10 cleaning products you should never mix and why

2. Bleach and Ammonia

Why It’s Dangerous:
Combining bleach and ammonia creates chloramine gas, a toxic vapor that can cause respiratory distress, chest pain, and severe lung damage. If the exposure is prolonged, it can lead to permanent health issues or even be fatal.

What Happens Chemically:
When bleach (sodium hypochlorite) reacts with ammonia, it forms chloramine gas:
$NaOCl+NH3\to NH2Cl(chloraminegas)$

Health Effects of Chloramine Gas Exposure:

• Shortness of breath
• Irritation of mucous membranes (eyes, throat, and nose)
• Nausea, headaches, and fatigue

Common Sources of Ammonia:
Ammonia is often found in glass cleaners, window sprays, and some multi-surface cleaners. Always read the labels on your products.

Safe Alternative:
Never mix bleach and ammonia. Use ammonia-based cleaners for glass and bleach-based cleaners separately, ensuring you ventilate the area properly.

3. Bleach and Dish Soap

Why It’s Dangerous:
Some dish soaps and cleaning detergents contain ammonia or similar compounds that, when mixed with bleach, produce chloramine gas. Even if ammonia isn’t listed as an ingredient, certain surfactants in dish soap can still react negatively with bleach.

Health Effects of Chloramine Gas Exposure:

• Lung irritation
• Skin burns
• Watery, burning eyes
• Coughing and difficulty breathing

Safe Alternative:
Use dish soap and bleach independently. For disinfecting dishes, dilute bleach with water as directed and rinse thoroughly after application. Never combine it with soap.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar

Why It’s Dangerous:
Mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar produces peracetic acid, a highly corrosive substance that can irritate your skin, eyes, and respiratory system. This acid is especially harmful when inhaled over time.

What Happens Chemically:
When hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and acetic acid (vinegar) combine, they create peracetic acid:
$H2O2+CH3COOH\to CH3CO3H(peraceticacid)$

Health Effects of Peracetic Acid Exposure:

• Skin irritation or chemical burns
• Eye damage
• Lung and throat irritation

Safe Alternative:
Use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar separately for cleaning. For example, hydrogen peroxide can sanitize surfaces, while vinegar is great for degreasing. Rinse surfaces between applications.