Dos and Don'ts of using bleach

Bleach is one of the most common household cleaners and is highly effective at killing germs, but it can be harmful when used improperly. Ryan Sinclair, PhD, MPH, professor of Environmental Microbiology at Loma Linda University, shares some dos and don'ts to help people use bleach effectively and safely.

Do use bleach for disinfection and other tough jobs

Bleach is a powerful disinfectant and one of the most effective cleaners for disinfecting surfaces.

"The great thing about bleach is that it kills germs quickly," Sinclair says. "Bleach doesn't need a lengthy residence time to work."

Bleach is especially useful for tough cleaning jobs like:

• Countertops and other food-prep surfaces

• Outdoor surfaces

• Whitening laundry

• Disinfecting trash cans and compost bins

• Plastic toys

Don't mix bleach with other cleaners

Never mix bleach with other household cleaners. Many cleaning products contain ammonia or hydrochloric acid, and mixing these with bleach can release toxic chlorine gas. According to Sinclair, this can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat - and in severe cases, can be life-threatening.

"One cleaner is usually enough to do the job," Sinclair says. "If you're using bleach to disinfect something, that's more than enough. There is no need to mix it with other cleaning products."

Do dilute bleach

According to Sinclair, store-bought bleach is often too strong for direct use, so it's important to follow the instructions on the label. If your bottle does not include directions, the CDC recommends:

• 5 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of room temperature water or

• 4 teaspoons of bleach per quart of room temperature water

Once diluted, the solution will no longer be effective after 24 hours. Be sure to make a fresh solution each time you plan to use it.