Know Your Homemade Cleaning Solutions

Know Your Homemade Cleaning Solutions Now, we know that you don’t need no instructions to know how to do a good job. But’s it’s hard to do a good job when you’re overcome by chlorine gas—you know, the stuff the Germans used in World War I, which is created when you mix bleach and vinegar. Mixing bleach with ammonia, you’ll end up with some nitrogen chlorides, another nasty airborne poison. Just know what’s in the things you’re using. Here are some usual suspects that, while you might not think it, most likely contain ammonia:

• Glass cleaners
• Multi-surface cleaners
• Chemical drain cleaners
• Toilet/bathroom cleaning solution

Yes, there are bleaches that don’t contain sodium hypochlorite, but it’s not worth risking, really. But when it comes to stain removal and household cleaning, baking soda and white vinegar on their own or in conjunction work well.

Pouring down 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar can clear a clogged drain. (Finally, a reason to recreate the volcano you made for the science fair.) Just be sure to wash it down afterward.