7 Cleaning Products You Should NEVER Mix

People often think that if one product works, mixing it with another one will make it even better, but that isn’t really true, especially when it comes to complex chemicals you use every day in your home.

Certain products, which are safe when used alone, can sometimes cause unsafe fumes or other chemical reactions when mixed with other products.

Those products you use every day in your bathrooms, kitchens and all over the house should always be used with caution, but here are products you should never mix together, ever.

1. Drain cleaner + another drain cleaner

I’m guilty of this: if one drain cleaner doesn’t work, you find another one and just pour it down the drain too. That’s a big no-no. 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. Instead, call a plumber.

2. Bleach and Toilet Bowl Cleaner

When cleaning your toilet, we usually want to reach for the strongest chemicals we have, but they could be deadly. The mixture of an acidic-based toilet bowl cleaner with bleach is bad for your health. It releases toxic fumes that can cause breathing issues and watery eyes.

3. Hydrogen peroxide + vinegar

Using these two products alternatively for cleaning surfaces is alright but never mix them or even store them in a container. Doing so will create a toxic acid called peracetic acid, which causes irritation in the skin and eyes, and even your respiratory system. Don’t mix the two products in the same container.

4. Bleach + vinegar

The combination sounds like it’d be a powerful disinfectant, 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.

5. Bleach + ammonia

Bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine, which causes the same symptoms as bleach and vinegar — along with shortness of breath and chest pain. Many glass and window cleaners contain ammonia, so never mix those with bleach.