Why You Should Never Mix Bleach And Vinegar

You likely have a collection of household

cleaners under your kitchen sink

. Bleach may be your go-to cleaner for home disinfecting or

whiter laundry

. Vinegar might also be in your cleaning supplies if you want a non-toxic option that can cut through grime and grease, wash the floors, or clean windows. For some tough jobs, you may think that combining household cleaners will speed up the job and make it easier. But you’d be wrong: It’s dangerous to mix bleach and vinegar. Here’s what to know about these household cleaners.

What Happens If You Mix Bleach And Vinegar

When you combine bleach and vinegar you risk being exposed to potent gases. When mixed, they create harmful chlorine gas. Chlorine gas can affect the respiratory system and provoke breathing difficulties, coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest as well as watery eyes, nausea, vomiting, and other harmful side effects.

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You will likely notice the strong smell of fumes, and you may also see greenish or yellowish gas.

Even if you’re not actually mixing the two cleaners, just cleaning with these two products in the same area could be dangerous. For example, you wouldn’t want to use a

vinegar and baking soda

mixture to scrub down the shower and then mop the bathroom floors with bleach in the same cleaning session.

What To Do If Bleach And Vinegar Mix

1. If you notice a noxious smell, immediately move away from the area. Go outside and get fresh air if you can.
2. You’ll also want to take off any clothing that has been exposed to the chlorine gas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises removing as many layers as possible, and if clothing must be pulled over your head, make sure to keep your eyes and mouth closed to minimize breathing chlorine gas or getting it in your mouth, nose, or eyes.
   
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3. If you spilled any chemicals on your skin, get to a sink or hose and flush the area with water. If you have trouble breathing or other serious symptoms, call for medical assistance.
4. On your way outside, open windows in the affected room if you can do so safely. Leave any exterior doors open, too, so that the room can air out. The CDC notes that chlorine gas is heavier than air, so you may be able to get to safety by going upstairs if you can’t get outside.

Don’t Mix Bleach With Other Cleaners, Either

Similar to when mixed with vinegar, bleach shouldn’t be mixed with most household cleaners because it produces toxic fumes. Other acids such as those in toilet bowl cleaners will also cause the release of chlorine gas. To keep yourself and your household members safe, before using any cleaning products, always read the label to ensure you know what ingredients are in each product.

Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia (which is often found in glass cleaners) are additional examples of cleaning chemicals you shouldn’t combine with bleach:

• Bleach combined with ammonia produces chloramine gas that is poisonous when it’s breathed in. Symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, nausea, watery eyes, wheezing, shortness of breath, or even pneumonia can occur.
  
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• Bleach combined with hydrogen peroxide creates a big reaction that can end up splashing you with chemicals and releasing hot oxygen gas, which can be incredibly dangerous around anything flammable. This combo may release chlorine gas as well.
  
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Does Bleach Go By Other Names?

Yes, bleach can go by different names and is often in many household cleaners, including disinfectants, mildew removers, multi-purpose cleaners, and toilet bowl cleaners.

Check the label for the word

bleach

as well as for other names, such as

sodium hypochlorite

or

chlorine bleach

.

What Is Oxygen Bleach?

Oxygen bleach is another name for non-chlorine bleach or color-safe bleach, which might be in your laundry room and can produce dangerous fumes just like when regular bleach is mixed with certain chemicals or household cleaners.

How To Safely Clean With Bleach Or Vinegar

• Always wear gloves to protect your skin from directly touching household cleaners.
• Open windows before using bleach so there’s airflow and ventilation, especially when cleaning in a small space.
• Clean with one type of cleaner and finish before using another one to avoid bleach and vinegar coming into contact with each other and being exposed to toxic fumes. For example, if you bleach trash containers and sanitize cutting boards with bleach, wait till they are dry and bleach fumes aren’t present before wiping down the counters with vinegar.