Everyone appreciates a clean environment. And there are many different types of products that help achieve this result.
On their own, most of these products work efficiently. One of such products is bleach which is highly effective in cleaning almost all surfaces and items.
However, most people want to mix different products to boost the effects or hasten the results.
Unfortunately, doing this usually has more negative effects than the desired or expected results.
It is hazardous to mix bleach with fabuloso. Individually, each one performs exceptionally without adding external products. Nevertheless, like with most cleaning agents, mixing both products leads to the production of toxic fumes. These fumes can cause several problems in the body depending on the quantity of gas the person is exposed to.
What Happens When You Mix Bleach and Fabuloso?
Two main things happen when you mix bleach and fabulous. The first is the production of chlorine gas, while the second is that the mixture loses its cleaning power.
This second effect occurs as a result of the chlorine gas. This gas does not possess any aromatic qualities necessary for cleaning agents.
The health impacts of inhaling chlorine gas vary depending on the level of exposure. One common and immediate symptom is eye irritation.
Other symptomatic effects could be nasal and throat irritation, surplus salivation, nausea and vomiting, chest pain, cough, and abdominal discomfort.
Chronic exposure to the gas can lead to chest pain, sore throat, cough, and hemoptysis. It can also cause a build-up of fluid in the victim’s lungs.
Most times, it is true that you do not mix bleach with the fabuloso when cleaning. Most people pour fabuloso in the water reservoir so the toilet can smell nice anytime you flush it.
However, because it is always fabuloso in the water, it reacts with the bleach in your cleaning agent when you clean it.
This mixing mode might seem less dangerous than outright mixing both chemicals. Nevertheless, it does not negate the toxicity of the gas produced.
Both cleaning agents effectively clean walls, floors, and all other hard surfaces in homes and offices.
However, bleach has a more versatile application than fabuloso. The primary application of the latter is to clean hard surfaces, while you can use bleach for many things, including laundry.
Both agents can be used to clean floors, walls, windows, glass surfaces, kitchen countertops, sinks, and stoves.
While you can use fabuloso to clean wood, it is selective on the type of wood it is compatible with. It can only be used on sealed wood. Surfaces that do not work well with these agents are
| Fabuloso | Bleach |
|---|---|
| Ordinary wooden surfaces | Stainless steel and other metal surfaces |
| Dishes | Granite countertops |
What Cleaners Can Be Mixed with Bleach?
The only things recommended to mix with bleach are water and laundry detergent. Most cleaning agents contain bleach, which applies to almost all of them.
The essence of bleach most of the time is to disinfect surfaces. And mixing regular chlorine bleach and water achieves this purpose to a T.
Most cleaners contain ammonia or a different type of acid. When these chemicals react with bleach, it can be hazardous as they release gases that harm human health.
Due to the reactive nature of bleach, it is gradually becoming less used in cleaning services and activities.
The gas released when you mix different cleaners with bleach depends on the cleaner and its active agent.
Let us look at some of these cleaners, the gases they produce, and the symptomatic effects.
#1. Ammonia and Bleach
Ammonia is a pretty standard cleaning agent. Some cleaners like those for mildew contain ammonia. It is one of the cheapest cleaners that work well on glass and steel.
However, when you mix ammonia with chlorine bleach, it produces harmful gases categorized as chloramines.
These gases are known as respiratory tract irritants. Their symptoms can be as mild as teary eyes, cough, and nausea upon exposure.
On the other hand, they can be as severe as chest pain, lung fluid, or even pneumonia.
Asides from cleaning, there is another common way of mixing these gases. This second way occurs when you use bleach to disinfect water bodies like ponds that contain organic matter.
Again, you risk exposing yourself to these gases when you perform activities like this.
#2. Acids and Bleach
Some products like cleaners for windows, glasses, toilet bowls, drains, concrete and bricks contain acid.
Mixing acid-based products with bleach can lead to the production of chlorine gas. But it goes a step further.
Since this mixture occurs in water, the chlorine reacts with the water to produce hypochlorous and hydrochloric acids.
Some products are readily available in homes that most people use as cleaning agents. These products are vinegar and lemon juice.
Even though they are organic, they are still acids and produce chlorine gas when mixed.
Chlorine gas affects the respiratory tract, while hydrochloric acids can cause burns on membranous surfaces.
Examples of these surfaces are skin, throat, mouth, and eyes. Chlorine gas can also affect the skin to cause swelling and inflammation. In severe cases, the reactions can lead to skin blistering.
