I accidentally mixed bleach and vinegar today and I'm wondering what to do if I do that again.
Powerful household cleaners are needed for heavy-duty dirt.Chances are you have at least one of the most potent cleaning products in your cabinet.In the kitchen, bathroom, and beyond, these cleaners are safe and effective alone.They combine to create a potentially fatal product.Keep reading for the facts about what happens when you mix bleach and vinegar and how proper use of these cleaners can help you avoid making a dangerous, all-too-common mistake.
chlorine bleach can be used for its disinfecting and brightening properties, while the other is known for it's sanitizing, stain removal, and deodorizing powers.It is no wonder that people mix the two in hopes of creating a potent all-purpose cleaner, only to get way more than they bargained for, and none of it good.
The basic chemical compound sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in chlorine bleach.When powdered or liquid chlorine bleach mixes with an acid, it turns into hypochlorite, which emits chlorine gas into the air.During World War I, a potent variant of chlorine gas was used to knock out Allied troops.While it looks yellow-green in large volumes, the smell of the gas is invisible in small quantities.
The level of gas exposure and severity of symptoms are the best when full strength bleach is mixed with water.There is a risk of exposure to chlorine gas when water-diluted bleach is mixed with vinegar.
If you think you have been exposed to chlorine gas, the CDC advises you to leave the area, wash your skin with soap and water, and get medical attention.
Sometimes you might accidentally mix the cleaners during household chores if you don't combine bleach and vinegar.When that might happen, here are some tips for keeping the two potent cleaners separate.