Can You Mix Bleach And Baking Soda For Cleaning?

Last Updated on August 5, 2023 By Emma W. Thomas

Yes, you can mix bleach and baking soda for cleaning. In fact, mixing bleach and baking soda creates a powerful cleaning solution that can effectively kill germs and bacteria. Moreover, you can use this mixing for most cleaning tasks.

Can You Mix Bleach And Baking Soda For Cleaning?

When it comes to cleaning, people often turn to tried and tested methods. One popular combination that often pops up is mixing bleach and baking soda. However, before you grab these two household staples and start scrubbing away, there are a few things you need to know. Let’s explore if it’s safe and effective to mix bleach and baking soda for cleaning purposes.

1. Chemical Reaction:
   Bleach and baking soda create a chemical reaction when mixed together. This reaction produces sodium hypochlorite, water, and table salt. Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in bleach that gives it its cleaning power. While this reaction may seem promising for cleaning, it’s important to note that combining these substances can release toxic fumes if not used in a well-ventilated area.
2. Cleaning Effectiveness:
   Mixing bleach and baking soda can be effective for certain cleaning tasks. For example, this combination may work well to remove tough stains from porcelain surfaces or clean tile grout. The abrasive nature of baking soda combined with the sanitizing power of bleach can break down dirt and grime effectively. However, it’s essential to remember that bleach should never be mixed with ammonia or any products containing ammonia, as it can create a toxic gas.
3. Safety Precautions:
   Using bleach and baking soda together requires caution. It is vital to wear protective gloves, eye goggles, and a mask to avoid direct contact with these chemicals and the resulting fumes. Ensure that the area you’re cleaning is well-ventilated by opening windows or using fans. Additionally, it’s crucial to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and dilute bleach properly before combining it with baking soda.
4. Alternatives to Mixing:
   If you’re looking for safer alternatives to mixing bleach and baking soda, there are several options available. For general cleaning purposes, you can use baking soda as a gentle abrasive cleaner by itself. Combine it with water or vinegar to form a paste and scrub away dirt and grime. Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide can be substituted for bleach in many cleaning recipes, offering similar sanitizing and stain-removing properties.
5. Common Household Uses:
   While it’s important to exercise caution when mixing bleach and baking soda, both substances have their uses on their own. Bleach is commonly used for disinfecting surfaces and removing stubborn stains, while baking soda is known for its deodorizing and cleaning properties. From whitening laundry to unclogging drains, these household staples offer versatility and are effective when used independently.

What Happens When You Mix Baking Soda And Bleach?

Mixing bleach and baking soda improves the abrasion quality of the resulting solution. When baking soda is added to bleach, it adds some grit, making the solution a better abrasive. This solution also has better cleaning properties when used on stained and discolored surfaces.

When mixing bleach and baking soda at home, ensure you are using a new baking soda packet that has not been opened. This step is essential in ensuring you don’t use baking soda contaminated with other substances that react with bleach.

When bleach and baking soda are mixed, they work perfectly to eradicate tough stains, mold, and odor on surfaces. This mixture also makes cleaning white garments a breeze and leaves them whiter than they were.

Here are some common uses for bleach and baking soda mixture and how to use them:

1. Making Your White Clothes Whiter

Do you have white clothes that are seemingly turning yellow? You don’t have to worry or throw them away. You can use baking soda and bleach to restore whiteness on them and leave them fresher. To do this, mix equal amounts of bleach, and baking soda, half a cup of each will do. Add the mixture to your wash and watch as the magic happens. Your clothes will come out looking brilliant and smelling fresher than ever.

2. Eliminating Mold On Non-Porous Surfaces

When you live in a damp house, mold can cause headaches. Mold can cause health complications, especially in children and people with allergies. When you detect mold in your house, work fast to eliminate it, and inhibit its growth. Bleach and baking soda effectively eliminate mold and resulting stains from furniture, walls, and tiles. This mixture leaves your surface, looking as clean as new. Here are the steps to take to eliminate mold from surfaces using bleach and baking soda.

• 1. Turn on a window fan or open doors for ventilation
• 2. Put on the necessary protective gear
• 3. Mix bleach and water; 1 cup of bleach is enough for a gallon of water
• 4. Apply a paste of baking soda to the surface
• 5. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on the mold
• 6. Leave the mixture to set in for 20-30 minutes
• 7. Scrub the surface with a brush or cleaning sponge
• 8. Rinse the surface with clean water and leave to air dry
• 9. Dispose of the clothes and sponges after use

