Bleach is considered one of the most effective cleaning products that exist when it comes to disinfecting (along with soap and alcohol it has become one of the essential tools to combat the spread of the coronavirus). However, experts advise that it must be used correctly if you want it to be really effective and, also, to avoid the dangers that its misuse entails , since it can also be one of the most toxic cleaning products.
Mistake # 1: Using bleach directly without diluting it in water
Although it is logical to think that using it directly will be more concentrated and will disinfect better, it is the opposite. Studies have shown that pure bleach (we are not referring to cleaners that have bleach built in, but packages in which only bleach is present) works best when diluted in cold water, as if it is hot it can cause bleach to become evaporate and release toxic gases. As a general rule, the ratio they recommend is 4 teaspoons of bleach for every liter of water, or a glass of bleach for every 10 liters of water.
Mistake # 2: Applying the bleach with a spray bottle
Putting it in a sprayer or vaporizer that has metal parts can cause a reaction that will oxidize the bleach and make it much less effective. If you have made the bleach-water mixture yourself, it is best to apply it with a sponge or cloth sufficiently soaked in the solution so that the surface you are disinfecting is in contact with the bleach for at least a minute. If you don't wet it well and let it work, it evaporates quickly and doesn't do as much of an effect. Not letting the products act is one of the most common cleaning mistakes.
Mistake # 3: Reusing diluted bleach or mixing it with other products
Apart from never mixing bleach with ammonia, salfumán, alcohol, vinegar or other substances other than water (they can produce gases and reactions that are very harmful to health), neither should we take advantage of the bleach that we have diluted in Water. Once mixed, the bleach becomes unstable and loses its disinfecting power. So they recommend that you always use a freshly mixed solution and if there is any left over, throw it away.
