Be careful about mixing household cleaners, because the fumes can be deadly! Good Housekeeping shared a list of dangerous combos to look out for:

1. Bleach + Vinegar

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The combination sounds like it’d be a powerful disinfectant, but the two should never be mixed. “Together, they produce chlorine gas, which even at low levels, can cause coughing, breathing problems, and burning, watery eyes,” says says Carolyn Forte, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.


2. Baking Soda + Vinegar

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“Baking soda is basic and vinegar is acidic,” says ancy Bock, Senior VP of Education at the American Cleaning Institute. “When you put them together you get mostly water and sodium acetate. But really, just mostly water.” Plus, vinegar causes baking soda to foam up. If stored in a closed container, the mixture can explode.


3. Bleach + Ammonia

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Bleach and ammonia produce a toxic gas called chloramine. “It causes the same symptoms as bleach and vinegar — along with shortness of breath and chest pain,” says Forte. Many glass and window cleaners contain ammonia, so never mix those with bleach.


4. Drain Cleaner + Drain Cleaner

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“I would never recommend mixing two different drain cleaners or even using one right after the other,” says Forte. “These are powerful formulas, and could even explode if combined.” Use one product according to package directions (typically, only half a bottle is needed per treatment). If it doesn’t work, don’t try another product. Instead, call a plumber, Forte says.


5. Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar

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You may have heard that you should spray fruits or countertops with alternating mists of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, wiping down the surface between sprays. Experts say this method is safe — but don’t mix the two products in the same container. Combining them creates peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.


6. Bleach + Rubbing Alcohol

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Perhaps you’ve heard of chloroform? You know, the stuff kidnappers in the movies put on rags to knock out their victims? Although it might not actually make you pass out, this combination can be irritating and toxic. Make it a rule to never mix bleach with anything but plain water. “Even other products like window and toilet bowl cleaners can have ingredients, like acids or ammonia, that shouldn’t be mixed with bleach,” says Forte.