3. Cleaning And Disinfecting Toilet Seats, Sinks, And Tubs

Bleach is a good disinfectant and works well to kill germs and harmful bacteria, but it is not a cleaner. Baking soda, on the other hand, works well to remove stubborn stains. When these two cleaning agents are mixed, the resulting mixture works well as both a cleaner and disinfectant. The mixture works exceptionally well on ceramics such as the bathtub and toilet and corrects discoloration and stains on tiles and grout. If you are looking for a low-budget solution for your bath and toilet areas, then this is it. Here’s how to use the mixture for your toilet and bathroom, or remove grime from the bathtub:

• 1. Rinse the surface you want to clean with warm water and wipe down using a clean sponge
• 2. Dilute 120 ml of bleach with four litters of water or a gallon full
• 3. Dip a sponge into this solution and wipe the surface you intend to clean, then leave it for about 10 minutes
• 4. Rinse out the surface, then make a paste with baking soda and the diluted bleach
• 5. Apply the paste on any grimy or discolored surface and wait for 15 mins
• 6. Use a scrubbing sponge to wipe the paste away a scrub in a circular motion
• 7. Clean as you would regularly, and your bath or toilet will stay white and sparkly

4. Cleaning White Shoes And Whitening Soles

 Do you have white shoes that turn yellow when you dry in the sun? We have a solution for you. To get rid of these stains, stay away from chlorine bleach since it tends to turn yellow with direct sunlight exposure. Clean your shoes as you would regularly, then use this method to keep them from yellowing. You will need a mixing bowl, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, household bleach, and a soft brush. This method works best on canvas, fabric, and mesh shoes. In a bowl, mix equal amounts of bleach and baking soda and mix till a thick paste forms. Use the toothbrush to apply this paste to the shoe and cover all the fabric. If you are cleaning the soles, apply the paste to cover the entire surface. Put the shoes outside or near a sunny window for 4 hours or until the paste hardens. After the paste hardens, use a brush to remove it from the surface of your shoe. Your shoe will be white as new and rejuvenated.

What Cleaners Should Not Be Mixed With Bleach?

Bleach is an essential part of cleaning routines in every home. It works as an excellent disinfectant and sanitizer and works to remove tough stains on fabrics and surfaces. Whenever you are working with bleach, you need to wear protective gear and read safety instructions on the bottle before use. One of the main instructions on your bleach package is you should never use bleach with other cleaners

As discussed earlier, you can mix bleach and baking soda and get a better cleaning agent for your whites. So which cleaners should you never mix with bleach? Bleach should never be mixed with acids or products containing acids or ammonia. For example, most toilet cleaners contain acid, and when mixed with bleach, toxic gas is produced. Inhaling this gas can lead to health complications, and that’s why manufacturers always advise you not to mix them. Vinegar, lemon, and lime juice are also weak acids that react harmfully with bleach. Never mix them for cleaning in your home.

Never mix bleach with acids, ammonia, or cleaners that contain acids or ammonia. Chlorine bleach contains sodium hypochlorite as the active ingredient. This ingredient reacts with acids, ammonia, and other cleaners to produce toxic gases. These gases cause wheezing, irritation to the nose, eyes, throat, ears, shortness of breath, coughing, and even pneumonia.

Here Are Examples Of How Bleach Reacts With Different Cleaners To Produce Toxic Gases:

Bleach + vinegar = produce toxic chlorine gas

Ammonia + bleach= produces toxic chloramine vapors

Bleach + rubbing alcohol= produces chloroform

  As you can see from the reactions above, mixing chemicals leads to the production of toxic gases that cause adverse health effects. Always ensure you stay safe, even as you strive to keep your home clean and smell fresh. 

Safety Precautions When Cleaning With Bleach

• Always wear gloves to protect your skin from corrosive reactions
• When getting rid of mold, wear a respirator to avoid inhaling harsh fumes and mold spores
• Do not mix bleach with other cleaners as the reaction might produce a toxic gas
• When working with bleach, ensure your house is well ventilated
• Always dilute bleach with water for best results 
• Do not mix chlorine bleach with hot water as it loses its effectiveness
• Always check for the expiry date on the packaging of your bleach to ensure you are not using expired bleach
• Always store bleach in well-labeled containers, away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children

Final Word

Every cleaning enthusiast loves working with bleach. Not only does bleach leave surfaces smelling clean, but it also disinfects. Cleaning with bleach and baking soda is the best thing you can add to your cleaning routine. This mixture helps improve the properties of bleach for a better cleaning experience. It helps to make white clothes whiter and remove the most stubborn stains on toilet and bathroom surfaces.

Try it for your stubborn stains and regular cleaning routines, and thank us later. We hope that this post was helpful to you and that it makes your cleaning more enjoyable.

References:

https://www.gemmaetc.com/2023/06/can-you-mix-bleach-and-baking-soda.html
https://fischerinstitute.com/is-it-safe-mix-baking-soda-and-bleach/