Researchers have warned that mixing some household cleaning products may produce a toxic gas that can cause serious health consequences.

Based on data from cleaning staff and those who use regular cleaning products in the home, the researchers assessed the potential risks of the cleaning products to lung function in the long term.

The researchers found that lung function was significantly affected in these people, to the point of comparing it to the effects of smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 10-20 years.

Chemicals in cleaning products, such as volatile organic compounds and ammonia, can cause some troubling physical symptoms.

The severity of these health problems is related to the concentration of cleaning products and how long individuals are exposed to them.

Bleach and vinegar are used routinely in homes to keep bathrooms and kitchens free of dirt and germs, but this mixture may cause a number of dangerous health consequences.

Mixing bleach and vinegar produces chlorine gas, which even at low levels can lead to coughing, breathing problems, burning and tears.

When these two substances are mixed, toxic chlorine gas is released, which essentially serves as a means to “wage chemical warfare”.

Many people prefer mixing bleach and vinegar, but they underestimate the health risks in exchange for increased cleaning power.

Bleach is made from dilute sodium hypochlorite while vinegar is a dilute form of acetic acid.

Inhaling a small amount of this will irritate the throat, nose and eyes while a large dose of this gas has the potential to kill.

The combination of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar creates peroxyacetic acid, a potentially toxic peroxic acid that can irritate the skin, respiratory system, and eyes.

Instead, the researchers suggest using diluted vinegar on hard surfaces to help kill mold.

To create a good cleaning solution, simply pour 80% vinegar into 20% water and place it in three buckets, then use a microfiber cloth in the first bucket to clean a piece of mold.

The same microfiber cloth should then be rinsed in the second bucket, and then rinsed again in the third bucket to ensure that cross-contamination does not occur.

It should be noted that even seemingly harmless cleaners, such as vinegar and baking soda, can be dangerous when mixed or used along with other cleaning products, given that vinegar and baking soda are chemicals too, reveals chemist Dr. Tim Bond.