Lysol is an American brand that produces cleaning products. Lysol merchandise has been effective in homes, schools, and hospitals since the early 20th century as a cleaning agent and, most recently, as a medical disinfectant.
Lysol disinfectant sprays and Lysol bathroom cleaners contain ammonia. The active ingredients in most Lysol products are benzalkonium chloride and hydrogen peroxide. Some Lysol products contain Ammonia, and some don’t, likewise Bleach.
What Ingredients Does Lysol Contain?
Lysol brand has different products which also contain different ingredients and active ingredients. The ingredients include;
- Isopropyl Alcohol causes Lysol to have a robust and harsh odor. The work of the Isopropyl is to remove odor and disinfect surfaces. Its percentage volume is around one to two percent in Lysol.
- Alkyl (C12- C18) Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride and Alkyl (C12- C16) Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride prevent the growth of diseases causing microorganisms. Its percentage volume is 0.08% in Lysol.
- Ethanol works as a sanitizing agent in Lysol products. Its percentage volume is one to three percent.
- P-Chloro-o-benzyl phenyl ( 5-6% ) and Lactic acid are disinfectants in Lysol products.
- Hydrogen peroxide, Benzalkonium Chloride, Potassium Hydroxide, Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium Saccharinate, and Microbiocide are also ingredients in Lysol products.
Lysol brands have different products that contain a different variety of ingredients. Lysol distributes several antiseptic products, multipurpose cleaners, and disinfecting soaps.
The table below shows the Lysol products.
| Hand Soaps | Cleaners | Disinfectant |
|---|---|---|
| Lysol no touch hand soap system | Lysol multi-surface cleaner pourable | Lysol disinfectant spray |
| Lysol touch of foam hand wash | Lysol all-purpose cleaner | Lysol disinfecting wipes |
| Lysol bathroom cleaner | Lysol concentrate disinfectant | |
| Lysol power and free | ||
| Lysol power kitchen cleaner | ||
| Lysol toilet bowl cleaner | ||
| Lysol mold and mildew remover |
#1. Are Lysol Ingredients Toxic?
Yes and No. If the instructions directed by the manufacturers on the products are correctly adhered to, it is safe to use.
Fish are sensitive to the main ingredient in Lysol products, Benzalkonium chloride. It is safe for birds and mammals due to its mild toxicity.
It can be a health hazard when inhaling, consuming, or improperly handling Lysol.
The improper use of Lysol can contaminate the air causing allergies, sicknesses, and even death. The health risks of Lysol product misuse are listed below.
#2. Risks Factors in Pets
Cats especially are susceptible to Lysol cleaning products. Ethanol alcohol and Phenol combination produce a dangerous toxin for cats who can’t process these toxic substances in their livers.
Homeowners should keep cleaning products containing phenols far away from pets.
Cats, Dogs, or Birds can easily absorb these toxins from their skin by ingestion or inhalation through the bodies of cats, dogs, or birds.
It affects the central nervous system stimulation leading to heart attacks, the minimal function of the respiratory organs, vomiting, and possibly death.
#3. Risks Factors in Humans
When in direct contact with the skin, the phenol content in Lysol products causes drying, defatting, and dermatitis.
Symptoms may include swelling, redness, edema, drying, burning, and cracking of the skin. Signs of overexposure may be headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, and vomiting.
Inhalation of these Lysol products may cause respiratory tract irritation, break down the central nervous system, and circulatory collapse.
It also leads to cancer growth, cell mutations, developmental malformations, fertility problems, and general chronic health defects.
If you accidentally ingest any of the Lysol products, call poison control and your doctor immediately.
Lysol contains denatured ethanol, which is deadly to humans when consumed. Ingestion is Not a regular route of exposure. It May cause stomach distress, nausea, or vomiting.
When in direct contact with Lysol, it is advisable to shield your nose and eyes to avoid eye or skin irritation when using Lysol cleaning products.
To avoid direct contact with food, skin, and even clothes, homeowners should take preventive measures.
Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and running water after using Lysol products to prevent skin irritation.
If you accidentally get Lysol in your eyes, make sure you wash out any other contact with the product.
They wash your eyes out for at least 20 minutes with running water. If the discomfort does not lessen, seek medical care as soon as possible.
The harm of Lysol products is the health risks attributed to the ingredients used in the formulation.
Phenol is the most questionable of these ingredients, especially if you have children and pets.
