Can You Mix Fabuloso and Bleach?

Fabuloso and bleach do not belong in the same bucket

Do not mix Fabuloso and bleach. The Fabuloso FAQ (Colgate-Palmolive) answers the question directly: "No. Do not use any with chlorine bleach." That covers the Professional, 2X Concentrated and Antibacterial versions it lists. Bleach is sodium hypochlorite, and Poison Control says mixing it with an acid makes chlorine gas and mixing it with ammonia makes chloramine gas.

Fabuloso comes in many scents and versions, and the ingredient list is not the same across them. The FAQ lists L-lactic acid (2.00 percent) in the Antibacterial version and citric acid in the Professional version; both are acids, which is the class of ingredient that makes chlorine gas with bleach. We did not find ammonia in the two ingredient lists Fabuloso publishes, but we could not check every scent. Because the risk depends on what is in your bottle, treat any mix as unsafe, especially in a closed room.

People often mix them because they want the floor to smell fresh and be disinfected at the same time. Do that in two steps instead. Mop with Fabuloso diluted per the bottle, and empty and rinse the mop bucket so no residue carries over. Rinse with plain water. Let the floor dry and the room air out. If you need to disinfect, use a product labeled to disinfect, on a separate occasion, and follow its contact time. Using one product after another with rinsing is different from mixing, but one product per cleaning job is safest.

If they have already been mixed, leave the area, get fresh air, and open windows and doors 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. Have the bottles handy so you can read the ingredient lists to the person on the phone.

Where these numbers come from

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

• Fabuloso (Colgate-Palmolive), Frequently Asked Questions
• Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center), Chlorine gas: Get the facts
• CDC, Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach
• Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center), Need immediate assistance?
• America's Poison Centers, Get Poison Help
• HHS/HRSA Poison Help, What You Can Do. Ingredients vary by scent and version
• confirm 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.