Mixing These Cleaning Liquids Creates Toxic Fumes
Being
a bit of a germaphobe these days is natural, if not necessary, but when
we're so focused on cleaning and disinfecting all the surfaces in our home from the coronavirus
with whatever supplies we have on hand, we might forget that not all
chemicals mix well. In fact, mixing many household cleaners can end in
the worst way possible - with toxic fumes and corrosive chemicals being
spread throughout your home. Don't get us wrong, thorough cleaning is
VERY important, but be careful with the mixtures we list in this
article, as they can be incredibly dangerous and damaging to both your
home and your health.
How Do I Know Which Chemicals Are Safe to Mix?
First
things first, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you end up
inhaling toxic fumes, getting some of them on your skin, or
accidentally spreading cleaning chemicals in your eyes, mouth or nose,
and you're experiencing difficulty breathing, pain, lightheadedness, a
rash - seek medical help.
In
addition, it's always safer to keep the windows open while cleaning
with chemicals to air out the house, and it's also advisable to wear
protective gloves while working with chemicals, even if you think it's
something benign like a window cleaning solution.
When
it comes to working with different cleaning products, it's always
better to stick to one on a specific surface or to wait for the chemical
to dry completely before using a different cleaning solution. Layering
products right on top of each other usually won't make your home cleaner
anyway. On the contrary, it can make surfaces, like countertops,
furniture, and tables, sticky, therefore it's ill-advised.
However,
mixing certain household chemicals is especially dangerous, as all the
products you use to clean your home are chemicals, after all, and mixing
those can result in unexpected and often toxic chemical reactions. You
should be particularly careful with the following 7 combinations, many
of which include common disinfectants and cleaners like bleach, rubbing
alcohol, and even vinegar:
1. Mixing Toilet Cleaner and Bleach
Although
each toilet cleaning product has a different formula (depending on the
brand), most of these products contain various types of alcohols and
acids, which don't mix well with bleach. They can result in toxic fumes,
which can be extremely dangerous to humans and animals alike. Thus,
stick to one or the other, and never mix the two.
2. Mixing Ammonia and Bleach
While
most people don't casually keep ammonia in the cleaning cabinet these
days, that doesn't mean you don't have products that contain the
chemical in your home. In fact, it's very common, and a multitude of
common cleaners, such as glass cleaners, bathroom cleaners,
multi-surface cleaners, furniture polish, and stainless steel cleaners
contain it.
The
problem is that ammonia and bleach mixed create chlorine gas - an
incredibly toxic substance. Even in small concentrations, it can cause
eye and skin irritation, but if you happen to inhale more of it, it can
lead to permanent lung damage and can even be deadly. So, make sure
you're not using any products that contain ammonia with bleach, ever.
3. Mixing Different Drain Cleaners
Drain
cleaners are very highly concentrated, as their job is to get through
all that gunk clogging up the drain, but like many other products, the
active ingredients one brand uses will not necessarily be the same with
those featured in another brand's drain cleaner. This is a problem, as
many of these contain bleach, which is very reactive with other cleaning
agents, as you already know. For your own safety, don't use two
different types of drain cleaners together or immediately one after
another. Better safe than sorry.
4. Mixing Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach
Rubbing
alcohol and bleach are probably the two ingredients we hear the most of
lately, as both can destroy the virus we're trying to protect ourselves
from. And while the two are effective when used separately, mixing the
two together is extremely dangerous.
When
mixed, bleach and rubbing alcohol form two compounds - chloroform and
chloroacetone, both extremely toxic and hazardous. Chloroform is a
chemical that had been used to knock people unconscious in the past when
inhaled, but it is now considered a carcinogen. The other one -
chloroacetone - is essentially a type of tear gas. Neither of these
chemicals is something you'd like to experience, trust us.
product
that doesn't contain bleach but is advertised to whiten or remove
stains, such as Lysol, OxiClean, as well as many detergents, tile
cleaners, etc.
When
the two ingredients are combined, they yield peracetic acid - a
corrosive ingredient that will eat through and break down any surface it
touches, including the skin. Hence, be careful even with natural
alternatives to cleaning, as many contain either vinegar or hydrogen
peroxide.
7. Mixing Vinegar and Baking Soda
While the fizzy substance created when you mix baking soda and vinegar - the natural cleaning staples - is not toxic, but you have to be careful with this mixture nevertheless. This is because the reaction of the two chemicals releases carbon dioxide in great quantities, and if you happen to mix the two in a closed container, it may cause an explosion. Thus, always mix these two in a bowl, to avoid damaging your home or suffering an injury.
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