According to American Chemical Society (ACS)member Rick Sachleben says, while you should avoid mixing household products in general, bleach can be particularly dangerous
if combined with chemicals like ammonia. "Together these two chemicals form a very nasty chemical called chloramine," says Sachleben. "Cloramine is volatile, which means it forms a gas that you can breathe, and it can kill a person if they breathe it in a confined space, like a shower or closet, or laundry room."
There are far fewer products on the market today that actually contain ammonia, Sachleben notes. And by itself, ammonia isn't too bad. But unless you're certain what's in the product you're using it's best to wash bleach away completely before spraying on something else. The same no-mixing rules also apply to products containing "caustic" chemicals like sodium hydroxide, which you'll find in drain cleaners ang oven cleaners.
There is one exception. "Laundry detergent is formulated to be safely mixed with bleach," Sachleben says.
The bottom line: Avoid mixing any household products. Sachleben puts it best: "Buy the product labeled for the job you need, and use it as the label describes."
The bottom line: Avoid mixing any household products. Sachleben puts it best: "Buy the product labeled for the job you need, and use it as the label describes."
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