Is It Safe to Mix Lysol with Bleach?
It is not safe to mix bleach and Lysol. It would help if you never mixed Lysol with bleach. Bleach on its own is a very harsh chemical.
Mixing it with a cleaning product can become very unstable and even flammable.
Bleach oxidizes the 2-benzyl-4-chlorophenol found in Lysol, creating a substantial amount of irritating and toxic gas. Bleach and Lysol shouldn’t be in contact at all.
Different Lysol products have different solutions. It would help if you always presumed that once you mix Lysol with bleach, it will cause a dangerous chemical reaction. If you accidentally mixed Lysol and bleach, here is what you should do.
#1. Throw Out the Cleaning Supplies
If the cleaning supplies come in contact with the bleach and Lysol mix, you must throw them out as quickly as possible.
If any other thing was with the mix, throw them out too. It would help if you never used the same cleaning tool again.
The cleaning tools are tainted with the poisonous gas from the bleach and Lysol mixture, which eventually will damage anything it comes in contact with.
#2. Allow Ventilation in the Room
After the bleach and Lysol must have mixed, you have to control the spread in the room by opening the doors and windows to allow fresh air into the room.
#3. Gas Control
Bleach and Lysol mix to form chlorine gas. The bleach and Lysol combination creates a significant reaction resulting in a substantial portion of gas spread; it’s essential to call your local emergency service or poison control.
The spread of the gas mixture is a highly hazardous problem. It would help if you never tried to control a gas spread made from bleach and Lysol mixture.
The result can be fatal. If you’re having trouble breathing, please seek medical attention urgently.
#4. Clean up Right Away
Take off your clothes and discard them if you can, then take a shower. Not washing off tends to expose you to bleach and Lysol mixture particles, which can be harmful.
Cleaning solutions are safe on their own. When mixed, it can be hazardous. It is important to note that potentially mixing chemicals isn’t safe. Never try to mix household compounds.
How Can I Determine a Cleaning Agent That Has Ammonia?
The easiest way to detect ammonia in a cleaning agent is by reading through the label on the packaging.
Ammonia on label packaging on cleaning products is Ammonium Hydroxide. On some occasions, some ingredients will not be on the label of the products.
If this is your problem, the product may likely have a barcode, which you can scan. Another option is to look into the product online.
You can check out the manufacturer’s website and search for the record of the ingredients in the cleaning agent.
If none of the abovementioned suggestions work, you can reach out to the company through their hotline or the product manufacturer.
Check the company website for contact details. The website usually includes a customer care number, the company’s email address, or the contact detail.
Ammonia is an excellent cleaning agent in liquid form, and you can find it in many family cleaning products.
You can find Ammonia in furniture polish, glass cleaners, Window cleaners, oven cleaners, drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and stainless-steel cleaners.
Any liable adult can get ammonia at drugstores and hardware stores; dilution is highly advisable.
Even though it cleans well, ammonia can cause health problems when mishandled, making it necessary to know if you’re cleaning or working with it.
What Cleaning Products Do Not Contain Ammonia?
Many manufacturers of cleaning products understand the dangers of ammonia in them, and they have successfully produced safer yet more effective ingredients in cleaning products.
If you’re looking for ammonia-free cleaning agents, here’s a table containing the best options.
| Brand | Cleaner |
|---|---|
| Lysol Hydrogen Peroxide Bathroom Cleaner | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Puracy Natural multi-Surface Cleaner | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner | Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner |
| Ology Glass Cleaner | Glass Cleaner |
| Earthy glass and Window Cleaner | Glass Cleaner |
| Everyday Good All Purpose Soap | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Aunt Fannie’s Cleaning Vinegar Wipes | Cleaning Wipes |
| 9 Elements Multi-Purpose Cleaner | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap | General Purpose Soap |
| ECOS All-Purpose Cleaner | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Nature Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Whoa, Nelli Natural Home Cleaning Spray | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| AspenClean All-in-One Concentrate | Multi-Purpose Cleaner |
| Greenshield Organic All-Purpose Cleaner Degreaser | All Purpose Degreaser |
Conclusion
Most cleaning agents contain harsh chemicals used to clean dirt, grease, and grime from surfaces to give them the shine it deserves.
Mixing different products can be hazardous and even deadly. Handling cleaning agents will prevent a lot of problems in a household.
