With chemicals that can be used every day found in homes, sometimes things can get mixed accidentally.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber says that household chemicals can hey mixed easily, especially when cleaning. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that even things you may not think would mix, can.

“Even taking something as simple as Lysol and mixing it with other chemicals, like furniture polish, can create reactions in there that can be very, very caustic. They may not kill you, but they may cause burning, especially in the upper respiratory area, your nose, your throat, those kind of things when they’re aerosolized. So it’s really important to know what chemicals you have, not to mix those chemicals unless you know what you’re doing.”

Arber mentions that some people may mix bleach and chlorine when cleaning, but that that is extremely dangerous, as the mixture creates chlorine gas. He explains when it comes to chemicals, it is always best to not mix them, and to always read warning labels.