Cleaning agents that must never be mixed

1. Bleach and vinegar

You might think that they would make a powerful disinfectant, but it's not that simple. "When mixed together, chlorine gas is produced, which, even in small amounts, can cause coughing, breathing difficulties and burning eyes," warns Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's product quality testing laboratory. In general, it is best not to mix chlorine-containing products with anything other than water.

2. Soda and vinegar

Separately, they are very useful and will help you when cleaning the apartment. But it's still not worth connecting them. “Chemically, soda is the base and vinegar is the acid,” Bock says. - By combining them, you get water and sodium acetate. But mostly just water."

During a chemical reaction, the mixture will begin to foam, and if kept in a closed container, it may explode.

3. Bleach and ammonia

Ammonia is found in many window and mirror cleaners. Remember that you cannot use them together with chlorine-containing formulations. When chlorine is mixed with ammonia, the poisonous gas chloramine is released. "The effects will be the same as bleach and vinegar, plus suffocation and chest pains," Forte says.

4. Two different pipe cleaners

“I would never recommend combining two different pipe products or using one immediately after the other,” Forte continues. "They have a very powerful composition, and when mixed, they can even explode."

Use your product as directed (usually no more than half a bottle is needed to clear the blockage). If it does not help, do not fill in another one after, but call a plumber.

5. Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar

You may have heard this advice for cleaning fruits and kitchen surfaces: spray them with hydrogen peroxide, wipe them off, and then treat them with vinegar. This method is really safe, but you cannot mix two products in one bottle. The process produces peracetic acid, a caustic substance that irritates the skin, eyes and respiratory system. So be careful.