Oxiclean and bleach are two products that make laundry just that little bit easier by removing stains and brightening your clothes.
So, since they are so effective, this led me to ask myself, what if I combine them? Can you mix Oxiclean and bleach?
Oxiclean and bleach should never be mixed as this can result in harmful gasses being released.
Mixing cleaning chemicals is a hazardous practice, so it is very important to know what is safe and what could put you at risk before creating a cleaning chemical cocktail.
This article is going to explain what each of these products is and whether or not it is safe to mix them together.
Gomestic Fact: Two products that should never be mixed are bleach and vinegar. Find out why here.
What is Oxiclean?
Oxiclean is a home cleaning brand that sells a host of laundry products, including stain remover, detergents, and laundry boosters. The number one seller for Oxiclean, and the product we will be discussing today, is their highly effective stain remover.
One of the main selling points of Oxiclean is that it is totally bleach-free, which means that it is safe to use on just about any fabric. It also eliminated the chance of getting bleach stains on your clothes accidentally.
If you are looking to phase bleach out of your cleaning routine, then Oxiclean is a great alternative.
Oxiclean can be purchased in powder and liquid form, depending on the application.
What is Bleach?
Bleach is a cleaning product that is sold under many names, Clorox being one of the most popular.
There are two main types of bleach: oxygen bleach and chlorine bleach, which can be used for slightly different application. It is made up of a diluted solution of sodium chlorite that may contain additional chemicals.
This product can be used for anything from toilet cleaning to your laundry but they need to be applied in the correct manner and using the right kind of bleach to get the best results.
When used in laundry, chlorine bleach can only be used for whites, while oxygen bleach is safe to use to brighten colors.
Bleach is very efficient at killing bacteria, whitening, and stain removal. However, it is not appropriate to use on all fabrics.
You can buy bleach predominantly in liquid form that needs to be diluted before you use it. However, if you use it in the laundry, the diluting will be done in the machine as long as it is placed in the bleach dispenser.
Gomestic Tip: Before using a new cleaning product, read the instructions very carefully before combining them, as many products will have a harmful chemical reaction.
Can You Mix Oxiclean and Bleach?
Bleach and Oxiclean should never be mixed as this can be life-threatening.
The combination of these two products can cause the production of harmful gasses that can be fatal if you are not in a well-ventilated area.
The reason for this is that Oxiclean breaks down into hydrogen peroxide. This substance is highly reactive with sodium hypochlorite, which causes a chemical reaction. This can result in the production of harmful gasses and heat. This heat may, in the most severe circumstances, create an explosion, which is obviously incredibly dangerous.
Another reason that this is so dangerous is that the mixing is likely to take place in the laundry room where the ventilation is poor. This can increase the likelihood of dangerous levels of gas inhalation.
If you have mixed these two by accident, you need to open all the doors and windows to ventilate the area as quickly as possible. Then get you and anyone else in the house out along with your pets.
For this reason, I recommend using them separately and leaving a few washes between using them to prevent any adverse effects.
In my opinion, there is no real reason that you might want to mix these two products. They pretty much do a similar job so using them in tandem would be overkill.
What Are The Symptoms of Inhaling Harmful Fumes
If you have inhaled the fumes from this lethal combination by accident, there are a few symptoms that you may experience:
- Blurred vision
- Burns
- Eye, nose and throat irritation
- Coughing
- Chest Tightness
- Shortness of breathe
- Nausea
- Vomiting
If you experience any of these symptoms I recommend seeking medical attention as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which whitens better, Oxiclean or bleach?
When it comes to whitening, bleach is always the product that I will recommend. Oxiclean is a great stain remover, but it doesn’t have the same power as bleach when it comes to whitening.
How long can clothes sit in Oxiclean?
This really depends on the fabric and the stain that you are dealing with.
If the fabric is prone to color change, then I recommend leaving your clothes in for no longer than 5 minutes. However, if the fabric doesn’t have this issue, it can be left for hours or even days to shift very stubborn stains.
Can you mix Oxiclean and dish soap?
Oxiclean and dish soap are totally safe to mix together.
They are often combined with hot water and a few other cleaning products to create a powerful stain-removing soak for your clothes.
Even though these two are safe to be combined, its very important to check before mixing them together because, as we have explores, it can have dangerous consequences.
Conclusion
It may be tempting to combine your favorite cleaning product to make one super product, but this is something I strongly advise against in all cases.
Never mix Oxiclean and bleach, as this can result in the production of toxic gasses that can be fatal.
So you can keep both of these powerful products in your cleaning supply arsenal; just make sure they never make contact, and you will be good to go.