To clean the house thoroughly, we often mix several products to achieve better results. However, some household cleaners can become dangerous when combined with others. Here are some products you should never mix.
Cleaning your house requires vigilance to avoid harmful combinations.
1. Bleach and White Vinegar
White vinegar is a versatile product for cleaning and maintaining the home, disinfecting, and degreasing surfaces. However, mixing it with bleach is not recommended.
Household bleach contains 3 to 8 percent sodium hypochlorite. When mixed with the acetic acid in white vinegar or any acid, it releases chlorine gas, which is very harmful to health. According to a study published by the Emergency Medicine Journal, inhaling chlorine gas irritates the lungs and can cause acute respiratory damage.
2. Bleach and Descaler
Mixing bleach with any acid, including descaler, is risky. The acid in descaler reacts with bleach, releasing toxic chlorine gas.
3. Bleach and Ammonia
Sodium hypochlorite in bleach reacts with ammonia to release toxic chloramines. Exposure to these gases can cause coughing, nausea, irritation of the mucous membranes, and chest pain. Some cleaning products, such as window cleaners, contain ammonia, so never mix them with bleach.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide and White Vinegar
Hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen peroxide, is used for various cleaning tasks, such as disinfecting surfaces, whitening laundry, removing stains, neutralizing odors, and cleaning fruits and vegetables. However, mixing hydrogen peroxide with white vinegar creates peracetic acid, which is very irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.
5. Bleach and Household Alcohol
Combining these two products releases chloroform, which can cause dizziness, fatigue, and headaches. In high doses, chloroform is toxic to the heart, central nervous system, and liver.
6. Two Different Unblockers
Mixing two different pipe unblockers can be dangerous and may cause an explosion due to the powerful chemical agents they contain.
7. Two Different Brand Detergents
Avoid mixing household products from different brands because you cannot predict the reaction between different chemicals. Such combinations can be dangerous, as seen with the previous examples.
Homemade Cleaners to Avoid Toxic Products
Due to the toxicity of some products like bleach and ammonia, consider making your own household cleaners.
Homemade Detergent
You only need baking soda and black soap.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of black soap with 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 liter of water.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle. Use a damp microfiber sponge with this solution to clean the stove, sinks, or other surfaces.
Homemade Degreaser
To polish and degrease your kitchen naturally:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of soda crystals, 2 tablespoons of black soap, 1 liter of hot water, and 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a container.
- Pour the mixture into a bottle or spray.
Black soap is an effective degreaser for cleaning hobs, pans, or pots without damaging them. Soda crystals help dislodge dirt and disinfect surfaces.
By following these tips, you can clean your home safely and effectively without the risk of harmful chemical reactions.
