Multipurpose Floor Cleaner
For use on asphalt, rubber, vinyl, asbestos tiles and resilient linoleum sheet
1/2 cup liquid chlorine bleach
1/4 cup washing soda
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water
Combine in a bucket. Scrub floors with a mop, be sure to wring mop properly to use minimal water.
I was told never mix bleach and vinegar because it can cause a chemical reaction that can be very dangerous.
Is this mixing of vinegar and bleach safe or necessary?
The short answer is “No!”.
For domestic use the dangers are too great. When acids are mixed with bleach chlorine gas is given off. This is quite toxic and can be a considerable health risk.
One lady who tried this as a child spent days coughing and choking afterwards and felt lucky to have fully recovered from the effects after a few weeks.
Vinegar is a fairly potent bactericide in its own right. If you feel the need to use bleach too, then separate them out. Use bleach in small quantities, diluted in water to top up your cleaning programme.
Vinegar and bleach is only an option in emergency situations and is best left to professionals.
Vinegar and bleach and other bleach safety facts:
mixing ammonia with bleach can be deadly (both of those are bases); I’ve never heard of an acid and bleach being deadly. ammonia and bleach will cause respiratory issues – the least of which is coughing
As long as the solution is mostly water it should be fine. Put the water in first, then add one of the chemicals and let it become equally distributed in the water, then add an appropriate amount of the other chemical.
Also, if you directly added bleach to an acid, and the proportions weren’t right, nor watered down, deadly gas can be released the way it will if you mix bleach and ammonia. The ammonia reaction even in water and with very small amounts of bleach or ammonia.
Now I know that the same is possible with acids and bleach. Thank you!