Ammonia And Vinegar

We’re seeing these two chemicals again on this list and for a very good reason. Combining these two chemicals produces toxic chloramine gas, which may lead to eye irritation and respiratory problems. Besides, the two also cancel each other out and you’re left with an ineffective, dangerous chemical combination (Quora).

Mildew Stain Remover And Bleach

If you find stubborn mildew in your home, you might feel tempted to attack it in two different ways. But you must never attack it with bleach and with a mildew stain remover. Because the stain remover contains acid, it reacts when combined with bleach. It produces chlorine gas, which may irritate your throat, eyes, nose, and lungs (Draxe).

Pesticides And Water

This doesn’t apply to every pesticide, but ones with phosphide-containing pesticide. When it comes into contact with water, it can create phosphine gas. There are some products out there that do well with water, but for the most part, don’t combine the two. Besides, pesticides already contain harmful chemicals that are toxic to our health, so it’s better to not even have it in your home unless completely necessary (Extension).

Oven Cleaner And Vinegar

While the degreaser chemicals in an oven cleaner are harmful, when combined with vinegar, they can release harmful vapors and damage surfaces. Even though white vinegar may seem harmless when it’s on its own, it can aid in the release of deadly chemicals in the air when it’s combined with other chemicals (The Kitchn).

Dishwashing Detergent And Bleach

Not only can bleach irritate your eyes and skin but mixing it with dishwashing detergent can release toxic chlorine gas into the air, which is toxic if ingested. Besides, dishwashing detergent on its own is effective enough it doesn’t need the extra cleanliness of bleach to help. It’s also not recommended to clean dishes with bleach, since you could accidentally ingest it if you don’t wash it properly (CDPR).

Lemon And Bleach

Even combining something as harmless as a lemon with bleach can be harmful. That’s all thanks to lemon’s makeup, which is acidic. The combination of these two can result in a toxic, harmful gas. It’s better to leave these two separately, and if you’re tempted to clean, choose one (Purdy and Figg).

Oven Cleaner And Ammonia

As we’ve already learned, it’s never safe to combine ammonia with any other household chemicals. It can create toxic fumes, and if you accidentally breathe it in without wearing the proper protective equipment, the combination can be extremely toxic to your health. This is exactly the case with oven cleaners and ammonia. Don’t even think about putting the two chemicals near each other! (Fabulessly Frugal).

Glass Cleaner And Bleach

Even if your windows are looking dirty and foggy, that doesn’t mean you should grab both the glass cleaner and bleach. Never combine these two, all because of their chemicals. Glass cleaner contains ammonia, and as we’ve learned ammonia and bleach together is a huge no-no. The combination is called sodium hypochlorite, which produces chloramine vapor, a highly toxic substance. Side effects from this are choking, coughing, sinus congestion, and shortness of breath (ABC27).

Baking Soda And Vinegar

While the byproducts of baking soda and vinegar aren’t necessarily harmful, since it’s only water, sodium acetate, and carbon dioxide, it’s not safe, either. According to Vy Dong Ph.D., a professor at the University of California, when combining the two “carbon dioxide is a gas, and having this reaction occur in a sealed container can cause a small explosion as carbon dioxide tries to escape.” You might have your very own erupting volcano in your home (Insider).