Can You Mix Bleach and Ammonia?

Bleach and ammonia make chloramine vapors

Never mix bleach and ammonia. Household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite. Ammonia, found in some glass and multi-surface cleaners, reacts with it to produce chloramine vapors. Poison Control, the EPA, the Washington State Department of Health, Health Canada and Clorox all name ammonia as something never to mix with bleach, and Clorox says the toxic gas that forms could be fatal.

The Washington State Department of Health lists coughing, nausea, shortness of breath, watery eyes, chest pain, irritation of the throat, nose and eyes, and wheezing, and says exposure can lead to pneumonia and fluid in the lungs. In a small, closed room such as a bathroom or laundry room, vapor can build up faster than you can clear it.

The trap for many households is that ammonia is not always obvious. Windex says that in some cases its cleaners contain ammonia, and others are ammonia free, so the label is the only reliable way to tell. Urine also contains ammonia compounds (general chemistry; the agency pages we read do not cover it), so it is safest not to pour bleach onto pet accidents or a dirty toilet. The simple rule is never combine bleach with anything you have not checked, and never use two cleaners in the same wet space.

If they have mixed, leave right away, get fresh air, open windows from a distance, and call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. Poison Control describes a case where a poison specialist managed a bleach and ammonia exposure by phone once symptoms cleared, so calling is worthwhile even if you feel better. Do not add other products to try to fix the mixture. Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, or fainting. If you only want to use them one after the other, rinse the first product away with water, dry the surface, ventilate the room, and remember that one product per job is the safest choice.

Where these numbers come from

The formulas and default values in this calculator are based on:

• CDC, Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach
• EPA, Should I use bleach to clean up mold?
• Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center), Chlorine gas: Get the facts
• Washington State Department of Health, Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners
• Health Canada, Reduce your risk from toxic gases: Never mix bleach with other cleaning products
• Clorox, Ammonia and Bleach: Does Bleach Contain Ammonia? Can You Mix Them?
• Windex (SC Johnson), Frequently Asked Questions
• Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center), Need immediate assistance?
• America's Poison Centers, Get Poison Help
• HHS/HRSA Poison Help, What You Can Do

This is general household-cleaning guidance and planning math, not medical or professional advice. Product formulas change, so the label on your bottle always wins: follow its directions and warnings, test a hidden spot first, and never mix cleaning products. For a poisoning emergency call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US), or 911 if someone has trouble breathing.