u/shaneoffood posted this comment in a discussion about unscented laundry detergents.
I’m familiar with the fact that ammonia and bleach creating something like chlorine gas, and I get that mixing different elements can cause them to react.
But is the original comment a good rule of thumb? Are there exceptions? And why do they make “the best” cleaning products?
In: 491
The original comment isn’t quite on the mark, but it is very much a good rule to go by. Naturally, to something so vague, there are definitely going to be exceptions.
It’s a case of it being largely true, but maybe not 100% of the time.
So why is this?
So first off, there are two types of bleaches commonly found on the market.
Chlorine-based and Peroxide-based. Neither of which should be mixed with other cleaning products
So what’s the difference?
Peroxide-based ‘bleach’ either breaks down into, or contains, hydrogen peroxide, which is readily reactive. Mixing it with bleach will produce toxic fumes and can reportedly create oxygen to such an extent that it can literally explode.
Chlorine-based bleaches are true bleaches which use Sodium Hypochlorite (though some may use calcium hypochlorite, sodium is far more common though) as the active ingredient. Hypochlorites are generally unstable and highly reactive. Sodium Hypochlorite is no exception. It is highly reactive, particularly with acidic and ammonia compounds, but it will also react with organic materials and many common metals.
In short? Is it 100% true? I can’t say for sure. There’s probably some cleaner out there that it doesn’t react with.
But it is a rule you should absolutely follow as mixing bleach with other cleaning chemicals often results in the production of toxic gasses.
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