When you're trying to clean a mess quickly, you might wonder if mixing two cleaners together can get the job done faster. But there are certain cleaning products pros say you should never mix.
"People often think that if one product works, mixing it with another one will make it even better," says Carolyn Forté, the former executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab. But the truth is that combining two or more cleaning products rarely makes either one more effective. In fact, doing so often creates a toxic gas that can cause unpleasant symptoms like coughing, watery eyes, and chest pain. Combining products that aren't meant to be combined can also damage your home—for instance, Forté says mixing different drain cleaners can cause an explosion in your pipes.
To avoid accidentally mixing cleaning products, it's a good idea to store products in their original containers and keep certain cleaning products stored separately. You can also reduce the risk of being harmed by powerful cleaning products by using them in well-ventilated areas and wearing rubber gloves and goggles when you're cleaning.
Ahead, experts explain the common household cleaning products you should never mix.
Bleach and vinegar
The combination sounds powerful, but the two should never be mixed. "Together, they produce chlorine gas, which even at low levels, can cause coughing, breathing problems and burning, watery eyes," says Forté.
Bleach and ammonia
When combined, bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine. "It causes the same symptoms as bleach and vinegar — along with shortness of breath and chest pain," says Forté. Heads up: Many glass and window cleaners contain ammonia, so never mix those with bleach.
Bleach and rubbing alcohol
You’ve likely heard of chloroform, and that’s exactly what bleach and rubbing alcohol make when mixed. The highly volatile compound can cause coughing, breathing problems and eye irritation. And, yes, it can even be powerful enough to sedate when inhaled or ingested.
Bathroom cleaners and bleach
Have some stubborn mold and mildew in the bathroom? While it may be tempting to try these two powerful cleaners together to remove mildew, resist the urge. Many bathroom and toilet cleaners contain acids that can produce chlorine gas when combined with bleach. This can cause breathing problems and irritate the eyes and nose.
Rust removal products and bleach
The best rust-removal products can get the job done without bleach. Together, these solutions, sprays and bleach release irritating and toxic gases.
Lemon and bleach
Lemon can be an effective household cleaning supply — use it to freshen your microwave or remove stains from a cutting board, for example — but it’s not a good companion for bleach because it’s acidic. Like commercial products that contain acid, the two can produce toxic chlorine gas.
Oven cleaner and bleach
Oven cleaner is powerful enough, so don’t mix it with anything — not even the self-clean feature on your oven. Bleach and oven cleaner are another no-no, as they can produce chlorine gas. We already know this can cause coughing, breathing problems and eye irritation.
Drain cleaner and drain cleaner
"I would never recommend mixing two different drain cleaners or even using one right after the other," says Forté. "These are powerful formulas, and could even explode if combined." Use one product according to package directions (typically, only half a bottle is needed per treatment). If it doesn't work, don't try another product — call a plumber instead.
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
While these products can be used in tandem — for instance, you can clean countertops with alternating sprays of each, rinsing the surface in between — you should never mix the two products in the same container. Combining them creates peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
Baking soda and vinegar
This is one of the most popular DIY cleaning methods touted on social media, but our experts say to skip this “hack.” The two pantry staples are handy cleaning supplies on their own — baking soda is a mild abrasive for tough spots, like in a ceramic sink and vinegar can double as a great glass cleaner — but, contrary to popular belief, they don’t really work together. Because vinegar is acidic and baking soda is basic, they chemically cancel each other out, creating mostly water and some salt. The resulting bubbles may lift away enough to help lift some mess away or make a slow drain move again, but the mixture itself won't actually clean anything.
Vinegar and castile soap
This combo is another rather innocent yet highly ineffective one. When mixed, vinegar and castile soap don’t make a more effective cleaner — instead, the vinegar destabilizes the soap, turning it into a chunky, oily mixture that’s hard to work with.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
