Cleaning Guides

Household Cleaners You Should Never Mix – 3 Dangerous Combinations

Fantastic Team
Published: Mar 18/2020
Last update: Jun 10/2024
2min read
Views: 510

Different products react in different ways when they come in contact with one another. Some may have a harmless reaction, while others can produce much more dangerous chemicals. If you aren’t sure if the products you’re using can be combined, it’s best to steer clear of it and work with only one.

Some products, when mixed, produce highly toxic gasses that can harm you. So, to learn what cleaning chemicals not to mix, keep reading!

Table of Contents:

Bleach and other chemicals
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
Different drain cleaners

So, if you:

Are planning to deep clean your home;
Want to know what cleaning products not to mix,

Then read on, because this post is for you!

What cleaning chemicals not to mix

Harsh chemicals, in general, shouldn’t be mixed. However, if you want to learn what combinations specifically to avoid, then check out our list below.

Bleach and other chemicals

To be on the safe side, avoid mixing bleach with anything. But, to get more specific, here are the most dangerous combinations. Steer clear of combining bleach with:

Acids – vinegar, lemon juice
Mixing bleach and vinegar or lemon juice produces chlorine gas. It is a highly toxic substance that irritates your skin and respiratory system. If you are exposed to large amounts of it for too long without access to fresh air, it can be deadly.
Mildew remover
This combination also produces chlorine gas and should be avoided at all costs.
Oven cleaner
Oven cleaner mixed with bleach produces chlorine gas, as well, which can irritate your eyes, nose and lungs.
Ammonia
When mixing bleach and ammonia, you can get chloramine. This substance is toxic and can lead to organ damage. It burns your eyes and respiratory system. However, if there is enough ammonia in the mix, you can also get hydrazine. Apart from being toxic, hydrazine can also be explosive. So, steer clear of this combination.
Rubbing alcohol
Mixing rubbing alcohol and bleach creates chloroform. Yes, that chemical you see used in movies to knock people out. Chloroform is highly toxic and can be deadly if you inhale too much. Other unpleasant chemicals that can be created are chloroacetone and hydrochloric acid.
Toilet cleaner
Mixing acidic toilet bowl cleaners with bleach can be harmful, too. The toxic fumes can irritate your eyes and cause difficulty breathing.
Lysol
When mixed with bleach, the chemicals in Lysol get oxidised, which produces various harmful fumes and compounds.

Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar

Hydrogen peroxide mixed with vinegar creates peracetic acid. This substance is highly corrosive, it can irritate your eyes and respiratory system and could give you a chemical burn if you come in contact with it.

Different drain cleaners

Different drain cleaners contain different chemicals and not all of them mix well. Some combinations can produce chlorine gas, while others might even lead to an explosion.

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Takeaways

To be on the safe side, avoid mixing bleach with any other chemicals or products.
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar create peracetic acid, which is highly corrosive.
Different drain cleaners can produce toxic gasses and even lead to an explosion.

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Did you find this post helpful? Do you have any other tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments!

Image source: shutterstock / AtlasStudio