While some cleaning products like baking soda and distilled white vinegar can be safely mixed, others can be deadly. Two products that work very well alone, vinegar and chlorine bleach, are highly toxic when combined.
What Happens When Vinegar and Chlorine Bleach Are Combined
Chlorine bleach is a strong oxidizer that makes a highly effective disinfectant and stain remover. Its active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite. The bottle of chlorine bleach you bring home contains sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water, creating hypochlorous acid. Vinegar is made from fruits or grains through a process where alcohols are distilled and allowed to ferment as microorganisms process the alcohol into acetic acid and water. Distilled white vinegar is typically used for household cleaning. The distilled white vinegar you see in the condiment aisle contains around five percent acetic acid and 95 percent water. Cleaning vinegar contains around six percent acetic acid or is 20 percent stronger. According to Thought Co.’s chemistry expert, Anne Marie Helmenstine, PhD, if you mix chlorine bleach with another acid, this reaction occurs and toxic chlorine gas is formed. The reaction is usually silent until you smell the fumes and begin to have negative effects. Pure chlorine gas is greenish-yellow in color, but because the household ingredients are usually diluted, the gas is invisible.
What to Do After Exposure to Chlorine Gas
Immediately leave the area where the exposure occurred.If possible, increase the ventilation in the area by opening windows and doors.If the gas is inhaled and symptoms appear, contact emergency services, a healthcare advisor, or your local Poison Control Center for care instructions.
How to Avoid Problems With Cleaning Products
Store all cleaning products in their original containers.If you have transferred a cleaning product to a new spray bottle, label the contents clearly.Store cleaning products that can have negative reactions when combined in separate areas.Store all cleaning products in a cool, dry location out of the reach of children, pets, and vulnerable adults.Read product labels and follow directions carefully. Call the manufacturer or consult their website if you have any questions about ingredients or usage.Use only the recommended amount of any cleaner.Increase ventilation in small areas by opening doors and windows or adding a circulating fan before cleaning with any product.Wear protective gloves, clothing, and eyewear.Rinse surfaces and flush drains completely with clean water before switching to another type of cleaner.Know what to do if there is an emergency.Wash your hands after using cleaning products and before eating or drinking.Dispose of cleaners that have not been used within the last year. Their chemical stability may be compromised.
