Bleach is a commonplace cleaning chemical used in many households. It helps to whiten clothes and remove stains from fabrics. The chemical works by breaking chemical bonds; hence, killing bacteria and viruses, as well as whitening pigments. Many people ask, “Can you use bleach in a steam cleaner?
This article answers the big question correctly and comprehensively. It also enlightens you on how to use bleach safely in different situations and warns you against its health dangers. At the end of this article, you shall be fully aware of the full range of dangers associated with using chlorine in your household or steam cleaner. But first, here’s the straightforward answer to the big question.
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Can You Use Bleach In a Steam Cleaner?
We do not recommend using bleach in a steam cleaner because it’s dangerous to both the user and the machine. It can cause health issues as well as damage your steam cleaning machine.
Why You Should Not Use Bleach In Your Steam Cleaner
1. It Can Damage Your Steam Cleaner
Most steam cleaning manufacturers do not recommend using bleach inside their machines. Likewise, they warn against using the chemical to clean the machine itself as it can irrevocably degrade the rubber and plastic parts. You also risk voiding the warranty of your steam cleaner if use bleach inside it. But if the manufacturer recommends it, ensure that you only use it in a well-ventilated room.
2. Steam From Bleach Is Dangerous To Your Health
Bleach is a toxic chemical, especially when inhaled or ingested. Adding it to your steam cleaner only makes it worse by spreading the chemical’s fumes all over the room. Breathing in the chemical will make you cough, cause burning in your eyes, make you dizzy, and cause chest pains in extreme conditions.
The toxins produced due to prolonged use of bleach will also build up in the environment, killing fish and causing food and water poisoning. Meanwhile, if you have to use bleach, ensure that you’re dressed in proper protective gear and working under well-ventilated conditions.
3. It Can Damage Your Materials
Bleach can cause telltale signs on various surfaces. It can alter the color of fabrics, leaving your non-white clothes speckled with several white spots. The same can happen on several other surfaces and materials.
For example, it creates spots on non-white toilet seats and tends to make whitish surfaces dull. Most experts also warn against using bleach on stainless steel, granite surfaces, marble, plank flooring, and others.
How to Beach-Clean Your Home Without A Steam Cleaning Machine
To bleach-clean your home, you need a vacuum cleaner, protective equipment, a clean towel, a spray bottle, and this guide. Ensure that you follow all precautions mentioned here. Meanwhile, here is the process:
1. Prepare The Bleach Solution
100% bleach can’t be used for household cleaning because it is extremely dangerous. You need to mix it with water. The right bleach-to-water ratio for cleaning the carpet is one cup to one gallon of clean water. Mix the two inside a bucket and transfer the new solution into a spray bottle. Please avoid adding any other solution to this mixture as there may be harsh consequences.
2. Vacuum The Carpet
After your solution is ready, it’s time to prepare the carpet before you start bleach-cleaning. Vacuum the carpet to remove solid substances and some dirt. If possible, take the carpet outside and shake off particles and dust.
3. Put on Your Protective Gear And Spray The Solution
Wear the right protective gear and start spraying the bleach and water solution prepared in step 1 above over the stained area of your carpet. After spraying, leave the solution to rest on the surface for about 20 minutes. Do not leave it for longer because bleach can damage the carpet’s backing.
4. Rinse and Dry
Bleach cleaning is now done. So you need to rinse and then dry your carpet. You can use a spray bottle and a dry vacuum with clean water for rinsing. You can also use a clean, heavy, and dry piece of cloth or towel.
Spread the towel/cloth over the wet surface and stack heavy stuff on top of it so that it can absorb as much of the solution as possible. Let it rest for about 20 minutes. Please avoid scrubbing the carpet as you can cause the bleach to spread to more parts of the carpet.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can You Mix Bleach With Ammonia?
No, you can’t mix bleach with ammonia as the reaction between them will produce toxic gases known as chloramines. When humans are exposed to chloramines, they risk damaging their airways, causing eye irritation, and even death in extreme circumstances.
Can You Use Bleach on Nylon Carpets?
It’s dangerous to add a solution of bleach to nylon carpets. Doing so may cause your carpet’s good looks to fade away because bleach will take away the color. We also warn against using bleach on leather, silk, wool, and spandex to mention a few.
Can You Use Bleach With Acids For Cleaning?
Bleach is a solution that contains sodium or calcium hypochlorite. When mixed with any acid, the reaction yields chlorine gas, which is extremely dangerous to the human lungs and breathing system as a whole. It can cause death by drowning!
The Bottom Line
We neither recommend using bleach in your steam cleaner to remove stains from other surfaces nor to clean the machine itself. Bleach causes more harm than good to the body, machine, and the surface being cleaned.
Its health disadvantages can range from irritation and coughing to chest pains and shortness of breath. It can also decolorize surfaces being cleaned and destroy the plastic and rubber parts of your steam cleaning machine. Therefore, it’s unsafe to use bleach in your steam cleaner.
