Back
Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
A routine cleaning of a bathroom or kitchen can end in poisoning if incompatible household products are mixed. The most dangerous combination is bleach with vinegar or ammonia, because toxic gases are released during the chemical reaction that can seriously damage the lungs.
This is written by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The desire to quickly remove grease, lime scale, or tough stains sometimes prompts people to mix several cleaning products. However, instead of boosting the cleaning effect, you can obtain a dangerous chemical reaction.
Particularly careful should be products containing sodium hypochlorite. This substance is in many household chlorine bleaches and disinfectants, which are popularly called bleach.
Such products are strictly not to be mixed with other cleaning agents. Moreover, a dangerous reaction is possible even when one product is applied to a surface that still has traces of another.
One of the most dangerous combinations is bleach and ordinary vinegar. Acetic acid reacts with sodium hypochlorite, releasing toxic chlorine gas.
Inhalation of chlorine can cause strong eye irritation, tearing, and burning in the nose and throat. Cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing are also possible.
With significant exposure to toxic gas, there is a risk of serious lung damage. Therefore you should not pour vinegar into a toilet or bathtub if there is already a chlorine-containing product there.
The same caution applies to other acidic products, including rust and lime remover agents. They should not be mixed with chlorine bleaches.
Another dangerous combination is chlorine bleach and ammonia. The latter may be present in products for cleaning glass, mirrors, and other surfaces.
When ammonia is mixed with chlorine bleach, toxic chloramines are formed. Their vapors irritate mucous membranes, cause coughing and can lead to breathing problems.
Read the composition of household chemicals very carefully, because ammonia is not always obvious from the product name. Exercise caution when cleaning toilets and surfaces that may have urine traces.
The combination of hydrogen peroxide with vinegar can also be dangerous. During their reaction, peracetic acid is formed, which can irritate skin, eyes, and airways.
Therefore these two products should not be mixed in the same container. Even if each is used separately for cleaning, their combination can be hazardous.
No less risky is mixing chlorine bleaches with alcohol-containing products. Such a reaction can be accompanied by the formation of toxic compounds, including chloroform.
Exposure to hazardous vapors can cause headache, dizziness, and nausea. That is why products containing alcohol should not be used together with chlorine disinfectants.
A separate danger are products designed to unclog drains. They may contain strong acids or bases that can cause chemical burns.
If one product did not help remove a clog, do not immediately pour another into the pipe. Depending on the formulations, this can cause strong heating, splashing of caustic liquid, or release of toxic gases.
If a sharp unusual smell, burning eyes, or coughing suddenly appears during cleaning, you must immediately stop working. First, leave the dangerous area and get to fresh air.
Do not attempt to neutralize a chemical mixture by adding vinegar, baking soda, water, or other substances. Also do not lean over the container, inhale vapors, or return to the contaminated area.
If you have trouble breathing, severe coughing, or chest pain, you should call emergency services at 103 or 112. Even after temporary relief of symptoms, do not ignore a possible poisoning, because damage to the airways can manifest later.
If chemicals get on the skin or eyes, rinse the affected area with running water for at least 15 minutes. After that, seek medical help.
For safe cleaning, use only one product at a time, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and check warnings on the packaging. Before using another product, remove the residues of the previous one, ventilate the room, and store household chemicals in their original containers, out of reach of children and pets.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Смертельно небезпечне прибирання: які побутові засоби не можна змішувати". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Expert.
