Warning issued over two cleaning products that are 'deadly' if mixed together

The two items are the cornerstones of any cleaning cupboard but there's a reason you shouldn't use them together. If you do accidentally mix the products you should immediately leave the area

Having a spotless home is an important thing for many - but you'll want to be savvy about some essential rules before you tackle that toilet.

With cleaning sensations like Mrs Hinch and Queen of Clean sharing their wisdom on Instagram, many are getting clued up about keeping their pads pristine. Yet, a stark warning has been sounded over mixing two commonplace cleaning products that could end in tragedy.

Bleach and vinegar are go-tos for scrubbing up bathrooms and kitchens, but what some don't realise is that these cleaners can produce a perilous toxic gas when combined. Australian consumer watchdog CHOICE has alerted shoppers with a firm caution: "Warning: Never mix bleach and vinegar together – it creates toxic chlorine gas."

If you do accidentally mix the products together, you should immediately leave the area to try and breathe in some fresh air. You might notice some nose, mouth, or throat discomfort. Vinegar is usually seen as a more earthy choice compared to synthetic substances like bleach. Both have a reputation for banishing tough stains, but mixed, they become a fatal combination. Bleach consists of watered-down sodium hypochlorite while vinegar contains diluted acetic acid.

Sniffing a bit too much of this noxious fume can inflame your respiratory tract, and a big whiff could be deadly. "Unlike some other dangerous chemicals like carbon monoxide, chlorine gives off a distinctly pungent and irritating odor," Healthline.com says.

They added: "If you notice a strong smell after mixing cleaners, it's a good idea to immediately leave the area. The severity of symptoms you develop after breathing in chlorine gas depends on how concentrated it is, measured in parts per million (ppm), and how long you inhale it."

In 2016, over 6,300 exposures to chlorine gas were reported, with a third caused by mixing cleaning products, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.