Chemistry is an insane thing. And what you don’t know could kill you.
Bleach + Vinegar = Toxic Chlorine Gas
While the combination does create a good disinfectant, these two common cleaning agents should never be used at the same time.
Why: Adding any weak acid to bleach will release toxic chlorine and chloramine vapors.
The worst that could happen: You can get a nasty chemical burn, especially of your eyes and lungs.
Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed / Via chemistry.about.com
Ammonia + Bleach = Toxic Chloramine Vapors
Be sure to check the ingredients lists of your cleaning products to ensure you're not unknowingly using these products together. For instance, Windex comes in both ammonia and ammonia-free formulas. Certain formulations of Drano contain bleach.
Why: Inhaling the vapors could cause respiratory damage and throat burns.
The worst that could happen: If ammonia is present in excess, toxic and potentially explosive liquid hydrazine may be formed. Check out this story about a man who died mixing ammonia, bleach, and Drano to clean his toilet.
Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
Rubbing Alcohol + Bleach = Chloroform
Why: "Ordinary household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to produce chloroform, hydrochloric acid, and other compounds, such as chloroacetone or dichloroacetone." Read more about the chemistry of these two household products here.
The worst that could happen: You could damage your nervous system, eyes, lungs, skin, liver, and kidneys. Extremely high levels of chloroform exposure may result in death, while lower levels could result in dizziness and nausea, according to the EPA.
Chris Ritter / BuzzFeed
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