Bleach is a popular cleaning agent known widely for how potent it is for disinfection and removing stains. Many homeowners are often tempted to mix bleach with other chemicals to increase its strength and efficacy. However, it’s essential to know that this isn’t safe.
On the other hand, Mr. Clean is a popular multi-purpose cleaning product with a neutral pH and non-toxic chemical makeup. It is safe to use on its own, but people often wonder if mixing Mr. Clean with bleach would help them attain better cleaning results.
The short answer to this common question is: No! You shouldn’t mix bleach with Mr. Clean, as this creates chlorine gas, which is corrosive to your eyes, skin, and throat. Therefore, you should avoid mixing both compounds at all costs.
In this article, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at why you should not mix bleach and Mr. Clean, what else you should not mix with bleach, and other ingredients you can add to Mr. Clean to make it more effective.
Why You Should Not Mix Bleach and Mr. Clean
Most homeowners and inexperienced cleaners often think that combining two powerful cleaning agents will help them attain better results. While this may be true for some cleaners and ingredients, it’s not the case with Mr. Clean and bleach.
Bleach is also called sodium hydrochloride, and it is not chemically inert. It is highly reactive and may begin to react with air if certain atmospheric conditions are met. On the other hand, the Mr. Clean multi-surface cleaner contains C9-11 Pareth, sodium citrate, citric acid, and other ingredients (here’s a complete list of ingredients from the manufacturer).
Key Takeaway: Mixing Bleach with Mr. Clean can lead to the formation of chlorine gas which is highly poisonous and should be avoided! Even though these ingredients may not be harmful on their own, when mixed can cause serious injuries.
Chlorine is a highly toxic chemical that is unsafe in liquid and gaseous forms. If a person inhales chlorine gas, they may experience adverse effects like coughing, sneezing, and experience a lack of breathability. Chlorine is also corrosive to the skin and can cause burns.
If you mix bleach and Mr. Clean and leave it in a confined space, the chlorine gas will build up, and you won’t be able to detect the invisible fumes. The fumes can suffocate you and cause others to experience dangerous symptoms and even serious injuries.
In the unlikely event that chlorine gas begins forming due to a bad chemical reaction, it is best to ventilate the area by opening all doors and windows and asking all present to evacuate the area.
This way, the chlorine gas can dissipate safely without causing any damage. If you have inhaled any chemical or toxic fumes, go out into fresh air straight away and seek medical attention immediately.
What Can You Mix Mr. Clean With to Remove Tough Stains?
Mr. Clean is a powerful cleaning product that is sufficient for removing tough stains and disinfection on its own. However, for additional effectiveness, Mr. Clean can also be mixed with other solutions.
It is crucial to read the chemicals in cleaning products carefully so that you can avoid creating toxic chemical reactions. Here are some ingredients you can safely mix with Mr. Clean without worrying about adverse effects.
Mix Mr. Clean with Baking Soda
If you are looking for a way to clean floors and get rid of dirt effectively, we recommend mixing the Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaner with baking soda and a large quantity of water (a cleaning bucket would be ideal).
Baking soda is a mildly alkaline substance that can effectively break down impurities, making them easier to clean when mixed with a cleaning solution.
You can mop tiled and wooden (only sealed or prefabricated hardwood) floors with this cleaning mixture. The baking soda helps in picking up the fine dust and dirt, at the same time deodorizing the floor.
Mix Mr. Clean with Vinegar
Another great cleaning agent you can use with Mr. Clean is vinegar, especially white vinegar. Vinegar is a great cleaning agent for tougher stains and can be used to remove dirt spots and help deodorize your floors.
Vinegar is acidic, which allows it to break down and dissolve all kinds of dirt, oil, and grease stains, even mineral deposits.
To clean your floors, simply add ½ cup of vinegar to one gallon of hot water with some Mr. Clean. Use a mop or a cloth to clean away any dirt or scuff marks. For stains that are tougher to remove, simply add more vinegar and Mr. Clean.
Mix Mr. Clean with Rubbing Alcohol
Mr. Clean can also be combined with warm water, rubbing alcohol (also called isopropyl alcohol), vinegar, dish soap, and a few drops of essential oils to create an excellent mopping solution or multi-purpose cleaner.
You can safely mop your tile, linoleum, vinyl, laminate, marble, cement, granite, and wooden floors with this mixture. The rubbing alcohol in the mixture is used to degrease and disinfect floors and speed up the evaporation process to reduce streak marks.
We recommend a mixture consisting of:
- 2 cups of warm water
- ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol (70% alcohol concentration)
- ½ cup of distilled vinegar
- ⅛ tsp of dish soap
- 5-8 drops of essential oils (optional)
It’s important to point out that dish soap containing moisturizing or anti-bacterial ingredients should not be used, especially if the dish soap contains oxygenated bleach. In addition, avoid using oil-based soap as it will leave oily streaks.
Can Other Cleaners Be Mixed with Bleach?
Aside from Mr. Clean, there are many other cleaning products that people consider mixing with bleach. Mixing other cleaning agents with bleach is never a good idea, especially if you are not sure which chemicals they are made up of.
Since most cleaners consist of ammonia, acids, and alcohol, it is crucial to know how they react with bleach and why they should never be combined with it. Read the explanations below to understand why you should not mix bleach with any of these chemicals.
Why You Shouldn’t Mix Ammonia & Bleach
Most floor cleaners, multi-purpose cleaners, toilet cleaners, and bathroom cleaners contain ammonia. In addition to these cleaners, ammonia is also found in window cleaners, paints, and urine (always exercise caution when cleaning litter boxes, diaper pails, or toilet bowls).
Even though ammonia is an effective cleaning agent that is used to remove stains and kill germs, it is hazardous to mix with bleach. If you mix bleach with ammonia, the result will be a dangerous combination that produces chloramine gas.
Exposure to chloramine can cause coughing, nausea, watery eyes, wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, eye irritation, and even serious injuries.
Why You Shouldn’t Mix Acids & Bleach
Some toilet bowl cleaners, rust stain-removing products, and tile cleaning agents often contain acid as an ingredient. Acidic cleaners are highly effective in getting rid of tough stains. However, they must never be mixed with bleach.
No matter their pH level, acids are much more dangerous to mix with bleach than ammonia since their combination will form chlorine gas. Chlorine gas can react with water to form hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids, both of which are extremely hazardous.
When a person is exposed to chlorine gas, even for a short amount of time, it leads to eye, throat, and nose irritation. If exposure to chlorine gas is high, it can lead to severe breathing difficulties, pneumonia, fluid in the lungs, vomiting, and even serious injuries.
Why You Shouldn’t Mix Alcohol & Bleach
Many multi-purpose cleaners contain alcohol, and it is common for cleaning wipes, enzyme cleaners, and sanitizers to contain alcohol in them. Mixing bleach with alcohol is highly dangerous since it results in the formation of chloroform.
Chloroform is highly toxic, causing damage to a person’s lungs, liver, and eyes. Chloroform can make a person dizzy and fall unconscious within minutes. If the bleach and alcohol mixture is left to react for a long time in a confined space, those in the room may fall unconscious.