On the hydrogen peroxide side: scientist Louis Jacques Thénard produced the substance for the first time in 1818. It wasn’t used for bleaching until 1882 and then became commercially popular in the 1930s. In other words, bleach works only on surfaces without organic material. Before using it to disinfect, you’re supposed to thoroughly wash the affected surface, most likely with something that is going to react badly with bleach. ( 51 )

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Carl Wilhelm Scheele of Sweden discovered chlorine in 1774 (although the word “chlorine” wasn’t used to describe it until 1810). French scientist Claude Berthollet was the first to create sodium hypochlorite and recognize chlorine as a bleaching agent. Another Frenchman, Antoine Germain Labarraque , discovered hypochlorites worked to disinfect. Enough research has indicated that bleach is connected with asthma symptoms that The Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC) named bleach an asthmagen. ( 44 ) It seems like the form of bleach most likely to cause respiratory issues, specifically asthma, comes by aerosol exposure. ( 45 , 46 ) The World Health Organization, in a release about common disinfectants, explains that chloroform is formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter. One class of organic matter that is of major concern are known as “humic substances.” Among the list of these substances are phenol and alcohol, two compounds excreted in human urine. ( 28 , 29 ) Hydrogen Peroxide: I use peroxide regularly — and this ingredient is actually great! On its own, hydrogen peroxide can help to clean grout, tile, toilets, tubs and more. ( 13 )

Third (and this one is my most concerning problem), there’s no way to guarantee that cleaners don’t mix when you have to use them on the same surfaces, even if you rinse the surface well. Sodium Hydroxide: This is where the chlorine molecules in bleach are released (when it’s combined with sodium chloride). While The Clorox Company is correct in saying that there is no “free” chlorine in liquid bleach, it’s also true that chlorine molecules are released during certain processes of bleach use. ( 3 ) Pets also routinely get into bleach products, although the statistics on that aren’t as readily available. Mixing these two can be a potentially deadly combo. When ammonia and bleach are combined, the chlorine in bleach converts to chloramine gas. ( 15 ) Chloramine gas exposure can result in:

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Like with ammonia, this combination causes the release of a dangerous gas — this time, though, it’s chlorine gas. ( 20 ) While it’s possible to keep bleach away from kids and pets, there are still a great number of bleach poisoning incidents every year. Cleaning substances account for about 11.2 percent of poison control cases (totaling 118,346 cases in 2015). ( 36 ) This doesn’t break down into bleach versus other cleaners; however, the World Health Organization lists bleach as one of the top poisoning toxins in the world for children. ( 37 ) Bleach] acts as a potent oxidizing agent and often dissipates in side reactions so rapidly that little disinfection is accomplished until amounts in excess of the chlorine demand have been added.” Never combine bleach with any other household cleaner, because it might result in the release of a number of types of toxic gases. In particular, avoid using bleach to disinfect your shower, as it can be a factor in the creation of chloroform, a probable carcinogen.Chlorine poisoning is a definite concern when using bleach products with sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. This may occur when bleach an ammonia are mixed (more on that in a moment); or if bleach is directly ingested. Symptoms including breathing difficulty, swelling of the throat and many more complications. ( 6 ) Oh, and let’s not forget that about 25 percent of US public drinking water is treated with monochloramines. The boiling point of these chemicals is about 75 degrees Fahrenheit and they can be liberated from water over the course of 24 hours or so, so the water you use to rinse your surfaces might contribute to the formation of chloramine gas as well. But I think you should never use bleach in your home again, and I’m going to explain why. As a bonus, I’ll also show you some natural cleaning products that can get the job done without putting you and your family in danger. Hydrogen Peroxide: This safe bleach alternative will do a great deal to keep whites white and disinfectant anything, all without the dangers of bleach hanging over your head. If you or someone you know ingests bleach, do not encourage them to throw up but instead give them water and treat the situation as a medical emergency.

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Adding bleach to other cleaners like hydrogen peroxide, oven cleaners and some pesticides can result in noxious fumes like chlorine gas or chloramine gases. Just don’t do it. ( 24 ) Unwanted Food or Drink Products - Once supply conditions are broken, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can affect the quality of a product. Therefore perishable goods such as food and drink cannot be returned. Some of the most common items in your house might not be as safe as you think. One example? The dangers of bleach, one of the most commonly used disinfectants in the world.

Finally, Charles Tennant of Scotland determined that combining chlorine and lime would produce the best bleaching results known at that time. He received a patent in 1798 for his concoction. Lemon: In the form of juice or lemon essential oil , this citrus fruit is great for killing bacteria. Just make sure to keep it in glass, not plastic, because the acidity of lemon oil can eat away at plastic. In the 18th century, four scientists made discoveries related to chlorine that set off the creation of chlorine bleach as we understand it today. All that’s really left, as far as cleaning is concerned, is water, right? Well, yes — the instructions on household bleach do explain that it’s only to be combined with water and always diluted before it’s used to clean any surface (the water in the washing machine dilutes bleach for laundry).

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Clean tap water is okay, but what happens when you’ve been using that water to clean and rinse? The evidence for this problem is the next major danger of bleach. Ammonia is found on its own as a cleaning agent and in some glass cleaners. Even scarier is that there is ammonia in urine, which should result in even more caution when you clean anything soiled by urine. If bleach were your only option, then perhaps it would be worth using it when sanitizing your space or ridding it of mold. But it’s not the only choice — I’ll touch later on better alternatives to bleach. Depending on the type of bleach you get, it may or may not contain chlorine. Typically, bleaches either contain an active ingredient of chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) or hydrogen peroxide. You’ve probably noticed you don’t pass out every time you take a shower. I can’t imagine many people showering much, if that were the case. However, it’s still pretty likely that you’re being exposed to low levels of chloroform in your shower. Even the CDC admits it. ( 26 )Chlorine gas can also cause chemical pneumonitis , a condition identified by coughing, difficulty breathing, the feeling of not being able to get enough air (air hunger), wet/gurgling chest sounds and burning in the chest. Repeated exposures can lead to inflammation and lung stiffness, causing respiratory failure and possibly death. ( 50 ) It’s possible for chlorine gas to be absorbed dermally (through the skin) and cause pain, inflammation, blistering and swelling. The acid can burn the skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat and stomach. I’ve also designed several eco cleaners that combine the germ-killing and laundry-cleaning effects of a number of natural products: Another surprising item on a list of the dangers of bleach is that it may encourage the growth of toxic mold, rather than helping to clear it. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Organization) actually advises against using bleach to clean mold infestations for this reason. ( 38 ) The EPA followed suit and updated their mold guidelines to eliminate suggesting bleach. ( 39 )