Question from J in Va
I have done away with harmful cleaning products in our home. My concern is any accidental contact with bleach or ammonia residue from cleansers that may have been used previously. For example, I am becoming a big fan of vinegar. Is it safe to clean bathrooms that may have previously been cleaned with a cleaner containing bleach? Is a good rinse with water sufficient before trying a different product? And what about laundry? Can I use vinegar in my laundry immediately following someone else who may have used bleach? Trying to avoid any mishaps! I also have discovered Scotch Brite disinfecting wipes with cleanwell. Do I need to take any special precautions with using those? If only labels would be clear! Thanks so much for all you do to keep us on the right track!
Debra’s Answer
There are some cleaners you do need to take care to not combine, particularly ammonia and bleach, which can produce deadly fumes.
Don’t combine bleach with vinegar either, as it releases toxic chlorine gas from the bleach. But I doubt there would be enough bleach, if any, on a surface previously-cleaned-with-bleach to cause any problem. If you have any doubt, rinse the surface first with plain water. Also any bleach residue in the washer should not be a problem.
You don’t need to take any special precautions with Scotch Brite disinfecting wipes with cleanwell. “Cleanwell” is simply thyme oil. This product is made with sodium lauryl sulfate and thyme oil. It’s the thyme oil that is the disinfectant. You could just mix thyme oil with anything you want as a carrier.
