Can You Mix Clorox and Ammonia?

Clorox and ammonia: a classic dangerous mix

Never mix Clorox and ammonia. Clorox liquid bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, and when it meets ammonia the two react to form chloramine vapors. Clorox's ammonia page says bleach and ammonia should never be mixed because the toxic gas that forms could be fatal, and the CDC and Poison Control both warn against the combination.

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 room, vapor can build up quickly, so the right response is to leave first and ask questions later.

Many households do not realize they have ammonia around. Clorox names window cleaner as an example of an ammonia product to keep away from bleach, and Windex says some of its cleaners contain ammonia and some do not, so read the ingredient list. Urine also contains ammonia compounds (general chemistry; the agency pages we read do not cover it), so it is safest not to pour bleach on pet accidents or a dirty toilet. For a job that needs both cleaning and disinfecting, wash with soap and water first, then apply Clorox alone, rinse, and dry. One product per cleaning job is the safest rule, and using one after another only works with a full rinse and good ventilation.

Watch for hidden sources such as older bottles with worn labels. If you cannot read a label, do not use the product with anything else, and do not pour unknown liquids into a bucket that held bleach. Dispose of unlabeled cleaners through your local household hazardous waste program instead of guessing what is in them.

If Clorox and ammonia have mixed, leave the area, get fresh air, and open windows from a distance. Do not add other products to try to fix the mixture. Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222, and call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, or collapse.

Where these numbers come from

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

• Clorox, Ammonia and Bleach: Does Bleach Contain Ammonia? Can You Mix Them?, and How to Clean with Bleach Safely in Your Home - The Do's & Don'ts
• CDC, Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach
• Washington State Department of Health, Dangers of Mixing Bleach with Cleaners
• 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. Confirm wording on your bottle

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.