Can you mix bleach and baking soda for cleaning? Never! The experts explain why it's harmful and what to do instead

When it comes to cleaning, baking soda and bleach are up there with the most common supplies to make a house sparkle – used from bedrooms to bathrooms and everywhere in-between.

But, have you ever wondered whether these two home heroes can be mixed? As tempting as it may be, this combination may be dangerous, and won't get your cleaning done any better, either.

Here, cleaning experts explain why these are cleaning products you should never mix, and why.

Can you mix bleach and baking soda for cleaning?

In short, no. Whilst you may love cleaning with baking soda and banishing bacteria with bleach, these two cleaning supplies should never be mixed, warn cleaning pros.

In fact, as Justin Carpenter, founder of Jacksonville Maids, warns, 'Never mix bleach with anything except water. Bleach is very reactive with various chemicals including detergents and disinfectants, but especially bases (like baking soda) and acids.

'Many of these can release toxic chlorine gas,' which is also why you also should never mix bleach and vinegar when cleaning.

Importantly, this combination is not only potentially harmful, but actually ineffective, as the two will essentially cancel each other out, rendering the mixture useless.

Instead, steer clear of this combination says Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service, by 'using them separately and absolutely never combining them.'

If you do need to get rid of stains, says Carpenter, 'hydrogen peroxide is the best way.' But, do be aware that while cleaning with hydrogen peroxide is not toxic, and won't produce chlorine gas, large concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can be harmful, and cause eye and skin injuries.

Or, as Evie Graham, professional cleaner and founder of WasteDirect, suggests, oxygen-based cleaners, such as OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray available at Amazon, work better, and are safer, for tough jobs.

Then, for regular cleaning, 'For areas needing true disinfection, I rely on Lysol Power Foam available at Amazon,' she recommends. 'It's ready to use and just as effective as bleach – I use this daily in high-traffic areas,' such as to clean a bathroom.

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FAQs

Can you mix bleach, vinegar and baking soda?

Again, keep cleaning with vinegar, bleach and baking soda all totally separate. The mixture of bleach and vinegar will create potentially lethal chlorine gases, particularly in areas with little or poor ventilation. In fact, bleach, as cleaning expert Carpenter asserts, should never be mixed with anything but water.

What should you not mix with baking soda when cleaning?

As well as bleach, you should also never mix baking soda with ammonia or alcohol, as these may risk dangerous chemical reactions. On the other hand, it is safe to clean your house using only vinegar and baking soda, which is a simple, affordable and eco-friendly cleaning solution.

'In fifteen years of cleaning, I've never needed to mix cleaning products,' says cleaning expert Graham. 'Single, properly chosen products always work better than combinations.'

Next, learn if these cleaning mistakes making you sick?