What You Should Never Use for Cleaning

Whether you prefer making your own DIY household solutions or you’re just trying to power through your routine, knowing your way around your chemical cabinet is essential. Any chemical, no matter how harmless it may be, should be approached with caution, because some of them don’t play nicely together. 

Even if you’re outsourcing your housekeeping to reliable cleaning services in Huntington, it’s still important to stay informed about these chemicals. You may want to address a spill or another mess immediately and making the wrong move could affect your health or damage your surfaces. Keep reading to find out what better not to use when cleaning. 

Which substances should never be used for household cleaning?

When grime and dirt is as stubborn as can be, or when there’s fresh mess on your white carpet, it can be tempting to do everything you can to remove it, which often includes mixing different products to achieve better results. However, this is not always a good idea. Here’s what chemicals you should never mix together:

Bleach and other cleaners

Bleach is a strong agent you can use to disinfect some surfaces such as sinks, stoves, or floors. However, you should never use it together with any other substance, including ammonia, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, bathroom cleaners, rust removal products, oven cleaner, and even lemon. Combining bleach with any of these substances will produce toxic gas that can be harmful to your respiratory system and overall health. 

Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide

While it’s safe to use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in tandem – for example, you can alternate sprays of each to disinfect your countertops, with rinses in between – you should never mix them in one same container, because it will create peracetic acid, which can be toxic and irritate your eyes, skin, and respiratory system. 

Toilet bowl cleaners and drain cleaners

While toilet bowl disinfectants usually contain acidic ingredients such as hydrochloric acid, drain products typically use strong alkaline compounds like sodium hydroxide (lye) or bleach. When mixed together, these chemicals react violently, producing toxic gases which can be dangerous when inhaled. Because of the heat generated from the chemical reaction, it can even lead to eye injuries and skin burns.

When cleaning what should you avoid using?

In addition to these hazardous combos, there are other substances and tools you should steer clear of because they could harm your health, but also your surfaces and the environment. They include:

• Undiluted vinegar on stone surfaces. Due to its acidic nature, vinegar can damage surfaces like marble, granite, or limestone.

• Abrasive tools and products on delicate surfaces. Steel wool, harsh scouring powders, and other abrasive products can scratch glass, stainless steel, and non-stick cookware. 

• Flammable liquids like kerosene and gasoline. These are not safe for cleaning as they pose significant fire and explosion hazards.

• Excessive water on wood. Using too much water on wooden floors or furniture can cause warping, swelling, or mold growth. Always wring out your mop or cloth well.

• Colored cleaning products on fabrics. Dyes in cleaners can stain your light-colored carpets, upholstery, or fabrics.

Looking for trusted cleaning services in Huntington?

If you’re in need of a holiday house cleaning guide, you want to explore the benefits of a clean home, or you want to make sure there’s no cross-contamination while you clean, you can count on Maid Brigade of Long Island to provide you with all the information you need and deliver top-notch service, leaving your home in optimal condition. Whether you need us in Huntington Bay or another nearby area, we’ll be there to help. Give us a call today!