Accidentally sniffing bleach?

Question

Whilst mopping my kitchen and bathroom floors i started coughing. Now when i mop my floors i use LOADS of bleach, really just to make sure its extra, extra clean, especially with 3 young children. Will i now be ill?

Answer 1

Bleach fumes are very hard on the lungs.  If you really use LOADS of it, you need to keep the windows open so you get good ventilation and don't get your face too close to it.  It's doubtful you will now get sick unless you are allergic or particularly sensitive to bleach.  You will probably start to feel better within the hour.  Also, in case you don't know, you should NEVER mix bleach with ammonia (you *will* get sick from that), or any other household cleaner.  That said, you really don't need LOADS of bleach to get things clean or to sterilize.  1/2 cup in a 2-gallon bucket should be plenty.  And, actually, for floors, plain ammonia and hot water work better than bleach.  Keep in mind, however, that ammonia will strip any wax off the floor, along with all the dirt.

Answer 2

You have irritated your lungs and will probably cough for awhile.  I don't think you will get sick though.  You really should not use more bleach than the label calls for.  Scrubbing thoroughly is a good idea, but you will never kill all the germs on the floors.  Once your done scrubbing, the germs start to re-multiply.  Scrubbing the floor with a good cleaner like Mr. Clean, Pine Sol, Murphy's Oil Soap, etc. and hot water should suffice in the average household.  

Answer 3

no but you can actually open a window or use less bleach