Cleaning with Bleach Harms Pets, People: Scientists

Chemical Free Life

If you clean with bleach you might want to rethink that practice. Researchers have now discovered that bleach fumes, in combination with light and a citrus compound found in many household products, can form airborne particles that might be harmful when inhaled by pets or people.

Overview

Bleach cleaning products emit chlorine-containing compounds, such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and chlorine gas (Cl2), that can accumulate to relatively high levels in poorly ventilated indoor environments. These gases can react with other chemicals commonly found in homes, such as limonene — an orange- or lemon-scented compound added to many personal care products, cleaners and air fresheners. In addition, indoor lighting or sunshine through windows might split HOCl and Cl2 into a hydroxyl radical and a chlorine atom, which can react with other compounds to form air particles called secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). These pollutants have been linked to…

View original post 102 more words

4 comments on “Cleaning with Bleach Harms Pets, People: Scientists

    • Very hot water and white vinegar and a scrub brush and I have a brush designed for the hummingbird feeder, I also have used baking soda and white vinegar together for cleaning and that’s great for keeping the drains clean does a good job. I think they’re talking about the Clorox cloth wipes that people use that has the citrus in it.

      Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.