Unhealthy chemistry
Purposeful and prepared, you snap on the yellow rubber gloves. Armed with a bucket stocked with glass spray, bleach, mildew remover, countertop polish, drain degreaser and oven cleanser, you’re ready to tackle the entire house or apartment. But be careful during your cleaning tear. By mixing the wrong household products, you could create toxic gases, irritate your lungs and make yourself or your family sick. Avoid the following product pairings so you won’t have to call poison control (800-222-1222) in a panic or visit your local emergency room.
Bleach and ammonia
Instead of extra cleaning power, mixing bleach and ammonia produces chloramine gas. “When you breathe it into your lungs, it can cause irritation and inflammation,” says Dr. Michael Wahl, medical director of the Illinois Poison Center. Many bathroom products contain bleach, particularly tub and tile cleansers to remove mildew and whiten grout. “Ammonia is in a lot of cleaners as well,” he says. “So, if you put the two together — when people are trying to clean their toilets and get them nice, sparkly clean — that really does release the gas, which can cause a lot of problems.” The Illinois center responds to some 500 yearly calls related to bleach-ammonia and acid-bleach mishaps.
Acid and bleach
Acid-containing cleansers can cause violent reactions when mixed with bleach, forming chlorine gas, which is slightly more toxic than chloramine. “Chlorine gas was actually used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I,” Wahl says. “So if you close all the windows and doors in a small bathroom and release that, people can get pretty sick.” While most people soon recover by getting out of the enclosed space and into fresh air, he says, others with underlying conditions like asthma or COPD are more vulnerable. Check labels. Toilet-bowl cleansers may contain phosphoric acid, for instance, and drain cleaners may contain stronger sulfuric acid.
Vinegar and peroxide
Vinegar is a favorite natural ingredient for people who concoct do-it-yourself cleansers. However, vinegar’s active ingredient is acid, specifically acetic acid, points out Samara Geller, a database and research analyst with the Environmental Working Group, or EWG. Although touted as an effective and inexpensive disinfectant, combining vinegar and hydrogen peroxide in the same container could potentially form corrosive peracetic acid, which can harm your eyes, skin and lungs.
Pool chemicals and cleansers
If you’re a swimming pool owner or worker, avoid mixing household cleansers with pool chemicals, Geller advises. For instance, sodium hypochlorite, a common pool chemical, should not be combined with acid-based products. Even mixing two pool chemicals together can be hazardous, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Proper training is needed for safe pool chemical handling, the CDC notes in its detailed Preventing Pool Chemical-Associated Health Events guide.
Old and new products
You’re down to the last few ounces of drain cleaner in one container, but luckily you have a fresh new bottle handy. If you’re thinking of mixing the two, don’t do it, Geller warns. In this situation, “Better safe than sorry” trumps “Waste not, want not.” Even with the same brands, concentrations or ingredients may have changed, Geller notes. In general, she says, consumers should always check labels before using any household product.
Layers of fragrance
Scented laundry detergent, scented fabric softener, scented dryer sheets and even scented trash bags to drop your lint-screen collection in — multiple layers of fragrance may not only seem like odor overkill but could potentially be bad for your health. However, the hazard is more subtle and less well-documented than chemical reactions from mixtures like ammonia and bleach. The concern is the cumulative effect of exposures to the multiple chemicals that fall under the catchall term “fragrance,” Geller says. “We’re really just beginning to understand about chemical exposures in general and the impact they may have on chronic diseases like cancer,” she says. “So we often encourage folks to avoid fragrance products.”
Healthy cleaning solutions
If you’re looking for a safe and effective cleaning combo, try “good old-fashioned elbow grease, microfiber products and water,” Geller suggests. Microfiber, a versatile synthetic, is available in cleaning cloths and mops. If you’re sticking with chemical cleansers, use them correctly, Wahl emphasizes. “A key is to follow instructions on the package,” he says. “Make sure doors are open, and if possible, that windows are open as well so there’s good ventilation flow to the area.” Check out spraying, pouring or mixing concerns in advance. “Poison control centers around the nation are open 24/7,” he says. “You can call us anytime if you have questions beforehand or should an exposure occur.”
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Toxic Pairings: 6 Serious Household-Mixture Mishaps originally appeared on usnews.com
