Mixing toilet cleaners can release toxic gas and cause lung damage; doctor gives emergency patient case as example

How to clean toilets: Never mix toilet cleaners with bleach, acids, or other cleaners. Doing so produces toxic gases, which can cause harm, especially in closed spaces (Image: Pexels)

When it comes to cleaning the house, one should never really get too ambitious or go overboard by zealously mixing cleaners or combining them with other cleaning agents without prior knowledge.

Dr Ankit Bhatia, Senior Consultant in Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, shared a scary incident where a patient landed in the emergency simply because she mixed two different toilet cleaners.

What happens when you mix toilet cleaners

While this may seem like a harmless act, Dr Bhatia added that when she was cleaning the bathroom and mixed the two cleaners, toxic fumes immediately filled the space. Within minutes, she became breathless and collapsed and was rushed to the emergency department. “The fumes produced chlorine gas, which triggered Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) — a severe irritation and spasm of the airways,” the pulmonologist added.

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How to be safe while cleaning the toilet

Dr Bhatia advised taking the following precautionary measures when cleaning toilets:

1. Never mix toilet cleaners with bleach, acids, or other cleaners. Doing so produces toxic gases, which can cause harm, especially in closed spaces. One wrong mix can permanently injure your lungs.

2. Use only one product at a time. It’s best to keep it safe and avoid experimenting without consulting an expert.

3. Read labels carefully and keep the windows and door open when you begin cleaning.

4. Always ventilate your washroom. Run exhaust fans for air circulation and step out every few minutes for fresh air.

5. Wear gloves for safety and old clothes so you don’t have to worry about getting wet or staining yourself.

Cleaning products you should never mix

Most people think that if one product works, combining it with another might be more effective, especially on tough, stubborn stains. But there are certain duos that shouldn’t be combined, especially when it comes to cleaning products. They might not look toxic, but their effects can never be completely guessed beforehand.

Here’s a list of cleaning products you should never combine, as they produce toxic gases like chlorine and chloramine, which can cause problems like coughing, shortness of breath, eye irritation, and more.

• Bleach and vinegar
• Bleach and ammonia
• Bathroom cleaners and bleach
• Lemon and bleach
• Baking soda and vinegar
• Bleach and rubbing alcohol

FAQs on How to Clean Toilets

Mixing cleaners can release toxic gases like chlorine, which can cause severe respiratory issues and potential lung damage.

Use one cleaner at a time, read labels carefully, keep the area ventilated, and wear gloves for protection.

Immediately leave the area for fresh air, ventilate the space, and seek medical help if you experience any symptoms like difficulty breathing or eye irritation.

Avoid mixing bleach with vinegar, ammonia, bathroom cleaners, lemon, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol due to the harmful gases they can produce.

Keep windows and doors open, run exhaust fans for better air circulation, and take breaks outside the bathroom for fresh air.