With COVID-19 concerns, many of us are ramping up home cleaning and disinfection routines. Bleach is a powerful virucide effective against the virus, but it's also toxic if mishandled. As France's ANSES health agency warns, poison control centers see frequent domestic accidents and poisonings from improper bleach use.
Here are 5 common bleach mistakes to avoid for your family's safety:
After shopping, you might want to disinfect groceries. However, ANSES strictly advises against cleaning food with bleach or any non-food-safe disinfectant.
Never expose food to bleach—skipping ideas like boiling eggs in it. It's also unsafe for packaging, such as Easter chocolate wrappers, risking serious food poisoning.
Leave non-refrigerated items outside or in your entryway for 3 hours untouched. For refrigerated goods, remove and discard packaging (recycle cardboard). Clean produce with water, or water and baking soda, then pat dry or peel. Use soap and water or disinfectant wipes for other items. Always wash hands before and after.
Related: 15 Low-Risk Grocery Shopping Tips for Coronavirus.
Bleach is corrosive and irritates skin, eyes, and mucous membranes—always wear gloves. ANSES stresses using it cautiously. Never apply to hands.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water using proper technique. Soap alone inactivates the virus. Use hand sanitizer gel when away from home.
Hot water reduces bleach's effectiveness and triggers a chemical reaction releasing toxic chlorine derivatives that harm skin, eyes, airways, and lungs.
Dilute in cold water at 0.25 liters bleach per 1 liter water. Follow product instructions precisely, per ANSES guidelines. Opt for natural cleaners daily; reserve bleach for high-risk scenarios.
Related: 6 Tips to Clean and Disinfect Your Home More Effectively.
The CDC advises cleaning then disinfecting separately—never together. ANSES warns against mixing bleach with acids like vinegar, which releases corrosive gases causing eye/throat irritation, respiratory distress, burns, or pulmonary edema.
Clean surfaces with natural products like vinegar first, wipe dry, then disinfect with diluted bleach (leave 5 minutes, rinse, dry). Daily cleaning suffices; vinegar works well against the virus in routine use. Save bleach for post-exposure or high-risk situations.
Related: Does White Vinegar Kill Coronavirus? The Facts.
Vets report pet poisonings and burns from disinfectants. Never wash animals with bleach; use only for deep-cleaning litter boxes.
No need to wash pets after walks—contamination risk is low, per ANSES. If desired, use soap and water or baking soda for odor.
How do you safely use bleach at home? Share in the comments—we'd love to hear!
