damage you will notice it pretty quick too in the case of caustic..