OT: Urinal Cakes

Submitted by Route66 on
This is waaaaay off topic but I figured I would find out of anyone else has the same theory. So a co-worker and I were talking and we both noticed that there were new urinal cakes in the bathroom. Some might call them mints, others like myslef might soon call them a car air-freshner. I am plotting to break into the janitors closet and steal one. Well not really break in as the door is unlocked. They smell that good if you ask me. But then I would have to explain why my car smelled like a clean urinal.....you know you like the smell too. Anyway, my theory is that they dissolve from contact with the air and not from saturation of fluids like we all might initially think.(any chemists out there please help) This co-worker and I decided that when we had to go, we would use the same urinal and try and hit the same spot on the same cake.(not at the same time) This for sure would wear a hole in it over time. NOTHING. Days went by and we couldn't change the shape of that thing. We then lost interest and I continue to wonder how they shrink. Someone please explain this to me. Whether you think I am crazy or just very cool for bringing something up that no one else will, it took your mind of the recruiting process.
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mooseman

December 29th, 2008 at 4:21 PM ^

"This co-worker and I decided that when we had to go, we would use the same urinal and try and hit the same spot on the same cake" reminded me way too much of what I (and friends) might do. In summer camp (age 11-12) there was a trough and when the cake got small enough it could be propelled by the urine stream. We chose teams and had piss hockey. (It was really more of a shoot off) Good times.

Joined: 07/10/2008

MGoPoints: 35510

Sommy

December 29th, 2008 at 4:34 PM ^

I used to make it a point to pee directly into the plastic thing that holds the "fresh flush" or whatever in the toilets (I guess it was like the toilet equivalent of the urinal cake). I'd take pride in turning the water blue.

Joined: 07/29/2008

MGoPoints: 1806

TIMMMAAY

December 29th, 2008 at 5:44 PM ^

When I was about 12 (I think), I went camping w/ my family at sugarloaf. My cousin Chad (1yr. my junior) was there too. On the first night we were both in the bathroom, I just remember looking over at him when we were walking out; he was eating one. He had said something to me about them as we were pissing, I just didn't register what he said. I had a different view of him after that. Sorry, had to share.

Joined: 09/08/2008

MGoPoints: 56287

GeoTracker

December 29th, 2008 at 6:06 PM ^

Urinal cakes are made of people! Ok more serious, my guess is sublimation. It just goes from solid to gas. The wiki article made it sound like they are just giant pink mothballs.

Joined: 09/14/2008

MGoPoints: 945

Chrisgocomment

December 29th, 2008 at 6:39 PM ^

A+ Her name is Yoshimi - she's a black belt in karate Working for the city - she has to discipline her body - Cause she knows that it's demanding to defeat these Evil machines - I know she can beat them - Oh Yoshimi They don't believe me But you won't let those urinal cakes defeat me Oh Yoshimi They don't believe me But you won't let those urinal cakes eat me Those evil natured urinal cakes - they're programmed to Destroy us - She's gotta be strong to fight them - So she's taking lots of vitamins - cause she knows that It'd be tragic if those evil urinal cakes win - I know She can beat them -

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1287

Blue Durham

December 29th, 2008 at 6:39 PM ^

it goes. A bit of info: http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2006/06/apple-177-inventor-of-urinal-cak… It seems that these things have been having patent activity since at least 1922. And there are now ones that have audible messages called "urinal communicators" made by a company called Wizmark. I have missed out on these and now feel that my life is incomplete. It seems that the chemical composition depends on the manufacturer. Usually it is 1,4-dichlorobenzene, aka p-dichlorobenzene, aka PDB, with perfumes and germacides (such as didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, aka BARDAC 2250) and acid-stable protease enzymes added. Lowering the pH also allows for the neutralization of the ammonia smell typically associated with urine. Most have these above ingredients have very little water solubility. In short Route66, the effect of you and your friend, versus the "background noise" caused all others using the same urinal, is probably not noticeable given the typical water (or in this case urine) solubility of these things.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 6082

Route66

December 29th, 2008 at 10:21 PM ^

Thanks Durham for the technical answer. Also, I am glad to see some of you had a story. I knew I was not the only one. I hope I succeeded in what I was trying to accomplish......a little camaradarie!

Joined: 10/15/2008

MGoPoints: 1411

Route66

December 30th, 2008 at 10:20 AM ^

Per the Wikipedia link- "Placed above the urinal drain, they are air-activated and slowly evaporate when in contact with the air. Since they do not dissolve in water, they do not deodorize the flushing water and urine." Did one of you put that in there to make me feel better after this season of Death? Thanks Joeyb

Joined: 10/15/2008

MGoPoints: 1411