Most homeowners love using bleach for domestic cleaning purposes as it’s a mild alkali that has a lot of cleaning power. Bleach is simply sodium hydroxide or caustic soda. However, they should avoid mixing it with acidic detergents.
When acids and bases react, they undergo the neutralization process, producing salts and water. The salts are extremely corrosive to your skin. You need to be careful when mixing detergents because if you play with fire, you’ll get burnt.
What Cleaning Products Should Not Be Mixed With Bleach?
Avoid mixing the following cleaning agents with bleach as they can be hazardous:
- Methanal
- Vinegar
- Disinfectants
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
1. Methanal And Bleach
Methanal plays a major role in killing spores and resistant viruses, especially in medical labs and morgues. However, it’s too potent to be used as a household cleaning product.
While you want a powerful detergent that purges dirt and harmful microorganisms from your home, you need to decide how much is too much. Methanal may be the ideal choice for cleaning biochemical wastes in morgues and medical labs but not your home.
Bleach and methanol combine to form a compound that poses the following risks:
- Causing skin allergies
- Produces a gas that irritates the eyes
- Inhalation of the gas causes asthma
- Causes ear nose and throat diseases
2. Vinegar And Bleach
Vinegar is a mild stain remover that’s safe to use for household cleaning chores. When used to clean garments, it dissolves greases, waxes, and oils without damaging the fabric. It also helps to clean toilets and bathrooms, leaving your surfaces sparkling.
While vinegar may be your ideal choice for home cleaning operations, you should never mix it with bleach. The two combine to form a double edged sword that can cause more harm than good. When vinegar reacts with bleach, it produces sodium acetate that’s risky because:
- It can damage the skin with chemical burns
- It emits a fume that causes respiratory irritations
- The vapor causes cardiovascular effects
- It’s a carcinogen (causes cancer)
3. Disinfectant And Bleach
Most disinfectants are great industrial cleaning agents in homes, hospitals, and industries. Bleach will clean your home surfaces and appliances without the side effects. But industrial cleaning operations require skills and protective gear that you might not have at home.
Unfortunately, most homeowners combine disinfectants and bleach, and in many instances, they tread on dangerous ground. The combination seems like a powerful cleaning agent but you should never mix the two.
This combination creates chlorine gas that’s dangerous because:
- Exposure to high concentrations can be lethal
- It’s harmful to the skin, eyes, kidneys, and blood
- It’s extremely corrosive
- The acid is combustible
4. Ammonia And Bleach
Ammonia is a great cleaner for ovens, microwaves, and floors. It’s a safe cleaner for glass and mirrors. Just like bleach, Ammonia is a great cleaner in its own right. However, don’t assume that the combined forces will do you a power of good.
Besides irritating your hands, it might cause permanent damage to your porcelain finishes. Inhaling Ammonia gas is risky to users because:
- It burns the respiratory tract
- It causes alveolar edema
- Causes nose irritations
- Prolonged contact can corrode the skin
5. Chlorine And Bleach
Chlorine is a powerful disinfectant that kills bacteria. Chlorine is widely used to clean toilets. Chlorine is also used to treat water and remove chemicals to ensure it’s safe to drink. It’s also a key ingredient when making detergents that kill microbes in the toilet.
Chlorine has the firepower to kill harmful microbes in toilets. However, in most situations, it’s not just the germs that suffer. When mixed with bleach, it forms sodium chlorate that’s dangerous because:
- It causes respiratory problems
- It’s an oxidizer that supports combustion of other elements
- It can damage blood cells
- It kills vegetation and annihilates everything around it
Chlorine is a powerful cleaner that can help to keep your home free of toxic microorganisms. However, it becomes lethal once mixed with bleach.
