What Happens If You Mix Bleach and Ammonia or Vinegar?
You make a toxic gas. The Alabama Department of Public Health says mixing bleach and ammonia creates a toxic chloramine gas that can cause serious and long-lasting respiratory issues, and that mixing bleach with acidic substances such as lemon juice or vinegar can result in chlorine gas, which at the smaller concentrations expected from household products could cause minor to serious irritation and damage to the eyes, skin and respiratory system.
The Missouri Poison Center says chloramine and chlorine gases are both immediately irritating with a very pungent odor, causing watering of the eyes, runny nose and coughing, and that people’s natural reaction is to turn away and leave the area. The CDC warns that household chlorine bleach can release chlorine gas if it is mixed with certain other cleaning products and says not to mix household cleaners, and its mold cleanup guidance says never to mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.
If it happens indoors, the CDC says to get out of the building, and if the release came from household cleaners, to open windows and doors to let in fresh air and leave the area until the gas has gone away. It says to get help right away by calling 911, going to the hospital if local officials say it is safe to leave home, or calling the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceThe Alabama Department of Public Health says mixing bleach and ammonia creates a toxic chloramine gas that can cause serious and long-lasting respiratory issues. Alabama Department of Public Health ↗
- Government sourceThe Alabama Department of Public Health says mixing bleach with acids such as lemon juice or vinegar can result in chlorine gas, which at household concentrations could cause minor to serious irritation and damage to the eyes, skin and respiratory system. Alabama Department of Public Health ↗
- Medical referenceThe Missouri Poison Center says chloramine and chlorine gases are both immediately irritating with a very pungent odor, causing watering of the eyes, runny nose and coughing. Missouri Poison Center ↗
- Government sourceThe CDC warns that household chlorine bleach can release chlorine gas if mixed with certain other cleaning products, and says not to mix household cleaners. CDC ↗
- Government sourceFor a chlorine release from household cleaners, the CDC says to get out of the building, open windows and doors to let in fresh air, and leave the area until the gas has gone away. CDC ↗
- Government sourceAfter chlorine exposure, the CDC says to get help right away by calling 911, going to the hospital if officials say it is safe to leave home, or calling Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. CDC ↗
- Government sourceThe CDC’s mold guidance says never to mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners, because this will produce a poisonous gas. CDC ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.