These dangerous duos could leave you coughing and wheezing — or even explode.
When you're faced with a tough cleaning job, it's easy to get frustrated — and tempting to get creative with how you combat it. But before you reach for every cleaning product under your sink and start playing chemist, take caution. "People often think that if one product works, mixing it with another one will make it even better," says Carolyn Forte, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.
But here's the scary truth: "Certain products, which are safe when used alone, can sometimes cause unsafe fumes or other chemical reactions when mixed with other products," says Nancy Bock, Senior VP of Education at the American Cleaning Institute. And even if your ad-hoc cleaner combo isn't dangerous or toxic, you can never be sure what effect two products can have on a surface or fabric when combined.
Always read the warning and ingredient labels on cleaning products — and never mix these:
1. Bleach + Vinegar
The combination sounds like it'd be a powerful disinfectant, but the two should never be mixed. "Together, they produce chlorine gas, which even at low levels, can cause coughing, breathing problems, and burning, watery eyes," says Forte.
2. Baking Soda + Vinegar
We're calling you out, Pinterest: Although these pantry staples are handy on their own — both baking soda and vinegar can help clean all over the house — you should skip any DIY cleaner recipe that involves this not-so-dynamic duo.
"Baking soda is basic and vinegar is acidic," says Bock. "When you put them together you get mostly water and sodium acetate. But really, just mostly water." Plus, vinegar causes baking soda to foam up. If stored in a closed container, the mixture can explode.
3. Bleach + Ammonia
Bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine. "It causes the same symptoms as bleach and vinegar — along with shortness of breath and chest pain," says Forte. Many glass and window cleaners contain ammonia, so never mix those with bleach.
4. Drain Cleaner + Drain Cleaner
"I would never recommend mixing two different drain cleaners or even using one right after the other," says Forte. "These are powerful formulas, and could even explode if combined." Use one product according to package directions (typically, only half a bottle is needed per treatment). If it doesn't work, don't try another product. Instead, call a plumber, Forte says.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar
You may have heard that you should spray fruits or countertops with alternating mists of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, wiping down the surface between sprays. Experts say this method is safe — but don't mix the two products in the same container. Combining them creates peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.
6. Bleach + Rubbing Alcohol
Perhaps you've heard of chloroform? You know, the stuff kidnappers in the movies put on rags to knock out their victims? Although it might not actually make you pass out, this combination can be irritating and toxic. Make it a rule to never mix bleach with anything but plain water. "Even other products like window and toilet bowl cleaners can have ingredients, like acids or ammonia, that shouldn't be mixed with bleach," says Forte.
Senior Editor
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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FAQs
What cleaning products should you never mix? ›
- Bleach + Vinegar = Chlorine gas. This can lead to coughing, breathing problems, burning and watery eyes. ...
- Bleach + Ammonia = Chloramine. ...
- Bleach + Rubbing alcohol = Chloroform. ...
- Hydrogen peroxide + Vinegar = peracetic/ peroxyacetic acid.
Summary: Mixing certain cleaners can cause chemical reactions that lead to the formation of toxic substances. Mixing cleaners can quickly produce toxic fumes and if you inhale these fumes, it could cause irritation or burning of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing, difficulty breathing, lung damage, and even death.
What cleaning products should not be mixed with bleach? ›Don't mix bleach with ammonia, acids, or other cleaners.
Mixing bleach with common cleaning products can cause serious injuries. Be sure to always read the product label before using a cleaning product.
Mixing bleach with glass cleaner like Windex releases toxic gases and produces toxic chemicals. One of the ingredients in Windex is ammonia. The combination of ammonia and bleach's main ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, produces chloramine vapor.
What should not be mixed when cleaning a toilet? ›Never mix bleach and ammonia cleaners. This brew creates gases called chloramines, which can quickly cause eye, nose and throat irritation, and even death. Acid-based toilet bowl cleaners and bleach are also a very dangerous blend.
Can you mix Pine-Sol and Dawn dish soap? ›A: We do not recommend mixing any Pine-Sol® product with other cleaning products or chemicals. Mixing cleaners can result in the release of hazardous gases.
What should you not mix with vinegar? ›- Hydrogen peroxide + vinegar. You may assume that combining these two ingredients in the same bottle will boost their cleaning power, but it's more likely to increase your risk of going to the emergency room. ...
