Bleach: Health Dangers & Effectiveness

Most people think that bleach is a great choice for cleaning and disinfecting their home. However, there are some health risk associated with using bleach that you should be aware of.

Additionally, bleach is not nearly as effective at cleaning and disinfecting as most people think. Read on to learn more about the hazards of cleaning with bleach as well as how effective it really is.

The Dangers of Bleach

Bleach can cause respiratory difficulties, headaches, skin burns, loss of consciousness, and vomiting. People who already suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic bronchitis should never be exposed to bleach.

When mixed with other cleaners bleach becomes even more dangerous. If mixed with ammonia it can release chlorine gas, which is so toxic to humans that it was used as a chemical weapon in both WW1 & WW2.

If a larger amount of bleach is mixed with a smaller amount of ammonia it will release nitrogen trichloride which is an extremely volatile explosive and is incredibly toxic to breath.

If the solution is made with a greater amount of ammonia than bleach it will result in hydrazine. The final part of the chemical reaction that occurs in the process of creating hydrazine usually produces so much heat that it creates an explosion.

NEVER mix bleach and ammonia for any reason...it could kill you. This goes for mixing bleach with any cleaners that contain ammonia such as window cleaner, metal cleaner or dishwashing liquid.

Bleach should also never be mixed with vinegar, rust removers, toilet bowl cleaners or a variety of other household cleaners. The safest bet if you insist on using bleach is never to mix it with any other cleaner

How Well Does Bleach Really Clean?

Studies have shown that bleach is effective at killing mold and bacteria, although it is far less effective than most people think.

When it comes to mold, bleach kills most surface mold on hard, non-porous surfaces. However, when it comes to treating mold on porous surfaces it is far less effective.

The ion structure of bleach makes it so it cannot penetrate down into the surface of porous materials and as a result any mold spores that are below the surface are unaffected by it. It also does nothing to inhibit future mold growth. Bleach is not registered with the EPA as a disinfectant to kill mold.

Bleach also becomes ineffective as a disinfectant very quickly when it comes in contact with organic matter. What that means is that in order for bleach to disinfect properly the surface must be completely clean before the bleach touches it in order for it to disinfect completely.

This is bad news since it can effectively double your cleaning time since you have to clean once to remove dirt and grime and again to disinfect with bleach. Many natural cleaning products such as tea tree oil or vinegar can be used to both clean and disinfect at the same time which can save a lot of time when you are cleaning.

Bleach can cause damage to surfaces it touches including damaging floor sealers, countertop sealers, carpet, fabric and more. It also can corrode hard surfaces in your home over time. The lightening effect that bleach has can also cause discoloration in a variety of different surfaces around your home.

For your own safety and to make your cleaning more effective, you may want to look for a bleach alternative for cleaing and disinfecting your home.

Sources:

http://www.moldacrossamerica.org/notobleach.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A795611