Chlorine is the best ally when it comes to disinfecting, however, mixing it with other detergents may not be the best option.
Also known as a household bleach, chlorine is a 6 percent solution of Sodium Hypochlorite dissolved in washing soda (Sodium Hydroxide). Due to its components, care must be taken with its use, since not handling it correctly can be toxic and very dangerous.
According to the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) , mixing chlorine with some substances, in addition to deactivating its disinfectant power, can damage the respiratory or nervous systems of the people who use it.
One of the dangerous combinations is that of chlorine with hot water , since when mixed chlorine gas is produced, which affects the respiratory system, causes cough, chest pain and even water retention in the lungs. Another combination that can cause this reaction is with citric acids .
Alcohol bleach, either liquid or gel, can produce chloroform. This substance causes dizziness or nausea and may cause damage to the nervous system.
Using hydrogen peroxide with chlorine is also dangerous, as it can produce chlorates or chlorine gas that affects the mucous membranes, including the eyes, throat and lungs. The same goes for mixing it with muriatic acid or vinegar .
Chlorine and ammonia should not be mixed either, because with this combination chloramine is obtained, which causes lung and liver damage; in mild cases it causes headache and shortness of breath.
What is the correct way to use chlorine?
For cleaning floors, you can use a diluted solution of 0.2 percent, that is, one part of Chlorine for 25 of water.
In the case of cleaning the bathroom, you must dilute a quarter cup of chlorine in two liters of water, pour it into the toilet, let it sit for five minutes and let the water run.
Wash white clothes: in the washing machine add half a cup of chlorine for every 30 liters of water; by hand uses a third of a cup of bleach for every nine liters of water.
To wash dishes , dilute one and a half tablespoons of bleach in half a liter of water, and to disinfect surfaces , dilute a third of a cup of bleach in 1.5 liters of water.
