10 times you can't use bleach

The coronavirus is forcing many of us to improve the efficiency of home disinfection. Thus, we are rediscovering the germ-killing power of bleach. How not to use bleach, the publication said Money Talks News.

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Bleach is not an all-purpose cleaner. It should be used strictly for its intended purpose and with safety considerations in mind.

1. Never use bleach without protective equipment

Sodium hypochlorite (the active ingredient in bleach) is a highly corrosive substance that can damage skin, eyes, and lungs.

Follow basic safety precautions when using bleach. Wear a suit, long rubber gloves, and goggles to protect your eyes from accidental splashes.

Open windows and doors to allow cross ventilation and avoid accumulation of vapors.

2. Never use undiluted bleach

Using undiluted bleach is not the best solution for disinfection. Robert Laumbach, an assistant professor at Rutgers University's Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, emphasizes that high concentrations of bleach are ineffective and potentially harmful.

To stay safe and get the most bang for your buck, dilute your bleach properly: add no more than half a glass of bleach per gallon (3,7 L) of water.

3. Never dilute bleach with hot water

It is a mistake to think that hot water will enhance the effectiveness of bleach. Verity Mann, head of testing at the Institute for Good Housekeeping, says mixing bleach with hot water is generally unacceptable.

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The chemicals that make bleach so effective break down faster in hot water. Use cold or cool water as a base for the most effective cleaning.

4. Never mix bleach with other cleaning agents.

If one remedy is good, then two or three must be even better, right? No.

Some household cleaning products should never be mixed as they cause dangerous chemical reactions.

According to Good Housekeeping, avoid mixing bleach with:

Ammonia: Mixing bleach and ammonia produces a toxic gas called chloramine. Even short-term exposure to chloramine can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

Rubbing alcohol: When bleach and rubbing alcohol are mixed, chloroform is formed, a colorless liquid that quickly evaporates into a toxic gas.

Vinegar: Bleach and vinegar, when mixed, turn into chlorine gas, which can cause breathing problems, coughing, and eye irritation.

The simplest rule of thumb is to not mix bleach with anything other than plain water.

5. Never wash food with bleach

The coronavirus has made everyone more knowledgeable about food sanitation and disinfection, but washing fresh fruits and vegetables with diluted bleach is clearly overkill.

According to EatingWell magazine, it's important to remember that bleach is a caustic, toxic chemical that should never be used in food.

6. Never wholesale bleach

When hunting for discounts, do not wholesale bleach.

The Scripps Research Institute reports bleach has a shelf life of about six months. In fact, its disinfecting capacity decreases by 20% over time.

To get the most out of your bleach bottle, store it properly. The American Cleaning Institute recommends storing vials of household bleach out of direct sunlight in a dry place with a temperature range of 50 to 70 ° F (10-21 Celsius).

7. Never use bleach on stone countertops

Even diluted bleach can corrode sealants that protect marble, granite, and quartz countertops. Eventually, chlorine will dull the surface and cause discoloration and pitting.

Instead of bleach, clean stone countertops with a cotton or microfiber cloth dampened with water and liquid dishwashing liquid.

8. Never use wood floor bleach.

Thinking about cleaning your gorgeous wood floor with bleach? Think again. More porous than stone, wood will simply absorb the bleach. It cannot be completely washed off, which will destroy the natural fibers that give wood floors flexibility and strength.

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Use a damp microfiber mop and a neutral cleaning solution instead of bleach.

9. Never empty bleach down the drain.

If you have a septic tank in your home, use bleach sparingly. While septic systems can handle moderate amounts of dilute bleach used in household laundry, too much can lead to unexpected situations.

According to Septic Maxx, the national septic service for commercial and residential use, the chemicals in chlorine bleach kill the beneficial bacteria that are used in septic systems to break down solid waste. Over time, back-up solids can clog drains and toilets, burst pipes, or complete failure of the septic system.

10. Never wear your favorite jeans while using bleach

Don't use bleach while your favorite jeans are on.

Bleach can show even the tidiest person who is the boss. The splashes will ruin your clothes in no time. Take a little more time and change into the old sweatpants that you hide in the back of the closet.

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