#3. Rubbing Alcohol and Bleach
Rubbing alcohol works wonders with stubborn stains. And because of its evaporative properties, it can clean surfaces without leaving water marks.
But unfortunately, mixing rubbing alcohol with bleach gives off a dangerous gas known as chloroform.
Chloroform is a very poisonous gas that can make you pass out. It is perilous because if you pass while still in the contaminated vicinity, you continue to inhale the gas.
Continuous inhalation of this gas can eventually lead to death. The mixture releases other gases that are hydrochloric acid, choloroacetone, and dicholoroacetone.
The acetone acids can cause damage to internal organs. Hydrochloric acid usually causes burns.
Below is a summary of different cleaning agents, the gases they release when mixed with bleach, and some common symptomatic effects.
| Cleaning Agent | Gas Released | Effects of Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Ammonia | Chloramines | Respiratory tract irritants |
| Bleach | Chlorine gas | Respiratory tract irritants |
| Hydrochloric gas | Burns on membrane surfaces like skin, mouth, nose, etc. | |
| Rubbing Alcohol | Chloroform | Dizziness and unconsciousness |
| Hydrochloric gas | Burns on membrane surfaces like skin, mouth, nose, etc. | |
| Chloroacetone and Dichloroacetone | Cancer and organ damage |
What Do You Mix Fabuloso with?
Like all cleaning products, water is the only thing you should mix with fabuloso. Research shows that mixing this product with water leads to more effective stain removal.
While it is recommended to use water at room temperature, you can also use warm or hot water when mopping floors.
Water at elevated temperatures increases the antibacterial qualities of the cleaner. Note that it is not advisable to heat the agent itself.
To be on the safe side, follow the instructions as written on the label. You should also use ordinary water when rinsing without adding other cleaning products.
The best measurement is to mix a quarter cup of fabuloso with one gallon of water. If you use fabuloso without diluting it, you risk burning the surface material.
You should also know that you should not use fabuloso to wash dishes. The reason is it is poisonous to ingest, even in trace amounts.
What is the Best Way to Use Fabuloso?
You can use a sponge with your diluted mixture to remove grease and other stains on walls, floors, and other surfaces.
Alternatively, you can pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use it on cabinets, window panes, and similar surfaces before rubbing it down with a lint-free material.
Although you cannot use regular fabuloso cleaning agents on clothes, you can use Fabuloso Oxy. This agent contains hydrogen peroxide, which is clothes-friendly.
Pour some dilute mix into a spray bottle and apply it to the stain spot. Then use a wet cloth to rub out the stain before throwing it in the washer.
Before use, be sure that you can apply stain remover on the affected clothes.
Does Fabuloso Contain Bleach?
Neither Fabuloso nor Fabuloso Complete contains bleach. Instead, their ingredients are water, sodium chloride, sodium dodecy lbenzenesulfonate, lactic acid, colorants, fragrance, and C9-11 Pareth-8.
Compared to bleach, whose active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, the main ingredient in fabuloso is Sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate.
This ingredient is a standard cleaning agent and is used in making detergents. Another ingredient in fabuloso products is hydrogen peroxide.
Because this chemical is found in the mixture, it will not have any intense effects.
Although, when you mix pure hydrogen peroxide with bleach, it can yield oxygen violently. This mixture can be so violent that it causes an explosion.
Does Fabuloso Disinfect?
Fabuloso is one of the suitable disinfectants on the market. Their disinfectant qualities are written on the products and their official website.
There has been an increasing need from customers to know if their cleaning agents have antibacterial properties and can kill germs.
Fabuloso, like all other cleaners, has undergone testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using antimicrobial testing techniques.
If you follow the instructions on your product and use it as recommended, all intended effects will work as planned.
Fabuloso works very well on bacteria and viruses. However, it is not efficient on molds.
Therefore, it is better to buy cleaning agents that contain benzalkonium chloride or other mold-targeted products to combat mold problems.
As explained in earlier sections, it is wrong to mix different products to achieve a more effective result.
While some disinfectants can be added to bath water, fabuloso is not one of such products. It is only to be used on hard surfaces.
Conclusion
As trivial as it may seem, people have died from mixing cleaning agents. Instead of mixing products to boost efficiency, try this alternative.
Use different products at different times and note their effects. Doing this will help you make an informed decision. It will also help you to remain safe and healthy while you keep your house clean.