Cleaning products that should never be mixed, according to a poison control expert.
“Read this *before* you start sanitizing your house.“
The following written content by Maggie O’Neill
We’re all in the cleaning mood nowadays, whether we like it or not. It’s a good habit, of course, now that COVID-19 is a regular part of our lives; but sometimes cleaning products can cause just as much harm as the protection they provide—and more doesn’t always equal better.
One of the main concerns when it comes to using household cleaning products is mixing them improperly. Even when two products are safe to use on their own, mixing them can be harmful to your health. “These [cleaners] can be pretty strong. They do have health effects,” Diane Calello, MD, executive and medical director of New Jersey Poison Center and an associate professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, tells Health. And some combinations—while still harmful to most—can be especially dangerous to those with certain health conditions, like asthma, COPD, and lung disease. Additionally, people who have recently had a lung transplant and older people are more likely to suffer from these combinations, according to Dr. Calello, due to decreased respiratory function.
Overall, a good rule of thumb is never to mix any cleaning products—but according to Dr. Calello, these five combinations should be avoided at all costs.
Bleach + vinegar
“Bleach and vinegar is a common mishap,” Dr. Calello tells Health. When mixed, bleach and vinegar produce chlorine gas. “When you breathe in, [chlorine gas] generates acid in the lungs,” says Dr. Calello (you don’t need a chemistry degree to guess that isn’t healthy). Symptoms you would notice if you made this mistake include: burning eyes, a burning sensation in your throat, deep breaths that feel painful, coughing, and an increasingly difficult time breathing easily.
Bleach + ammonia
It’s also important to avoid mixing bleach with ammonia, which is found in many household cleaning products like window cleaners and floor waxes. (Tip: Always look at the ingredients label before mixing or using multiple household products). Mixing bleach with ammonia could result in the release of toxic chloramine gas—which also generates acid in your lungs when inhaled, says Dr. Calello—and can be fatal, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Mixing bleach with ammonia can cause chest pain and shortness of breath, and it requires immediate medical attention. Read more from Health.
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