- Bleach + vinegar. ...
- Baking soda + vinegar.
For floors: Mix ¼ cup in a gallon of room temperature water. For bathrooms & walls: Use on a sponge and clean. Pour directly into a sponge to better remove grease on hard, non-porous surfaces. For better stain removal, mix product with water.
What is the golden rule for cleaning? ›Clean from the top down
Don't fight gravity when you clean. You'll lose. Working from high to low almost always works better in cleaning situations. When you're cleaning the entire house, start on the top floor and work your way down to avoid tracking through rooms you have already cleaned.
- Bathroom Cleaner. Regardless of the size of your facility, bathroom cleaner is likely to be number one on your must-have cleaning supplies list. ...
- Disinfectants. ...
- Floor Care Products. ...
- Glass Cleaner. ...
- Disposable Gloves. ...
- Degreasers. ...
- Dish Detergent. ...
- Laundry Detergent.
What should you not mix with hydrogen peroxide? ›
Don't mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar can be used on the same surface as long as it dries in between applications but they should never be mixed. When the two are mixed, it creates peracetic acid, which can harm the skin, eyes, throat, nose and lungs.
Hydrogen peroxide + vinegar
While these two chemicals can be used in succession as a cleaning duo, do not mix them together. “Combining these two creates peracetic acid or corrosive acid, an irritant that, in high concentrations, can harm the skin, eyes, throat, nose, and lungs,” says Bock.
Pine-Sol is an all-purpose ammonia-based cleaner available in a variety of scents, including Original Pine, Lemon Fresh and Ocean Fresh. Mixing Pine-Sol with extra ammonia can increase its cleaning power for stubborn stains and especially dirty jobs.
What happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar? ›When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, something new is formed. The mixture quickly foams up with carbon dioxide gas. If enough vinegar is used, all of the baking soda can be made to react and disappear into the vinegar solution.
What can you not clean with baking soda? ›- 1) Antique silver. Although baking soda can pretty quickly remove tarnish from silverware, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a good idea to use it. ...
- 2) Marble. ...
- 3) Ceramic cooktop. ...
- 4) Aluminum. ...
- 5) Gold-plated items.
You should never clean with these two ingredients combined. Mixing chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite, with any type of acid like vinegar creates chlorine gas, a dangerous chemical that's deadly in high volumes.
What are the only 3 things you should flush down the toilet? ›There are only three things you can safely flush down the toilet into the sewer system —pee, poo and (toilet) paper. Just remember those three as the three Ps that you can flush. And don't forget, "flushable" wipes are not really flushable.
What do professionals use to clean toilets? ›Professional cleaners often use the same household supplies as you would: toilet-bowl cleaner (or bleach), disinfectant wipes, rubber gloves, as well as a nonscratch scrub sponge, a microfiber cloth, or paper towels. A handheld scrub brush or a pumice stone can get to especially tough stains.
What is the safest way to clean a toilet? ›Using either disinfecting wipes or a combination of disinfecting spray and a rag, paper towels, or a sponge (that you reserve just for this task), wipe down all of the external surfaces of the toilet, paying special attention to any areas you touch regularly such as the seat and the flushing handle.
Can I put Pine-Sol in my toilet tank? ›Steps For An Expert Clean
Wipe down the toilet tank, lid, seat cover and outside of the bowl, reapplying more cleaner as needed. Rinse each surface with water. Splash Pine-Sol® into the toilet bowl and hit every crevice with your trusty toilet brush. Let it sit for a few minutes and flush.
What can I mix with Dawn to clean shower? ›
To make the solution is simple and easy on the wallet! Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned. I have found the best results is when I use it to clean chrome shower and sink fixtures.
What does peroxide and Dawn dish soap do? ›The de-griming magic you're looking for happens when you combine it with soap. “When you add peroxide to dish soap, it breaks down into oxygen and water. The soapy water then traps that oxygen, creating bubbles, making your dish soap extra foamy.”
Can I mix Pine-Sol and vinegar? ›Taught You. “Fill up the sink with hot water & a cap full of your favorite Pine Sol floor cleaner. Add 2 tbsp of vinegar & use to clean any type of floor. I use this method on my hardwood floors to get a clean, smooth & shiny surface!”
