Never Mix Home Chemicals, Bleach and Ammonia May Explode
Ready.gov, the U.S. government's preparedness website, says never mix household hazardous chemicals or waste with other products; some chemicals, such as chlorine bleach and ammonia, may react, ignite or explode. Ready.gov also says that if someone has symptoms of poisoning or has been exposed to a household chemical, call the national poison control center at 800-222-1222, and to save that number in your cell phone and post it next to landlines at home.
Ready.gov says nearly every household uses products containing hazardous materials or chemicals, and knowing how to handle them can reduce the risk of injury. This article follows Ready.gov's household chemical emergencies page: what counts as a hazardous chemical, how to store them, what to do in an emergency, and what to do afterward.
What counts as hazardous
Ready.gov explains (Ready.gov, Household Chemical Emergencies): Hazardous household chemicals may include:
- Aerosol cans: Including hair spray and deodorant.
- Nail products: Nail polish and nail polish remover.
- Cleaning products: Cleaning products and furniture polishes.
- Pesticides: Pesticides of all kinds.
- Automotive products: Products like antifreeze or motor oil.
- Miscellaneous: Batteries, mercury thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs.
- Flammable products: Kerosene, home heating oil, propane tanks and lighter fluid.
- Workshop and painting supplies: Paint thinners and turpentine.
- Lawn and garden products: Herbicides and insecticides.
How to store them
- Out of children's reach: Only store household chemicals where children can't get to them; if you have children at home, lock or childproof cabinets and storage areas.
- Original containers: Keep products with hazardous materials in their original containers and never remove the labels unless the container is corroding; corroding containers should be repackaged and clearly labeled.
- No food containers: Never store hazardous products in food containers.
- Don't mix: Never mix hazardous chemicals or waste with other products; chlorine bleach and ammonia may react, ignite or explode.
- Away from flames: Never use hair spray, cleaning solutions, paint products or pesticides near an open flame.
- Clean up right away: Clean up chemical spills immediately; let the fumes in the rags evaporate outdoors, then wrap the rags in newspaper and put them in a sealed plastic bag in your trash can.
- Dispose of them correctly: Dispose of hazardous materials correctly.
- Poison control: Save the national poison control number, 800-222-1222, in your cell phone and post it next to landlines at home.
During an emergency
- Get out: Get out immediately if there is danger of fire or explosion.
- Stay upwind: Stay upwind and away from the home to avoid breathing toxic fumes.
- Symptoms of poisoning: Difficulty breathing; irritation of the eyes, skin, throat or respiratory tract; changes in skin color; headache or blurred vision; dizziness, clumsiness or lack of coordination; cramps or diarrhea.
- Call poison control: If someone has symptoms of poisoning or has been exposed to a household chemical, call the national poison control center at 800-222-1222.
- Follow first aid instructions: Carefully follow the emergency operator's or dispatcher's first aid instructions; first aid advice on containers may be out of date or inappropriate; do not give anything by mouth unless a medical professional advises it.
Afterward
- Clothing: Discard clothing that may have been contaminated; some chemicals may not wash out completely.
For using bleach when cleaning mold, see Mold Control Starts With Moisture, Dry Leaks in 24-48 Hours; for storing medicine away from children, see Keep Medicine Out of Kids' Reach and Sight, Relock the Cap; for other emergency numbers, see Call 911 in Emergencies, 988 for Mental Health, 211 for Help.
What this article did not check
- How to dispose correctly: The page only says to dispose of them correctly; this article did not check local drop-off sites or rules.
- First aid for each chemical: Follow poison control's or the dispatcher's instructions; this article does not cover it.
- Page date: The page was last updated in 2022; it was reopened on the day of writing and had not changed.
FAQ
Can I mix bleach with other cleaners?
No. Ready.gov says never mix hazardous chemicals with other products; chlorine bleach and ammonia may react, ignite or explode.
What number do I call if my child touches a chemical?
Ready.gov says to call the national poison control center at 800-222-1222 if someone has symptoms of poisoning or has been exposed to a household chemical.
Can I follow the first aid instructions on the container?
Ready.gov says first aid advice on containers may be out of date or inappropriate; carefully follow the emergency operator's or dispatcher's instructions.
Can I put leftover chemicals in an empty drink bottle?
No. Ready.gov says never store hazardous products in food containers; keep them in their original containers with the labels on.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-11-03.
- Ready.gov, Household Chemical Emergencies (page updated 2022-04-19):https://www.ready.gov/household-chemical-emergencies