Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsToxic ReactionSymptomsTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Toxic Reaction
Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention
Mixing bleach and ammoniacan kill you. Bleach solutions and ammonia combine to formchloramines, some of them known to produce toxic gas and cause respiratory irritation. Impacts of the chemical reaction can range from a cough to a fatal episode.
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Mixingchlorinebleach with ammonia creates a chemical reaction that can be deadly. Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in chlorine bleach. For home use, bleach concentration is usually between 5% and 10% of sodium hypochlorite.
Wildfire smoke, pesticides, and grain dust also can lead to pneumonitis. Chlorine gas exposure from industrial accidents, swimming pool chemicals, or cleaning agents at home is a common cause.
Reports of chloramine gas exposure increased in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was due to more people mixing cleaning products that contained bleach and ammonia as they sought to disinfect their homes.
Symptoms of exposure to toxic gasses like chloramine include:
Exposure to high concentrations of chloramine fumes can cause loss of consciousness, coma, and possibly even death.
Call Poison ControlIf you have been exposed to a mixture of ammonia and bleach, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911. They will talk you through the steps you should take in case of chloramine gas exposure.
Call Poison Control
If you have been exposed to a mixture of ammonia and bleach, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911. They will talk you through the steps you should take in case of chloramine gas exposure.
If you have accidentally mixed ammonia and bleach, it is important to take action:
If you develop chest pain or shortness of breath, call 911 or go to the emergency room.If another person is unconscious, try to move them outside or to a well-ventilated area away from the fumes. If you are unable to move the person, ventilate the room as much as possible.
How to Avoid This Dangerous Chemical Reaction
Chlorine bleach can be listed as bleach, chlorine bleach, or sodium hypochlorite. Ammonia may be listed as ammonia or ammonium hydroxide.
May Contain BleachBleachBleaching powderDisinfectantsMildew removerMulti-purpose cleanersToilet bowl cleanersMay Contain AmmoniaBathroom cleanersDrain cleanersFloor and furniture polishGlass, mirror, and window cleanersMulti-surface cleanersOven cleanersStainless-steel cleanersToilet cleaners
May Contain BleachBleachBleaching powderDisinfectantsMildew removerMulti-purpose cleanersToilet bowl cleaners
Bleach
Bleaching powder
Disinfectants
Mildew remover
Multi-purpose cleaners
Toilet bowl cleaners
May Contain AmmoniaBathroom cleanersDrain cleanersFloor and furniture polishGlass, mirror, and window cleanersMulti-surface cleanersOven cleanersStainless-steel cleanersToilet cleaners
Bathroom cleaners
Drain cleaners
Floor and furniture polish
Glass, mirror, and window cleaners
Multi-surface cleaners
Oven cleaners
Stainless-steel cleaners
Toilet cleaners
Urine also contains ammonia and should not be mixed with bleach. Do not use bleach to clean litter boxes and always flush toilet bowl cleaner before urinating.
Other Products You Shouldn’t Mix With Bleach
In addition to not mixing bleach with ammonia, you should avoid mixing bleach with acids. Acid-based cleaning ingredients include:
When bleach is mixed with an acid, it can form chlorine gas. Similar to chloramine gas, chlorine gas is even more toxic and can be deadly. In addition, pool water contains chlorine and should not be mixed with cleaning supplies.
Bleach should also not be mixed with hydrogen peroxide. When combined, bleach and hydrogen peroxide emit a highly flammable gas.
Summary
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mattila JM, Lakey PSJ, Shiraiwa M, Wang C, Abbatt JPD, Arata C,et al.Multiphase Chemistry Controls Inorganic Chlorinated and Nitrogenated Compounds in Indoor Air during Bleach Cleaning.Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Feb 4;54(3):1730-1739. doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b05767Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Household cleaners.UK Health Security Agency.Sodium hypochlorite: general information.Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of mixing bleach with cleaners.MedlinePlus.Chemical pneumonitis.Yasseen Iii A, Weiss D, Remer S, et al.At-a-glance - Increases in exposure calls related to selected cleaners and disinfectants at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: data from Canadian poison centres.Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020;41(1). English, French. doi:10.24095/hpcdp.41.1.03University of Mississippi Medical Center.Poison control experts: Mixing household cleaners could have perilous outcomes.New Mexico State University.Selection and use of home cleaning products.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mattila JM, Lakey PSJ, Shiraiwa M, Wang C, Abbatt JPD, Arata C,et al.Multiphase Chemistry Controls Inorganic Chlorinated and Nitrogenated Compounds in Indoor Air during Bleach Cleaning.Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Feb 4;54(3):1730-1739. doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b05767Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Household cleaners.UK Health Security Agency.Sodium hypochlorite: general information.Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of mixing bleach with cleaners.MedlinePlus.Chemical pneumonitis.Yasseen Iii A, Weiss D, Remer S, et al.At-a-glance - Increases in exposure calls related to selected cleaners and disinfectants at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: data from Canadian poison centres.Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020;41(1). English, French. doi:10.24095/hpcdp.41.1.03University of Mississippi Medical Center.Poison control experts: Mixing household cleaners could have perilous outcomes.New Mexico State University.Selection and use of home cleaning products.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mattila JM, Lakey PSJ, Shiraiwa M, Wang C, Abbatt JPD, Arata C,et al.Multiphase Chemistry Controls Inorganic Chlorinated and Nitrogenated Compounds in Indoor Air during Bleach Cleaning.Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Feb 4;54(3):1730-1739. doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b05767Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Household cleaners.UK Health Security Agency.Sodium hypochlorite: general information.Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of mixing bleach with cleaners.MedlinePlus.Chemical pneumonitis.Yasseen Iii A, Weiss D, Remer S, et al.At-a-glance - Increases in exposure calls related to selected cleaners and disinfectants at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: data from Canadian poison centres.Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020;41(1). English, French. doi:10.24095/hpcdp.41.1.03University of Mississippi Medical Center.Poison control experts: Mixing household cleaners could have perilous outcomes.New Mexico State University.Selection and use of home cleaning products.
Mattila JM, Lakey PSJ, Shiraiwa M, Wang C, Abbatt JPD, Arata C,et al.Multiphase Chemistry Controls Inorganic Chlorinated and Nitrogenated Compounds in Indoor Air during Bleach Cleaning.Environ Sci Technol. 2020 Feb 4;54(3):1730-1739. doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b05767
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Household cleaners.
UK Health Security Agency.Sodium hypochlorite: general information.
Washington State Department of Health.Dangers of mixing bleach with cleaners.
MedlinePlus.Chemical pneumonitis.
Yasseen Iii A, Weiss D, Remer S, et al.At-a-glance - Increases in exposure calls related to selected cleaners and disinfectants at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: data from Canadian poison centres.Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2020;41(1). English, French. doi:10.24095/hpcdp.41.1.03
University of Mississippi Medical Center.Poison control experts: Mixing household cleaners could have perilous outcomes.
New Mexico State University.Selection and use of home cleaning products.
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