Can you mix peroxide with Pine-Sol? ›A: We do not recommend mixing any Pine-Sol® product with other cleaning products or chemicals. Mixing cleaners can result in the release of hazardous gases.
What happens when you mix hydrogen peroxide and sugar? ›The mixture of sugar and hydrogen peroxide produces a renewable liquid fuel that can be stored for long periods - weeks, months, years - and used when needed to power automobiles or to heat homes, factories and office buildings, or to power steam turbines for producing electricity during peak-time demand.
Why shouldnt you boil Fabuloso? ›"Cleaning products have chemicals in them that aren't meant to be boiled," Michels said. "When you boil them, they're vaporized into the air and it could cause a lot of irritation for people. Especially people with breathing problems like asthma and COPD."
Why is Fabuloso so popular? ›Fabuloso is so popular that many people tie some of their clearest childhood memories to it. While food, music, and family traditions are the lead vehicle for nostalgia, cleaning rituals have ingrained a sense of pride and culture in many families — and this Latin-American brand quickly became a figurehead for it.
What is the best thing to clean the bottom of a toilet? ›Baking soda and vinegar are great natural cleaning agents that are perfect for wearing away tough stains from the toilet bowl. Combine them into a paste and apply to any stains with a toothbrush or add one cup of each to the toilet bowl and let work for five minutes.
What do plumbers recommend to clean toilet tanks? ›Cleaning your toilet tank is a very quick and easy procedure. We recommend using a mixture of ¼ cup of vinegar for every 1 cup of water. This ensures your toilet tank is being disinfected without causing damage, which the use of bleach or chemical cleaners can do.
Is WD 40 good for cleaning toilet bowls? ›When cleaning a toilet bowl, WD-40 works by softening the rust and lime deposits, so they can be easily wiped away. You don't need to use much of it. Simply spray on the affected area, wait a minute or two and brush it away with a regular toilet brush.
Do you vacuum first or dust? ›
When doing your thorough cleaning, dust the room before vacuuming so you can vacuum up the particles that float into the air as you work and settle on the floor.
How can I deep clean my house fast? ›- Clean the whole house, not one room at time. ...
- Gather all your cleaning tools in a caddy. ...
- Clear the clutter. ...
- Dust and vacuum. ...
- Wipe mirrors and glass. ...
- Disinfect countertops and surface areas. ...
- Focus on tubs, sinks and toilets. ...
- Sweep, then mop.
- CLEANING: Remove clutter, dust, crumbs, and other detritus.
- SANITIZING: Reduce germs and decrease the opportunity for microbes to gather by providing antibacterial solutions.
- DISINFECT: Destroy germs on contact by eradicating them where they live and inhibiting their spread at the source.
- Ammonia. Ammonia fumes are a powerful irritant, potentially harming your skin, eyes, nose, lungs and throat. ...
- Bleach. Another useful but dangerous cleaner, bleach also has strong corrosive properties that can do serious damage to the human body. ...
- Antifreeze. ...
- Drain Cleaners. ...
- Air Fresheners.
The disinfectant Lysol shouldn't be mixed with bleach. The bleach oxidizes the 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol that is in Lysol, resulting in various irritating and toxic compounds.
What is the most common and sometimes fatal mistake of people when using cleaners? ›Many people think that mixing two strong cleaners will give better and faster result. In some cases this might be true, but when you mix ammonia and bleach (or products, containing bleach and ammonia) they form highly toxic gases. These vapors are very dangerous and can be lethal.
What is the safest cleaner to use? ›- Bon Ami Cleaning Powder.
- Biokleen Stain & Odor Remover.
- Truce Wood Cleaner.
- Biokleen Drain Cleaner.
- ECOS Enzyme Drain Maintainer.
- ECOS Furniture Polish.
- Aunt Frannie's Floor Cleaner.
1. Plastic food containers, plastic water bottles, plastic wrap. This was a top thing that my friend said she changed, plastic containers!
What is the best chemical to clean house? ›Citric acid is one of the best all-purpose cleaning agents: powerful enough to kill mold, remove soap scum, and even tackle rust.
What not to mix with vinegar? ›Bleach And Vinegar
This is because vinegar is a great cleaning agent for crockery and utensils because of its acidic nature. However, you should never mix it with bleach for cleaning purposes or in any other situation. It can be extremely dangerous as it produces chlorine gas when mixed even at low levels.