Most of us grew up believing that if one cleaner is good, two must be better. When it comes to certain household products, that thinking can send you to the emergency room.
Public health departments have been warning about this for years. The New Jersey Department of Health published a hazard alert listing 11 combinations to avoid, and the Georgia Department of Public Health and the Alabama Department of Public Health repeat the key ones.
Here are all 11, in plain language. Most of them involve bleach, so that bottle deserves special respect.
Alabama’s health department adds a general reminder: do not mix household chemicals, always check the product label, and follow the instructions provided. It also says to use cleaners in well-ventilated spaces and to wear gloves and goggles.
Bleach And Ammonia Make A Poisonous Gas Called Chloramine
The New Jersey alert says this pairing produces chloramine gas, with symptoms including coughing, chest pain, wheezing and eye and throat irritation. Serious cases can lead to pneumonia or fluid in the lungs.
The Georgia health department notes that ammonia turns up in some glass cleaners, dish detergents and drain cleaners. It even warns about caution when cleaning litter boxes and diaper pails, since urine contains ammonia.
Bleach And Vinegar Release Chlorine And Chloramine Vapors
New Jersey says this combination can create chlorine and chloramine vapors that burn the eyes and lungs. It is a popular homemade cleaning mix that looks harmless.
Georgia says bleach plus vinegar or any acid produces chlorine gas, and acids are found in many toilet cleaners, glass and window cleaners, drain cleaners and rust removers.
Bleach And Lemon Juice Is Also A Bad Idea
Even a natural ingredient can be a problem. New Jersey says the natural acids in lemon juice react with bleach and create chlorine gas.
Alabama’s public health department agrees that mixing bleach with acidic substances such as lemon juice or vinegar can result in chlorine gas, and that even lower household concentrations can irritate or damage the eyes, skin and airways.
Bleach And Rubbing Alcohol Can Create Chloroform
Georgia says this mix creates chloroform, which it calls highly toxic and capable of damaging the eyes, lungs and liver.
New Jersey lists dizziness, nausea, headaches and possible loss of consciousness as the effects of the same combination.
Bleach And Toilet Bowl Cleaner Creates Fumes That Burn
New Jersey says this combination produces toxic fumes that can burn the throat and lungs. It is an easy mistake to make when you are cleaning a bathroom in a hurry.
The simple fix is to use one product at a time and flush and rinse thoroughly before you try another.
Bleach And Drain Cleaner Gives Off Toxic Chlorine Gas
According to New Jersey, mixing bleach with drain cleaner can release toxic chlorine gas that may cause long-term health problems.
If a drain stays clogged after one product, the health department’s advice is not to add a second one on top.
Bleach And Oven Cleaner Also Releases Chlorine Gas
New Jersey lists bleach and oven cleaner as another source of chlorine gas, with eye, nose and respiratory irritation.
Because ovens are enclosed, it makes sense to work in a well-ventilated room, which every one of these health departments recommends.
Keep the kitchen window open and turn on the fan while you work.
Bleach And Mildew Stain Removers Are Another Chlorine Risk
This combination, per New Jersey, creates chlorine gas that irritates the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Read the label on any stain remover first, because the label will tell you whether bleach is involved.
When in doubt, open a window and use only one product on the stain.
Bleach And Acidic Cleaners Like Rust And Lime Removers Do Not Mix
New Jersey names lime and calcium removers, rust removers, some dishwasher detergents and Lime-A-Way as acidic products that release chlorine gas when combined with bleach. High levels can cause chest pain, vomiting, lung damage or death.
The department says to keep acidic products away from bleach and never use them in the same container or machine.
Different Brands Of Drain Cleaner Should Never Be Combined
New Jersey warns that mixing different brands of drain cleaners can cause dangerous reactions. The alert gives one rule here: never mix drain cleaners.
Think of it as one bottle per clog, and call a plumber if that bottle does not work.
Rinse the area well and let the room air out before you try anything else.
Hydrogen Peroxide And Vinegar Form A Corrosive Acid
Both Georgia and New Jersey say this pair forms peracetic acid, which is highly corrosive and irritates the eyes, skin and lungs.
Alabama adds that the mix can produce toxic fumes, corrosive acid or even cause spontaneous combustion.
Alabama also says to avoid combining baking soda, white vinegar or Castile soap with other cleaning agents, even though they appear in safer cleaning recipes.
The rule all three states give is nearly the same. Georgia puts it bluntly: “NEVER mix bleach with anything but plain water.” Read labels, keep products in their original containers, ventilate the room, and keep everything out of reach of children and pets. If you think someone has been exposed, New Jersey lists the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
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